That's quite a mouthful isn't it? Sweet Chilli Halloumi Brussels Sprout Bowls. Thing is, I just didn't really know how else to describe it. Anyway, the most important thing you need to know - it's delicious. This is some real comfort food right here.
I know many of you are probably headlong into some January healthy eating thing and that's cool. But for me, at this time of year, I'm craving cosy bowls of comfort food. So I wouldn't exactly call this dish healthy. I mean, it starts out well, with hearty brown rice and roasted veggies but then we're topping it off with cheese coated in a sticky and spicy sweet chilli sauce. Shall we call it balance? It's January and it's cold. That's my story and I'm sticking with it.
You can make this as mild or as spicy as you like. I've made it a few times over the past few weeks and the first time it had the perfect level of heat. The second time, my chilli wasn't very hot so it wasn't spicy enough and so I made a mental note to increase it next time. And when I made it to take these photos, I nearly blew our faces off it was so spicy! That'll teach me to double the amount of chilli without even testing how hot it was! A glass of milk later and all was well again, but I would definitely tread carefully with the chilli here!
This is the perfect meal to whip up after you've come home from a long day at work as it takes barely any time to prepare and it's JUST. SO. GOOD. Who wouldn't want to eat a bowlful of spicy fried cheese at the end of a hard day at work? Ok, not quite a bowlful. Just a smattering over the top of some genuinely wholesome ingredients. Now that's a dinner win in my book.
You can use whichever roasted vegetables you like here but please don't skip the brussels sprouts! I didn't (ever so eloquently) call these Sweet Chilli Halloumi Brussels Sprout Bowls for nothing! The brussels sprouts are non-negotiable. Seriously, once roasted, brussels sprouts turn all nutty and caramelised and downright incredible so don't skip them even if you think you hate them! Just look at them up there, all burnished and bronze. They're basically crisps! They taste so addictively good with the sweet chilli sauce and the chewy salty halloumi. These bowls have got it all. You must try!
And if you're looking for some lighter comfort food, check out my Baked Chipotle Salmon Freekeh Bowls, Crispy Tofu Black Rice Bowls or my Autumn Nourish Bowls with Roasted Swede.
📖 Recipe
Sweet Chilli Halloumi Brussels Sprout Bowls
Equipment
Ingredients
- 500 g brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved (~1 lb)
- 2 bell peppers, thinly sliced
- 225 g block halloumi cheese, cubed
- 1-2 red chillies, finely chopped*
- 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 4 tablespoons vinegar**
- 4 tablespoons honey
- 2 teaspoons soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
- 300 g brown rice
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 200°C (400°F).
- Place the brussels sprouts and bell peppers onto a baking sheet. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon rapeseed or olive oil and season to taste with salt and pepper. Toss well to mix. Place in oven and cook for 25-30 minutes until browned and crisp around the edges.500 g brussels sprouts, 2 bell peppers
- Cook the brown rice according to the package instructions.300 g brown rice
- Heat a little oil in a frying pan. Add the halloumi cubes and fry until browned all over. This should take about 5 minutes. Remove and set aside.225 g block halloumi cheese
- In a small bowl, whisk together the chopped chillies, garlic, vinegar, honey, soy sauce and sesame oil. Pour into the hot frying pan and bring to the boil. Cook rapidly for about 2-3 minutes, until starting to thicken and reduce. Add back the halloumi and cook for a further 2-3 minutes until the cheese is nicely coated but you still have a pourable sauce.1-2 red chillies, 3 cloves garlic, 4 tablespoons vinegar**, 4 tablespoons honey, 2 teaspoons soy sauce, 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
- Divide the brown rice between 4 bowls and serve up the roasted veggies on top. Top with the halloumi and sweet chilli sauce and serve immediately.
Notes
**use any vinegar you like. I've used both white and red wine vinegar to delicious effect. Apple cider or rice vinegar are both good choices too. I'd draw the line at malt vinegar though!
Kris says
I stumbled onto this recipe while searching for a way to use my Brussels sprouts and halloumi together (two ingredients that I had in my fridge). Let me just say, WOW! This recipe was delicious and far exceeded my expectations. I'll definitely cook it again. Thank you for posting. As I was low on honey, I substituted maple syrup and as I didn't have fresh red chilis, I instead added a spoonful of sriracha to the sauce. Both of these worked out well too. 🙂
Bernardine says
Splendid combination! A delicious, comforting meal. 😍
alex says
Can you clarify?? It says to brown the brussels sprouts and halloumi in the oven for 30 mins, and THEN cook the halloumi again in a frying pan? Is that right? Or did you mean brussel sprouts and bell peppers in the oven?
Sasha says
Apologies, that's a typo! Yes you got it, the brussels sprouts and bell peppers should go in the oven. Fixing the recipe now, thanks!
Carol Borchardt says
I love this new spin on Brussels sprouts! This is my kind of meal!
Sasha says
Hi Carol! Thanks so much - it's a great comfort food meal!
Nicoletta @sugarlovespices says
Oh yum! Comfort food in this cold and long January! Love the flavors going on here, Sasha! And it looks beautiful and colorful, too, which is good, since we eat with our eyes, first 🙂 .
Sasha says
Oh thank you Nicoletta, that's so kind of you to say! 🙂
Donna says
Oh yum, these sound amazing, and so unique!!! I LOVE anything to do with haloumi, so I will be trying these out soon for sure.
Sasha says
Thanks so much Donna! Yes, halloumi is the best! Hope you love these!
Hana | Nirvana Cakery says
I'm with you, I only do cozy comfort food in January too! Love those sprouts! xx
Sasha says
Thanks Hana! Cosy comfort food is the best!
Michelle @ The Last Food Blog says
This is perfect Sasha! I love Brussel's sprouts, especially if they are roasted and covered in sweet chilli! Yes please 😉 Xx
Sasha says
Thanks Michelle! It really is a winning combination isn't it?! The spicier the better for you I'm guessing? 😉 x