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Crispy Fried Halloumi with Lemon-Herb Chickpeas
Crispy Fried Halloumi with Lemon-Herb Chickpeas reads citrus 5.9, sourness 5.3 and richness 4.9 on Palate's 0–10 flavor X-ray — a Greek main, about 18 min. Measured from the recipe itself: ingredients and technique.
The flavor X-ray — six axes, 0–10
- Umami & Savory — 4.9 / 10
- Sweet & Fruity — 5.6 / 10
- Sour & Bright — 7.5 / 10
- Bitter & Earthy — 2.7 / 10
- Rich & Fat — 5.6 / 10
- Aromatic & Spice — 5.1 / 10
The measured notes (of 18)
Citrus 5.9 · Sourness 5.3 · Richness 4.9 · Fruity 4.7 · Allium 4.6 · Umami 4.4 · Salinity 4.3 · Sweetness 2.9 · Herbaceous 2.6 · Nutty 2.6 · Earthy 2.5 · Warm Spice 1.9 · Heat 1.5 · Floral 1.3 · Bitterness 1.3 · Funk & Ferment 0.9
What's in it (13)
- chickpeas — 851 g
- olive oil — 41 g
- yellow onion — 110 g
- garlic — 12 g
- cumin — 5 g
- red chili flakes — 1 g
- low-sodium beef broth — 177 g
- lemon — 65 g
- salt — 5 g
- black pepper — 3 g
- parsley — 20 g
- halloumi — 227 g
- all-purpose flour — 23 g
Time & effort: about 18 min · effort: involved
Nutrition (per 100 g, engine-estimated): 267.6 kcal, 15.5 g protein, 6.8 g fat, 36.3 g carbs
Dietary: Contains meat — engine-derived; double-check anything allergy-critical.
How it's cooked (9 steps)
- Drain and rinse the chickpeas; set aside.
- Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and translucent, 4-5 minutes.
- Stir in the garlic, cumin, and red pepper flakes; cook until fragrant, about 45 seconds.
- Add the chickpeas, broth, and salt. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally and mashing a few chickpeas against the side of the pan, until the liquid has mostly reduced and the chickpeas are creamy at the edges, 6-8 minutes.
- Remove from the heat and stir in the lemon zest, lemon juice, half the black pepper, and half the parsley. Transfer the chickpeas to a serving platter and tent loosely with foil to keep warm.
- Pat the halloumi slabs dry with paper towels. Toss with the flour and the remaining black pepper, shaking off any excess.
- Wipe out the skillet and heat the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the halloumi in a single layer and fry until deeply golden on the first side, 2-3 minutes.
- Flip and fry until golden on the second side and warmed through, 2-3 minutes more.
- Arrange the halloumi over the warm chickpeas, scatter with the remaining parsley, and serve right away while the cheese is still hot and crisp.
Dishes with a similar flavor shape
- Moroccan Spiced Chickpea and Lentil Stew — Moroccan
- Greek Chickpea Stew with Rosemary (Revithia) — Greek
- Greek Turkey Meatballs with Orzo — Greek
- Pork Carnitas Burrito with Rice and Beans — Mexican
- Greek Red Lentil Soup with Lemon — Greek
Keep reading: what citrus, sourness, richness mean in the flavor lexicon · the world's cuisines, by flavor.
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Every number above is Palate's engine-measured estimate, computed from this recipe's ingredients and techniques — not human-tasted ratings or reviews.