This zesty Hairy Bikers Halloumi Tray Bake is made with chunks of salty halloumi, roasted red peppers, courgettes, red onion, and a bright, fresh dressing of lemon juice, honey, and mint. The result is a vibrant and healthy one-pan meal, packed with Mediterranean flavours. Perfect for a quick and easy weeknight dinner, this recipe creates a delicious meal for 2-4 people.
Hairy Bikers Halloumi Tray Bake Ingredients
For the Tray Bake:
- 2 red peppers, deseeded and cut into chunks
- 2 courgettes, trimmed and cut into thick diagonal slices
- 1 red onion, peeled and cut into wedges
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 x 225g blocks of halloumi cheese, cut into thick slices or cubes
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
For the Dressing:
- 4 tbsp olive oil
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 1 tbsp clear honey
- 2 tbsp chopped fresh mint
- 1 red chilli, finely chopped (optional)
How To Make Hairy Bikers Halloumi Tray Bake
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 220°C/200°C Fan/Gas 7.
- Roast the vegetables: Place the prepared red peppers, courgettes, and red onion wedges onto a large roasting tray. Drizzle with the 2 tablespoons of olive oil and season with a little salt and plenty of freshly ground black pepper. Toss everything together to ensure the vegetables are evenly coated.
- First bake: Place the tray in the preheated oven and roast for 20 minutes, until the vegetables are starting to soften and char at the edges.
- Add the halloumi: Remove the tray from the oven and scatter the sliced halloumi amongst the vegetables. Return the tray to the oven and cook for a further 10-15 minutes.
- Cook until golden: Continue baking until the halloumi is soft, golden-brown, and slightly crisp at the edges.
- Make the dressing: While the tray bake is in the oven, prepare the dressing. In a small bowl or jug, whisk together the 4 tablespoons of olive oil, the juice of one lemon, and the clear honey. Stir in the chopped fresh mint and the optional red chilli.
- Combine and serve: Once the tray bake is cooked, remove it from the oven. Drizzle the fresh dressing all over the hot vegetables and halloumi. Toss gently to combine and serve immediately.
Recipe Tips
- Don’t overcrowd the pan: For the best results, use a large roasting tray so the vegetables and halloumi have enough space. This allows them to roast and get nicely coloured rather than steaming.
- Cut vegetables to a similar size: Try to cut your vegetables into roughly uniform sizes. This ensures they all cook evenly in the same amount of time.
- Pat the halloumi dry: Before adding the halloumi to the tray, pat it dry with a paper towel. This helps it to brown nicely in the oven instead of just steaming.
- Dress while hot: Pouring the dressing over the tray bake while the vegetables and halloumi are still hot is key. They will absorb the bright, zesty flavours of the dressing much more effectively.
What To Serve With Halloumi Tray Bake
This Halloumi Tray Bake is a fantastic all-in-one meal, but it can also be served with a variety of accompaniments. For a more substantial dinner, serve it with warm, fluffy couscous, crusty bread to soak up the delicious dressing, or a fresh, crisp green salad. It’s also delicious stuffed into pitta breads with a dollop of hummus or tzatziki.
How To Store Halloumi Tray Bake Leftovers
- Refrigerate: This dish is best enjoyed fresh from the oven, as halloumi can become rubbery when reheated. However, if you have leftovers, allow them to cool completely before storing them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. You can eat the leftovers cold as a salad or gently reheat them, though the texture of the halloumi will change.
- Freeze: Freezing is not recommended for this dish, as the texture of both the roasted vegetables and the halloumi will be compromised upon thawing.
Hairy Bikers Halloumi Tray Bake Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: 1 of 4 portions
- Calories: 550 kcal
- Total Fat: 45g
- Saturated Fat: 20g
- Cholesterol: 90mg
- Sodium: 1400mg
- Total Carbohydrate: 15g
- Dietary Fiber: 5g
- Sugars: 10g
- Protein: 25g (Nutritional information is an estimate and may vary based on specific ingredients used.)
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I use different vegetables? Absolutely. This recipe is very versatile. You could add other Mediterranean vegetables like aubergine (eggplant), cherry tomatoes, or yellow peppers. Just be mindful that different vegetables may have slightly different cooking times.
- Can I prepare this dish in advance? You can chop the vegetables ahead of time and store them in the fridge. However, the dish should be assembled and baked just before serving for the best texture, particularly for the halloumi.
- My halloumi was too salty, what can I do? Halloumi is naturally a very salty cheese. If you find it too salty for your taste, you can soak the block of halloumi in cold water or milk for about 30 minutes before patting it dry and slicing. This will draw out some of the excess salt.
Hairy Bikers Halloumi Tray Bake Recipe
Description
A quick, easy, and vibrant one-pan meal from the Hairy Bikers. This Halloumi Tray Bake features roasted Mediterranean vegetables and golden chunks of salty halloumi, all brought together with a zesty lemon, honey, and mint dressing. Perfect for a healthy weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
For the Tray Bake:
For the Dressing:
Instructions
- Prepare: Preheat oven to 220°C/200°C Fan. On a large roasting tray, toss the peppers, courgettes, and onion with 2 tbsp of olive oil and seasoning.
- Roast Vegetables: Roast for 20 minutes until starting to soften.
- Add Halloumi: Remove the tray from the oven, add the sliced halloumi, and return to the oven for another 10-15 minutes until the halloumi is golden.
- Make Dressing: While it bakes, whisk together the dressing ingredients: 4 tbsp olive oil, lemon juice, honey, and mint.
- Serve: Remove the tray bake from the oven and immediately drizzle over the dressing. Toss gently and serve hot.
