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Asian Shishito Halloumi Bacon Wraps

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Asian Shishito Halloumi Bacon Wraps

#SeriousFoodieRecipeChallenge #SeriousFoodie #BitesAroundTheWorld

Asian Shishito Halloumi Bacon Wraps

Asian Shishito Halloumi Bacon Wraps appetizers, bundles of bacon and dressed with a spicy glaze, yes please. How about wrapping a Shishito pepper and Halloumi cheese in the center? Only 6 ingredients that are going to blow your guests minds.

I’m participating in a bloggers recipe contest that is being sponsored by Serious Foodie. It’s an honor to be one of 50 food bloggers to be chosen to complete. If you know me, you know I love food competitions both live cook-offs and recipe entry contests. I didn’t compete at the largest cook-off this year but I have been super busy in the kitchen creating recipes for online contests.

So what did Serious Foodie mail to each competitor?

*Spice Rubs: Chinese BBQ, Filipino Grill, Asian Fusion (South Indian).

*Spicy condiments: Indonesian Sambal, Sri Lanka Coconut Lime, Vietnamese Sweet Chili Hot Sauce

The recipe challenge has 2 categories and I plan to enter them both!

One Grand Prize Winner: $1,000.00

One Entree Category Winner: $250 Cash Prize

One Appetizer Category Winner: $250 Cash Prize

Have you tried Halloumi cheese? It’s an incredibly fun cheese that has a high melting point. Halloumi or Haloumi is a semi-hard unriped cheese made from goat and sheeps milk with some varieties containing cow’s milk as well. Look for it in the specialty cheese case as your local grocers.

Let’s talk Shishito peppers!! While testing this recipe, I used Shishito from two different grocery stores. The photo above shows a longer Shishito and the lower picture shows a much shorter pepper. Both packages of peppers taste the same, mild and slightly peppery. Occasionally you might bite into a spicy pepper but for the most part they are very mild.

Can I use other kinds of bacon beside Hickory flavored?

I tested this recipe with only Hickory flavored but I am confident that flavors like Applewood, Maplewood or Original would work too. One thing I do recommend sticking with is thin cut bacon. Using a thicker cut requires longer cooking time where as this creates a super soft Shishito pepper.

Asian Shishito Halloumi Bacon Wraps

Refrain from brushing the outside of the bundle until after they have baked for 15 minutes. This will ensure the bacon can crisp up nicely. After the appetizers are done baking, brush them one last time to give them an outstanding glossy appearance.

Asian Shishito Halloumi Bacon Wraps

Can I prepare the wraps ahead of time?

Preparing any appetizer ahead of time helps keep you out of the kitchen and spending more time with your guests. Asian Shishito Halloumi Bacon wraps can be prepared up to the point of baking. They should however be served hot from the oven for the best flavor and bite. Halloumi cheese will regain its firm bite when it gets cold.

Asian Shishito Halloumi Bacon Wraps

Check out Serious Foodie products for gift giving and then follow them on their social media platforms for lots of recipes. Start with my other recipe entries Chinese BBQ Chicken Won-Nachos and Filipino Grill Jackfruit and Potato Bites with Coconut Lime Aioli, they both are soooo good. 

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Asian Shishito Halloumi Bacon Wraps

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Asian Shishito Halloumi Bacon Wraps are a sweet and spicy appetizer that will surprise your guests. Especially those who are not familiar with Shishito peppers and Halloumi cheese.

Ingredients

  • 12 slices thin cut hickory smoked bacon, cut in half
  • 24 shishito peppers (approximately 1 dry pint/8 oz.)
  • 1-8 oz. block of Halloumi cheese, cut into 24 pieces
  • 2 tbs. Serious Foodie Sweet/Spicy Rub
  • 2 tbs. oil
  • 1/4 cup plus 2 tbs. Serious Foodie Sweet Chili Hot Sauce, divided

Instructions

  1. Heat oven to 400 degrees.
  2. Combine the Serious Foodie Sweet/Spicy Rub and oil together. Pour over the shishito peppers and cut halloumi cheese in a bowl and toss gently to coat.
  3. On a work surface, lay out the bacon slices. Arrange one shishito pepper and a piece of halloumi cheese at one end of each bacon slice. Use 2 tbs. of the Serious Foodie Sweet Chili Hot Sauce, brush the upside surface of the bacon slices.
  4. Roll the wraps up starting at the side with the pepper and halloumi cheese. Lay them seam side down onto two baking sheets that are lined with parchment paper.
  5. Bake for 10 minutes then rotate and turn the baking sheets and continue baking for another 5 minutes.
  6. Remove from the oven and brush each wrap with Serious Foodie Sweet Chili Hot Sauce. Return to the oven and bake another 10 minutes are until the bacon is cooked and crispy.
  7. Remove from the oven and brush each wrap again with the Serious Foodie Sweet Chili Hot Sauce. Serve immediately as halloumi cheese tastes best when hot/warm.

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