Halloumi cheese is a delicacy. It has a golden brown, crispy exterior, a soft, gooey interior, and a wonderfully savory flavor.
Halloumi is a unique cheese that has a high melting point. When you grill or pan-fry it, the pieces remain intact. You can enjoy them as savory finger food or use them in sandwiches and salads. Since it's so easy to make and ready in ten minutes, I buy it weekly. It's one of our favorite meatless meals.
Ingredients
You'll only need two ingredients to make this recipe. A block of halloumi cheese - it usually comes in 8-ounce blocks - and olive oil (or olive oil spray). See the recipe card for exact measurements.
My favorite brand is Aphrodite. You can find it at Whole Foods Market.
Instructions
Grilled Halloumi
The detailed instructions and step-by-step photos are included in the recipe card. Here's a quick overview.
Preheat a grill pan to medium and slice the block of cheese into eight slices. Spray the grill surfaces with olive oil. Cook the cheese slices until golden brown, for 3-5 minutes per side.
Serve immediately while the cheese is still hot.
Pan-Fried Halloumi
Instead of grilling this cheese, you can pan-fry it. The instructions are very similar. You slice the cheese, add olive oil to the frying pan, and heat it over medium heat. Fry the cheese slices until browned, about 3-5 minutes per side.
You can cook the cheese to your desired level of doneness. As you can see in the photo below, some of the slices are golden, while others are deep golden brown. I prefer the browned ones.
Here's the end result of pan-fried halloumi served on a plate.
So delicious! I hate to admit, but between the two of us, my husband and me polished off an entire block of cheese. So, so good.
Kathy
Read more comments
So delicious! I hate to admit, but between the two of us, my husband and me polished off an entire block of cheese. So, so good.Recipe Tips
- If you flip the cheese pieces on the grill or in the frypan and discover that they're too pale for your liking, keep cooking them on the second side, then flip them again and let them brown some more on the first side.
- While you can eat halloumi without cooking it first, it's not very good. Without cooking, it has a rubbery texture and is very salty. Cooking improves its texture and mellows its saltiness.
- Storage: Ideally, you should enjoy this cheese when freshly prepared. Keeping leftovers is like keeping a leftover grilled cheese sandwich. Reheating it in the microwave will be okay, but it won't be as good as when eaten fresh. Still, if you must, you can keep the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days. Reheat them in the microwave at 50% power.
Serving Suggestions
Salads: Halloumi is the perfect salad topping. Sometimes, I add it to this arugula salad to make it a complete meal. It's excellent in this Cobb salad and can replace the mozzarella in this Caprese salad.
Sandwiches: I often serve this cheese on a keto English muffin that I skillet-toast in olive oil, on thick slices of almond flour bread, or on 90-second bread. It's also excellent in a lettuce sandwich.
Snack: Halloumi is delicious by itself, eaten as finger food. This is my favorite way of enjoying it. See the photo below - this is a snack plate that my husband and I shared recently as an appetizer. It included pan-fried halloumi, salami, pickles, and red peppers.
Recipe Card
Halloumi Cheese: Grilled or Pan-Fried
Video
Ingredients
- 8 ounces halloumi cheese
- 1 tablespoon olive oil - extra-virgin; or olive oil spray
Instructions
- Slice the halloumi block into eight one-ounce slices.
Grilled Halloumi:
- Heat a nonstick grill pan over medium heat for about 5 minutes. I use a double-burnet grill pan.
- Grease the grill with olive oil. Place the cheese slices in the pan (in two batches if necessary). Cook them until crisp and browned, for about 3-5 minutes per side.
- Serve immediately, while the cheese is still warm.
Pan-Fried Halloumi:
- Heat the olive oil in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat.
- Add the cheese slices and fry until browned, 3-5 minutes per side.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
- While you can eat halloumi without cooking it first, it's not very good. Without cooking, it has a rubbery texture and is very salty. Cooking improves its texture and mellows its saltiness.
- If you flip the cheese pieces on the grill or in the frypan and discover that they're too pale for your liking, keep cooking them on the second side, then flip them again and let them brown some more on the first side.
- Ideally, you should enjoy this cheese when freshly prepared. But if you must, you can keep the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days. Reheat them in the microwave at 50% power.
Nutrition per Serving
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Disclaimers
Most recipes are low-carb and gluten-free, but some are not. Recommended and linked products are not guaranteed to be gluten-free. Nutrition info is approximate. Please verify it independently. The carb count excludes non-nutritive sweeteners. Please read these Terms of Use before using any of my recipes.
Kathy says
So delicious! I hate to admit, but between the two of us, my husband and me polished off an entire block of cheese. So, so good.
Vered DeLeeuw says
Haha I can totally relate, Kathy!