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Vegetarian Moroccan Sharing Platter

Prep Time 40 mins
Cook Time 40 mins
Total Time 1 hr 20 mins
Servings 4

Ingredients
  

  • 50 g pistachio nuts
  • 50 g blanched almonds
  • ¼ tsp chilli flakes
  • ¼ tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tbsp honey

For the halloumi morsels

  • 200 g pack halloumi
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • ¼ tsp cumin seeds
  • Large pinch of chilli powder

For the spiced carrot dip

  • 3 chopped carrots
  • 1 tsp harissa paste
  • ½ tsp ground cumin
  • Pinch of ground ginger
  • 1 garlic clove
  • 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
  • 4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

For the spinach and feta parcels

  • 25 g butter
  • 300 g fresh spinach
  • Four 15cm x 40cm sheets of filo pastry
  • 100 g crumbled feta cheese
  • 1 beaten egg

Instructions
 

  • Heat a heavy-based frying pan over a medium heat and toast pistachio nuts and blanched almonds for 3 to 4 mins, until golden.
  • Add chilli flakes and ground cumin and toast for 1 min. Drizzle over 1tbsp honey and heat until bubbling, then cook for 2 mins or until dark gold.
  • Tip the nuts onto greaseproof paper and cool.

For the halloumi morsels

  • Cut the halloumi into bite-size pieces. Heat 1tbsp olive oil in a frying pan and fry the cheese for 2 to 3 mins over a high heat until golden all over.
  • Add 1tbsp olive oil, ¼ tsp cumin seeds and a large pinch of chilli powder and heat through for 1 min. Serve warm.

For the spiced carrot dip

  • Simmer 3 chopped carrots in a small saucepan of water for 10 mins, until really soft. Transfer to a food processor and blend.
  • Add 1tsp harissa paste, ½ tsp ground cumin, pinch of ground ginger, 1 garlic clove, 1tbsp red wine vinegar, 4tbsp extra virgin olive oil and blend again. Season with salt. Serve with pitta bread or crudités.

For the spinach and feta parcels

  • Preheat the oven to 200ºC/400ºF/Gas Mark 6. Melt the butter in a frying pan over a high heat and add the fresh spinach. Cook until wilted, tossing it about so it cooks evenly and all the liquid disappears. Tip the spinach into a bowl and allow to cool.
  • Meanwhile to make eight parcels, cut each sheet of filo pastry (defrosted if frozen) into two strips around 7.5cm (3in) wide.
  • Add the crumbled feta cheese and 1 beaten egg to the cooled spinach and season with black pepper and pinch of nutmeg. Place a spoonful of the spinach at one end of one strip of filo and fold over the corner to make a triangle shape, then fold the triangle down the length of the pastry in the same way. Repeat with the rest of the spinach mixture and the filo pastry strips.
  • Place the parcels on a baking sheet and brush generously with olive oil, then sprinkle with paprika. Bake for 12 to 15 mins until golden. Serve warm.

Notes

Keep an eye on the halloumi while it cooks: it may look like nothing is happening for ages but it can burn in seconds!