Halloumi, Tomato and Basil Pasta Bake - Gluten Free! - Sparkles in the Everyday! (2024)

Halloumi, Tomato and Basil Pasta Bake - Gluten Free is a delicious recipe for family dinners, to take to BBQs, or to have for an easy dinner while relaxing watching television.

Ok, so this dish is for when you want a delicious dinner of pasta but you need just a little bit of luxury added in with Halloumi.

So what is Halloumi?

Halloumi is a white cheese that originated from Cyprus and originally was made from sheep's milk but these days Halloumi is usually made with cow's milk. The cheese is similar to a mozzarella (a firm one) and has a stronger, saltier flavour.

Halloumiis absolutely delicious cooked slightly on a frypan where it has a delicious crispy outside and soft, full of flavour on the inside.

The best part about this pasta recipe is that there are two options for how you serve it.

One as a pasta dish....

(without baking it in the oven)

Tip - When we are having it as a pasta dish we use sun-dried tomatoes instead of the fresh tomatoes as this gives more flavour.

Another Option - as a Pasta Bake!

Just one small tweak and this recipe can become a delicious pasta bake simply by mixing it with Parmesan cheese and baking it in the oven till it is crispy!

Tip- when we have it as a pasta bake we use fresh tomatoes to give more juice to the dish so it doesn't dry out while in the oven.

This is a easy dish to make and is delicious simply served with a fresh garden salad and fresh basil sprinkled on top.

Ingredients

  • 2 fresh tomatoes- diced
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 small onion-finely chopped
  • ½ tablespoon of minced garlic-you can use fresh garlic
  • 250g Halloumi cheese-cut into lengths
  • 1 cup of Parmesan cheese
  • 400g canned tomatoes
  • Fresh Oreganoleaves
  • Fresh basil leaves
  • Freshly ground pepper
  • 500g gluten free penne -cooked according to packet instructions

Method

Halloumi, Tomato and Basil Pasta Bake - Gluten Free! - Sparkles in the Everyday! (4)
  • Preheat oven to 180 degrees - (moderate oven)
  • Cook the gluten free pasta and wash in water to rinse and let it drain.
  • In a large saucepan, add olive oil, garlic and onion and cook for 4-5 minutes, or until just softened.Add the fresh tomatoes and cook it till they soften and then add a can of tomatoes.
  • Add oregano, basil and cracked pepper and bring to the boil.
  • While the sauce is simmering, cut the Halloumi into lengths, add some olive oil to a frypan and cook Halloumi on both sides till golden brown, (about 1-2 minutes on each side). Cut into cubes and add to the sauce.
Halloumi, Tomato and Basil Pasta Bake - Gluten Free! - Sparkles in the Everyday! (5)
Halloumi, Tomato and Basil Pasta Bake - Gluten Free! - Sparkles in the Everyday! (6)
Halloumi, Tomato and Basil Pasta Bake - Gluten Free! - Sparkles in the Everyday! (7)
  • Add the cooked pasta to the sauce and stir through so all the pasta is covered.
  • Top with more Parmesan cheese and basil and bake in a moderate oven for 20 mins or until the top

    starts to go golden brown.

Yes, this is an easy, delicious dinner, with just a little bit of luxury thrown in! -Halloumi, Tomato and Basil Pasta Bake - Gluten Free!

Halloumi, Tomato and Basil Pasta Bake - Gluten Free!

Halloumi, Tomato and Basil Pasta Bake - Gluten Free! - Sparkles in the Everyday! (10)

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Halloumi, Tomato and Basil Pasta Bake - Gluten Free is a delicious & easy recipe for family dinners with a little bit of luxury added in!

Author: www.sparklesintheeveryday.com

Recipe type: Pasta Bake

Ingredients

  • 2 fresh tomatoes- diced
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 small onion-finely chopped
  • ½ tablespoon of minced garlic -you can use fresh garlic
  • 250g Halloumi cheese- cut into lengths
  • 1 cup of Parmesan cheese
  • 400g canned tomatoes
  • Fresh Oregano leaves
  • Fresh basil leaves
  • Freshly ground pepper
  • 500g gluten free penne - cooked according to packet instructions

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees - (moderate oven)
  2. Cook the gluten free pasta and wash in water to rinse and let it drain.
  3. In a large saucepan, add olive oil, garlic and onion and cook for 4-5 minutes, or until just softened.
  4. Add the fresh tomatoes and cook it till they soften and then add a can of tomatoes.
  5. Add oregano, basil and cracked pepper and bring to the boil.
  6. While the sauce is simmering, cut the Halloumi into lengths, add some olive oil to a frypan and cook Halloumi on both sides till golden brown, (about 1-2 minutes on each side). Cut into cubes and add to the sauce.
  7. Add the cooked pasta to the sauce and stir through so all the pasta is covered.
  8. Layer ½ the pasta mixture into an oven proof dish, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and the basil, then add the remaining pasta mixture.
  9. Top with more Parmesan cheese and basil and bake in a moderate oven for 20 mins or until the top starts to go golden brown.

Enjoy!

