A few years ago, you’d have to visit a specialty supermarket or gourmet shop to find Halloumi. These days, this squeaky Mediterranean cheese is becoming widely available as more and more people discover how tasty it is. Whether eaten straight out of the packaging, fried on the stovetop or baked in the oven, you’ll be glad you decided to try Halloumi.
Although it’s been enjoyed in Cyprus for centuries, Halloumi recently experienced a surge of popularity in the West. If you’ve seen it in the dairy section of your local grocery store, go ahead and pick up a block and experience something new!
If you’re a Halloumi newbie, keep reading to learn all you need to know about this unique cheese. You’ll even learn a simple, delicious recipe for crispy, flavorful pan-fried Halloumi. Enjoy it as a savory, high-protein snack or use it to upgrade salads, burgers or kebabs.
What is Halloumi?
Halloumi is a traditional Mediterranean cheese that originated on the island of Cyprus. Made with a combination of sheep’s and goat’s milk, this is a semi-hard cheese with a similar texture to Italian mozzarella. Thanks to its uniquely high melting point, Halloumi is perfect for baking, grilling or frying, which produces incredibly delicious results.
How Healthy is Halloumi?
Halloumi is high in protein, weighing in at over 6 grams per 1-ounce serving. This makes it great for fighting mid-afternoon fatigue and building muscle mass. It’s very low in carbs, so it could be a tasty option for anyone on a ketogenic diet. Due to its high sodium and fat content, Halloumi isn’t the healthiest cheese. Enjoy it as an occasional treat as part of a balanced diet.
What Does Halloumi Cheese Taste Like?
Halloumi is brined in a salt water solution, so you can expect a salty taste. When eaten uncooked, this cheese has a stretchy, spongy texture that may remind you of mozzarella or squeaky cheese curds. When fried or grilled, the saltiness becomes more balanced and the exterior of the cheese becomes delightfully crispy. Inside, cooked Halloumi is creamy and gooey with a strong, savory flavor.
How to Prepare Halloumi Cheese
Halloumi Cheese is unique because it has a higher melting point than most cheeses. This means it can be baked, grilled and fried without losing its shape. One of the easiest ways to prepare it is by pan frying it in olive oil. Pan-fried halloumi can be enjoyed on its own or used to jazz up other dishes.
FAQs
What Does Halloumi Go Well With?
Enjoy Halloumi with traditional Mediterranean dishes like a mezze platter or as a substitute for feta in a Greek salad. Chunks of Halloumi can even be added to shrimp or chicken kebabs and cooked on the grill. If you love pork or chicken gyros, prepare to be amazed when you add pieces of fried Halloumi to your pita wrap! Halloumi is also totally delicious on its own, whether cooked or uncooked.
Is Halloumi Actually Cheese?
Halloumi is a semi-hard cheese that was first produced in Cyprus several centuries ago. It’s traditionally made using a mixture of sheep’s and goat’s milk, but in more modern varieties, cow’s milk is sometimes used. Like other dairy products, Halloumi is high in calcium and protein, though it tends to be higher in fat in comparison to similar cheeses like mozzarella or feta.
Which Other Cheese is Similar to Halloumi?
Although nothing truly compares, Halloumi can is sometimes substituted for feta or mozzarella. Halloumi and feta have a similar flavor, but the latter is more dry and crumbly, without the former’s signature “squeakiness.” Mozzarella has a similar creamy, elastic texture, but melts much quicker than Halloumi, making it less ideal for grilling or frying.
Also worth mentioning is the Saganaki Cheese which hails from Greece. Like Halloumi, it’s often fried until crispy and garnished with herbs.
What is the Best Way to Eat Halloumi Cheese?
Halloumi is unique because it has a higher melting point than most cheeses. This means it can be baked, grilled and fried without losing its shape. One of the tastiest ways to enjoy this Cypriot cheese is by pan frying it in olive oil, served atop a fresh salad or in a burger. Although it can be eaten straight out of the package, the flavors of Halloumi are so much more intense after cooking.
How Many Calories Are in Halloumi?
Halloumi has a high fat content, which also means it’s quite calorie dense. An ounce of this cheese (28 grams) has 110 calories. For context, both mozzarella and feta cheeses are around 78 calories per ounce. Because of its relatively high caloric content, it may be best to enjoy Halloumi as an occasional treat, rather than an everyday cheese.
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Fried Halloumi Cheese Recipe
Ingredients
- 8 -ounce package Halloumi cheese
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Serving ideas – optional
- ¼ cup fresh basil leaves roughly torn
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes or cayenne
- ½ cup grape tomatoes halved
Instructions
- Place the Halloumi cheese on a cutting board. Pat it dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture. Then cut into slices about ¼-inch thick.
- Place a non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. When hot, add the olive oil followed by the Halloumi slices.
- Fry the Halloumi for a minute or two, or until golden underneath. Using kitchen tongs, flip the slices and fry another minute or two on the other side.
- Remove to a serving plate and sprinkle the optional basil and red pepper flakes evenly on top, interspersed with the optional tomatoes. Serve warm.
Notes
- Storage: Halloumi is best served warm as the texture will become rubbery as it cools and then hardens in the fridge. You can resuscitate it in the microwave although the texture will only recover partially.
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