Description
A flavorful and hearty aubergine, halloumi, and harissa skillet bake featuring tender aubergine slices and salty halloumi cheese layered over a spicy tomato and harissa sauce. This easy oven-baked dish combines Mediterranean flavors and is perfect served with warm flatbreads, rice, or couscous for a satisfying vegetarian meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables & Sauce
- 2–4 tbsp olive oil, plus a drizzle
- 1 large aubergine, sliced into rounds about ½cm thick
- 2 large garlic cloves, crushed
- 400g can chopped tomatoes
- 1 tbsp harissa paste
- ½ tsp caster sugar
- Pinch of dried mint
Dairy
- 225g block halloumi, sliced into 8–9 pieces
To Serve
- Flatbreads, rice or couscous
Instructions
- Prepare and fry aubergine slices: Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a roughly 22cm ovenproof skillet or frying pan. Add aubergine slices in a single layer (work in batches if necessary) and cook for 2-3 minutes per side until golden and softened, adding another 1 tbsp oil between batches. Transfer cooked aubergine to a plate and set aside.
- Cook garlic and make spicy tomato sauce: If the pan is dry, add 1 tbsp olive oil. Fry the crushed garlic until sizzling but not browned. Add chopped tomatoes, harissa paste, caster sugar, and a pinch of salt. Let sauce bubble for a minute while squashing the tomatoes to break them down. Remove pan from heat and allow sauce to cool slightly.
- Arrange aubergine and halloumi in skillet: Halve each slice of halloumi (pieces may fall apart). Layer aubergine and halloumi slices in overlapping concentric circles over the tomato mixture within the skillet, alternating so there is one or two halloumi pieces between each aubergine slice. Drizzle a little more olive oil on top and sprinkle with dried mint.
- Bake the skillet dish: Cover the skillet with foil and bake in a preheated oven at 180°C (160°C fan)/gas mark 4 for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 5-10 minutes until the halloumi begins to brown and slightly crisp.
- Serve: Serve the aubergine, halloumi, and harissa skillet bake hot, accompanied by warm flatbreads, rice, or couscous.
Notes
- Use an ovenproof skillet or frying pan suitable for baking in the oven for convenience and even cooking.
- You can adjust the spiciness by using more or less harissa paste according to taste.
- Be careful to not overcook garlic to avoid bitterness – fry until fragrant and sizzling but not browned.
- This dish works well as a vegetarian main or a hearty side.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge and reheat gently to preserve texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Keywords: aubergine recipe, halloumi recipe, harissa dish, vegetarian skillet bake, Mediterranean bake, easy vegetarian dinner
