Baked halloumi pasta (serves 4 to 6)

When doing Cyprus National dish Fasolada we experienced Halloumi Cheese, I love it.  I had some left over so though I would hunt for more recipes that use Halloumi.  In first search I came across this site – Halloumi Recipes.  And here is my use and adaption.

Ingredients

• 250 g/8.8 oz pasta, such as penne
• 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
• sliced mushrooms
• 1 small zucchini (250 g/8.8 oz)
• 2 halloumi cheese (250 g/8.8 oz)
• 1 box of cherry tomatoes (250 g/8.8 oz)
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 can of tomato pasta sauce (approximately 400 g/14 oz)
• 1 bag fresh spinach (70 g/2.5 oz)
• 1 bag shredded mozzarella cheese (150 g/5.3 oz) – I substitute it with another cheese.
• olive oil
• salt and pepper

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 225C (437F).
2. Cook the pasta according to instruction on the packet. Drain, and rinse in cold water, and set aside.
3. Peel and cut the onion in half. Slice thinly.
4. Cut the zucchini lengthwise and then cut it into 1/2 cm (1/5 inch) thick slices.
5. Cut and the halloumi into 1 cm (about half inch) cube size.
6. Cut the tomatoes in half.
7. Fry the zucchini in 1/2 tablespoon oil over high heat about 5 minutes. About 1 minute left, add the onion and mushrooms.
8. Peel and crush the garlic and add to pan.
9. Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and a pinch of pepper.
10. Put fried stuff in large mixing bowl
11. Fry the halloumi in 1 teaspoon oil until it is nicely browned, about 3 minutes.
12. Add to bowl and mix, tomato pasta sauce, fried vegetables, halloumi cheese, spinach and pasta.
13. Season with 2 pinches of salt and a pinch of pepper.
14. Put pasta mix into an ovenproof dish.
15. Top with mozzarella.
16. Bake in the oven about 10 minutes or until heated through and cheese is melted

Thanks to: https://donnadundas.co.uk/halloumi-pasta-bake/