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    Home » Appetizers » Halloumi Cheese

    Halloumi Cheese

    Last updated: Aug 15, 2023 · Recipes developed by Vered DeLeeuw and nutritionally reviewed by Rachel Benight MS, RD · This website generates income via ads and uses cookies.

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    Halloumi cheese is a delicacy. It has a golden brown, crispy exterior, a soft, gooey interior, and a wonderfully savory flavor.

    Halloumi is a magic cheese that you can grill or pan-fry, and it's ready in ten minutes! Enjoy it on its own, in a sandwich, or in salads.

    Four pieces of grilled halloumi cheese served on a white plate.

    Halloumi is a unique cheese that doesn't melt. 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.

    It's magic - a cheese that retains its shape when cooked! And since it's so easy to make, I buy it weekly at Whole Foods and make it for my family. It's one of our favorite meals.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Grilled Halloumi Instructions
    • Variation: Pan-Fried Halloumi
    • Expert Tip
    • Recipe FAQs
    • Serving Suggestions
    • Storing Leftovers
    • More Cheese Recipes
    • Recipe Card

    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). Scroll down to the recipe card for the exact measurements.

    The ingredients needed to cook halloumi cheese.

    My favorite brand is Aphrodite Halloumi. You can find it at Whole Foods Market:

    Aphrodite halloumi in its package.

    Grilled Halloumi Instructions

    Just like the list of ingredients, the instructions for making this recipe are delightfully short. You'll find the detailed instructions in the recipe card below. Here's an overview of the steps:

    • You start by slicing the block of cheese into eight slices. Try to keep them fairly equal in thickness. (Photo 1).
    • Brush the slices with olive oil. Alternatively, spray the grill surfaces with olive oil, as shown in the video below. (Photo 2).
    • Cook the halloumi slices in a grill pan over medium heat for 3-5 minutes per side - until golden brown. (Photo 3).
    • Serve immediately while the cheese is still hot. (Photo 4).
    A four-photo collage showing the steps for grilling halloumi cheese.

    Variation: 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 halloumi 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.

    Halloumi slices getting pan-fried in a skillet.

    Here's the end result of pan-fried halloumi served on a plate. Between the two of us, my husband and I had no trouble polishing off the entire plate!

    Pan-fried halloumi cheese on a white plate.

    Expert Tip

    If you flip the halloumi 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.

    Recipe FAQs

    What is halloumi cheese?

    Halloumi is a semi-hard, unripened brined cheese from Cyprus. It's made from a mixture of goat and sheep milk. It tastes like a combination of fresh mozzarella and feta.

    What's unique about this cheese is its high melting point, making it an ideal candidate for grilling or frying.

    Can you microwave halloumi?

    You can, but it won't be as good. The entire point when cooking this cheese is getting a beautiful golden-brown crust. The microwave can't do that.

    Is it better to grill or fry halloumi?

    Both are equally good, in my experience. If you're too lazy to use the grill, and quick pan-frying is easier, go for it! I've made it both ways, and both are excellent. Both methods produce a gooey interior and a crispy exterior.

    Can you eat halloumi cheese uncooked?

    Yes, but it's not very good. Without cooking, it has a rubbery texture, and it's also very salty. Cooking improves its texture and mellows its saltiness.

    Serving Suggestions

    Salads: Halloumi is a lovely 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 halloumi 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. I make a yummy plate of grilled or pan-fried halloumi, avocado deviled eggs, fresh-cut veggies with sour cream dip, quick pickles, and olives.

    Storing Leftovers

    Ideally, you should enjoy halloumi when freshly prepared. Keeping leftovers is like keeping a leftover grilled cheese sandwich. It will be okay when you reheat it in the microwave. But it won't be as good as when eaten fresh.

    Still, if you must, you can keep the leftovers in the fridge, in an airtight container, for up to five days. Reheat them in the microwave at 50% power. 

    Four slices of grilled halloumi cheese served on a white plate.

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    👩🏻‍🍳 I aim to publish a new recipe once or twice a month. Want these recipes in your inbox? Subscribe today! You can unsubscribe at any time.

    Recipe Card

    Grilled halloumi cheese served on a white plate.
    4.97 from 133 votes
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    Halloumi Cheese: Grilled or Pan-Fried

    Halloumi cheese is a delicacy. It has a golden brown, crispy exterior, a soft and gooey interior, and a savory flavor. It's a magic cheese that you can cook!
    Prep Time10 minutes mins
    Total Time10 minutes mins
    Course: Snack
    Cuisine: Greek
    Servings: 8 slices
    Calories: 105kcal
    Author: Vered DeLeeuw
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    Ingredients

    • 8 ounces halloumi cheese
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil or olive oil spray

    Instructions

    • Slice the halloumi block into eight one-ounce slices.
    • Brush the slices with olive oil on both sides.
    • Heat a nonstick grill pan over medium heat for about 5 minutes.
    • Place the cheese slices in the pan (in two batches if necessary). Cook them on each side for 3-5 minutes until crisp and browned.
    • To pan-fry the cheese, heat the olive oil in a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the cheese slices and fry until browned, 3-5 minutes per side.
    • Serve the cheese immediately while still hot.

    Video

    Notes

    • If you flip the halloumi 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 halloumi when freshly prepared. But if you must, you can keep the leftovers in the fridge, in an airtight container, for up to five days. Reheat them in the microwave at 50% power.

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    Nutrition per Serving

    Serving: 1slice | Calories: 105kcal | Carbohydrates: 0.1g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 9g | Sodium: 297mg
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    DisclaimersMost of our recipes are low-carb (or keto) and gluten-free, but some are not. Please verify that a recipe fits your needs before using it. Recommended and linked products are not guaranteed to be gluten-free. Nutrition info is approximate, and the carb count excludes non-nutritive sweeteners. Nutrition info may contain errors, so please verify it independently. Recipes may contain errors, so please use your common sense when following them. Please read our Terms of Use carefully before using any of our recipes.

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    About the Author

    Vered Deleeuw Vered DeLeeuw, LL.M., CNC, has been following a low-carb real-food diet and blogging about it since 2011. She's a Certified Nutrition Coach (NASM-CNC), has taken courses at the Harvard School of Public Health, and has earned a Nutrition and Healthy Living Certificate from Cornell University. Her work has appeared in several major media outlets, including Healthline, HuffPost, Today, Women's Health, Shape, and Country Living. Click to learn more about Vered.

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    Healthy Recipes Blog was founded in 2011 by Vered DeLeeuw. It features real-food recipes with a focus on low-carb and gluten-free ingredients. All recipes are nutritionally reviewed by a Registered Dietitian. Contact us at HealthyRecipesBlog@gmail.com.


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