Joe Wicks' halloumi fries recipe

Joe Wicks’ halloumi fries are made with a handful of ingredients and take only 12 minutes to prepare. 

Joe Wicks chicken pie is a great family meal but if you are craving a little snack or want some party food ideas, these dippers are perfect. Joe says: ‘These make a wicked little snack at a party or barbecue. They won’t last long though, so you might want to double up the recipe.’ Joe serves them with a quick tomato salsa and some rocket but you could opt for roasted veggies on the side if you prefer. 

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp coconut oil
• 2 eggs
• 75g plain flour
• 150g panko breadcrumbs
• 2 tsp nigella seeds
• 2 x 250g blocks of halloumi, patted dry and cut into 1cm slices
• 300g fresh tomatoes, roughly chopped into 2cm chunks
• juice of 1 lime
• 1⁄2 red onion, finely chopped
• 1 1⁄2 tbsp chipotle paste
• salt and pepper
• 1 avocado, de-stoned and cut into thick wedges
• Rocket, to serve

Method

• Heat your oven to 180C (160C fan, Gas 4). Spoon the coconut oil onto a baking tray and slide the tray into the oven to heat for 5 minutes while you crumb your halloumi.
• Crack the eggs into a bowl and give them a whisk. Tip the flour and breadcrumbs into separate bowls and mix the nigella seeds through the breadcrumbs. Pick up a slice of halloumi and first dip it into the flour, giving it a little shake to remove any excess, then dip into the egg, again giving it a little shake.
• Drop the slice into the breadcrumbs and flip around a couple of times to ensure it is evenly coated. Place the crumbed cheese onto a plate and then repeat the process with the remaining slices of cheese.
• When you have a neat line of crumbed cheese, carefully slide the hot baking tray out of the oven and lay the cheese slices into the hot oil. Slide the tray back into the oven and cook for 3 minutes, then carefully flip the cheeses over and cook for a further 3 minutes, until the halloumi is warmed through and the breadcrumbs are golden.
• While the cheese is baking, mix together the chopped tomatoes, lime juice, red onion and chipotle paste and season with salt and pepper.
• Before serving, slide the baked cheese onto a clean piece of kitchen roll and dab off the excess oil. Serve with the avocado, the quick tomato salsa and a big fistful of rocket.

Top tips for making Joe Wicks' halloumi fries

Halloumi is a popular Cypriot cheese with a high melting point, which makes it perfect for frying or grilling. Made from sheep, cow or goat’s milk, it gets its salty taste from the brine it’s preserved in. For ideas on how to serve the dippers, continue reading below.

Cooking for Family and Friends: 100 Lean Recipes to Enjoy Together by Joe Wicks (Bluebird, £9) - View at Amazon 

Inside this book there’s plenty more options which are perfect for parties. From chicken wings with blue cheese sauce and egg and chorizo muffins to peach melba lollies, you’ll have plenty of inspiration to choose from.

We have loads more Joe Wicks recipes you might like but if you want to stick with the cheesy theme, learn how to cook halloumi here. You might also like these halloumi burgers.