Zaatar Halloumi and Olives Sandwich with Cherry Tomatoes

I have missed blogging! A lot of good things been happening around here. Good work opportunities and a food photography and styling workshop with Nourish of Qout Market  last week - all just feels surreal and I'm immensely grateful. 

It's not to say we haven't been cooking in fact my repertoire of cooking under 45 minutes has certainly increased many folds. So I thought perhaps, this is a good recipe to start start off this week.  Halloumi zaatar sandwich has saved me through many quick five minutes lunches before our  meetings during corporate years and now continues to be a fall back munch when I'm drowning in work. It is not even a recipe really, but if you haven't tried the combination, you are in for a treat. The salty halloumi, pungent zaatar and bitter olives contrast beautifully with sweet and juicy cherry tomatoes. This is also good time to bring out that fancy schmancy extra virgin olive oil as fruity flavours of the oil really shine through.  

This recipe is part of  Inspired Middle Eastern feature I developed and shot for BBC Good Food India for their October issue.

Zaatar Halloumi Olive Sandwich with Cherry Tomatoes 

Serves 3-4

Ingredients

250 g halloumi
2 tbsp zaatar
1 red onion, sliced
1 tbsp olive oil 
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
150g cherry tomatoes
50g black olives, sliced
Salt and pepper
Crusty bread like ciabatta

Method

Slice the halloumi into thin strips. Heat olive oil in a pan and brown the halloumi on both sides.
 Remove from the flame and sprinkle with zaatar.

Add the tomatoes, olives and onion in the same pan, and toss well. Season with salt and pepper.

Slice the bread, layer the halloumi mixture in it and drizzle with extra virgin olive oil. 

Tip

Let the juices of some of the tomatoes get soaked into the bread for extra flavour by squeezing some before layering the sandwich along with a drizzle of oil.