Grilled Halloumi and Baby Spinach Toasts

Thoughts & Inspiration

I love toasted sour dough bread.  This open faced sandwich has potential to be turned into a small fun appetizer to entertain with or it can become a hearty dinner.  It's a cheese lover dream.

Halloumi - semi-hard, unripened brined cheese made from a mixture of goats, sheep and/or cows' milk.  Frying and grilling this cheese is easy since it has a high melting point!  

Serves 4

Cook Time:  25 minutes

Ingredients

1 Tbls olive oil

3 cloves of garlic sliced thin

1 package of baby spinach

Salt/Pepper/Crushed red pepper to taste

1 tsp Truffle Oil (optional)

2 tsps olive oil

4 slices sourdough bread

1 tsp olive oil

8 x 1/2 inch slices of Halloumi Cheese

4 Tbls sweet chili sauce (Trader Joes brand or any other) 

In a non-stick pan saute garlic in olive oil on medium-low heat for about 2-3 minutes.  Add baby spinach leaves.  Mix and add truffle oil, salt, pepper and crushed red pepper according to your taste.  Let baby spinach wilt for about 4-5 minutes.  Remove from heat and place spinach into a bowl.  (This can be prepared beforehand.)

Using a grill pan, grill sourdough bread slice with olive oil (brush some of the olive oil on each side of bread) on medium heat for about 3 minutes on each side (if you do not have a grill pan, use a regular pan and toast both sides of bread).

In non-stick pan grill the halloumi cheese in olive oil on medium heat for 3 minutes on each side.

To assemble:  Take 1 slice of the grilled sourdough bread and spread 1 Tbls sweet chili sauce evenly.  Top with 1/4 sauteed spinach followed by 2 slices of the grilled halloumi.  Enjoy while the halloumi is still warm.