😉

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Easy Gluten Free Lemon Chicken Piccata

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Joanne T Ferguson

    Gday Thanks for sharing at our #SayGdayParty and how YUM! Thanks for sharing your carrot cake too; both pinned!
    Please revisit and say G'day to the hosts and another person at the party if you already haven't You can pin up to 3 each week! Cheers! Joanne What's On The List?

    Reply

  2. Rachael A

    I love Halloumi but I always seem to grill it and have it in pittas so its nice to see an alternative idea!

    Reply

  3. Sophie at Franglaise Cooking

    Oh, that looks divine - I love a pasta bake when the weather turns cooler, and this one looks just amazing! Pinning it now.
    #TastyTuesdays

    Reply

  4. Honest Mum

    Gorgeous pasta bake, we adore halloumi here too (obviously)! Thanks for linking up to #tastytuesdays

    Reply

  5. Mike

    This was a really great way to use up some leftovers from vegetable skewers on the BBQ! Threw in some roughly chopped courgette and cooked hamburger - delicious. Thanks for the idea 😁

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Halloumi, Tomato and Basil Pasta Bake - Gluten Free! - Sparkles in the Everyday! (2024)

FAQs

Does halloumi melt in a sauce? ›

It has a unique flavor and texture. It doesn't melt, making it so versatile for recipes. And it adds a meaty texture to otherwise plain salads or meals.

Is there gluten in halloumi? ›

Yes – halloumi is completely gluten free! Halloumi is a brined, rubbery cheese, often grilled and eaten on the BBQ. This delicious cheese originates from Cyprus and it has a high melting point – hence why it's often eaten grilled.

Can you freeze halloumi after cooking? ›

Yes it can. It doesn't particularly benefit it, but it won't destroy the structure to do it.

Is halloumi healthy? ›

When eaten regularly in large quantities halloumi can be considered unhealthy, as this fried cheese is pretty high in saturated fat and salt. However, when eaten sporadically as part of a balanced diet, halloumi has a range of health benefits, as it's high in calcium and protein.

Does halloumi melt like mozzarella? ›

You may be thinking this sounds messy, but Halloumi is a cheese that won't melt so it retains its texture and shape. If heated, the surface caramelizes slightly and the inside softens.

What is halloumi made from? ›

Halloumi is a semi-hard cheese made principally in Cyprus from sheep or goat milk or mixture of the two. The raw milk is coagulated as for Feta cheese. The blocks of the cheese (10 × 10 × 3 cm) are heated at 92–95°C in the whey extracted during draining.

Is halloumi a dairy or protein? ›

Originally from Cyprus, halloumi cheese is a popular dairy product. Its firm texture and unique savory taste are enjoyed worldwide. Given that it provides a good amount of protein and calcium in each serving, adding it to your diet may enhance your bone health and protect against type 2 diabetes.

What cheese is naturally gluten-free? ›

Goat cheese is gluten-free. Mozzarella cheese is gluten-free. Parmesan cheese is gluten-free.

What goes nice with halloumi? ›

I am a fan of sweet and salty, so I'll always opt for a drizzle of honey on top of my halloumi fries and fresh fruit like grapes, berries, or figs next to it. You can also serve fried halloumi as part of a delicious salad like my roasted asparagus and tomato salad or Roasted Vegetable Salad.

How to tell if halloumi is off? ›

Moreover, a strong sour smell or change in color can also indicate that the cheese is past its prime.

Can I eat halloumi raw? ›

What is halloumi? Originating from Cyprus, halloumi is a semi-hard, un-ripened, brined cheese that can be made from cow, sheep or goat's milk. It can be eaten raw but is truly delicious cooked, having a high melting point, makes it an excellent choice for grilling or frying.

Does halloumi melt when grated? ›

A slice of cheddar or mozzarella would melt right through the grates. But not halloumi. This cheese, which hails from Cyprus, has a uniquely firm texture and high melting point, so it can stand up to all sorts of cooking methods: pan-frying, roasting, broiling, grilling, or frying.

Does halloumi have a melting point? ›

It has a high melting point and so can easily be fried or grilled, a property that makes it a popular meat substitute. Rennet (mostly vegetarian or microbial) is used to curdle the milk in halloumi production, although no acid-producing bacteria are used in its preparation.

What cheese melts well in sauce? ›

8 Best Cheeses for Melting in Pastas, Paninis, Omelets, Casseroles, and More
  1. Fontina. Fontina can be buttery and a bit fruity; Fontina Val d'Aosta, from Italy's Aosta Valley, is firmer, more pungent, and nuttier (and always made of raw milk). ...
  2. Gouda. ...
  3. Asiago. ...
  4. Taleggio. ...
  5. Reblochon. ...
  6. Provolone. ...
  7. Mozzarella. ...
  8. Gruyère.
Oct 18, 2023

Can you heat up halloumi? ›

Reheating: The easiest way to reheat baked halloumi is in the microwave for just 1 to 2 minutes. Baked halloumi softens when reheated in the microwave. Alternatively, reheat it on a pan over medium heat to re-crisp it.

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