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    Home » Appetizers » Grilled Halloumi Cheese

    Grilled Halloumi Cheese

    Last updated: Aug 21, 2022 · 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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    Grilled Halloumi cheese is a delicacy. Golden brown, crispy exterior. Soft, gooey interior, and a wonderfully savory flavor.

    It's a magic cheese that you can grill, and it's ready in just 10 minutes! Enjoy it on its own, in a sandwich, or in salads.

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

    Have you heard about the cheese that doesn't melt? When cooked, it has a browned, crusty exterior, a soft, gooey interior, and an intensely savory flavor. It truly is magic - a cheese that retains its shape when grilled.

    So you grill this cheese and it doesn't turn into a melty mess! Instead, it develops a crispy exterior and a soft, delicious interior.

    The pieces remain intact and you can enjoy them as savory finger food. Yes, it's as good as it sounds. And that magic cheese is called halloumi.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Expert tip
    • Frequently asked questions
    • Variations
    • Serving suggestions
    • Storing leftovers
    • Related recipes
    • Recipe Card

    Ingredients

    The beauty of this recipe is that you only need TWO ingredients to make it! The exact amounts you'll need are listed in the recipe card below.

    But basically, you'll need a block of halloumi cheese - it usually comes in 8-ounce blocks - and some olive oil. That's it!

    Instructions

    Just like the list of ingredients, the instructions for making this recipe are wonderfully short. You'll find the details in the recipe card below. Here are the basic steps:

    You start by slicing the block of cheese into eight slices. Try to keep them fairly equal in thickness.

    Now, brush the slices with olive oil. It adds great flavor! Alternatively, you can simply spray the grill surfaces with olive oil, as shown in the video below.

    Then cook the halloumi slices in a grill pan over medium heat for about 3 minutes per side. That's it!

    A four-photo collage showing the steps for grilling halloumi cheese.

    Expert tip

    While you can eat this cheese without cooking it first, it won't be very good. Without cooking it has a rubbery texture and it's also very salty. Cooking improves its texture and mellows its saltiness.

    Frequently asked questions

    What is halloumi cheese?

    It's 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 that it has a high melting point, which makes it an ideal candidate for grilling or frying.

    Can you microwave it?

    I was recently asked in an email about microwaving this cheese. I haven't tried that, and I doubt it would be as good as grilling or pan-frying. The entire point is getting that beautiful golden-brown crust. The microwave can't do that.

    Is it better to grill or fry halloumi?

    Both are equally good, in my opinion. 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.

    Variations

    1. You can sprinkle the cheese with spices before grilling. I don't usually do that - I prefer the natural flavor of the cheese. But if you'd like to try, a few tasty options include smoked paprika, ground cumin, and garlic powder. I don't recommend using dried herbs, as they tend to burn when grilled.
    2. Instead of grilling this cheese, you can pan-fry it. The instructions are pretty much identical. You slice the cheese, spray the frying pan with olive oil, heat it over medium heat, then fry the cheese slices until browned, about 3 minutes per side.

    Serving suggestions

    This tasty cheese makes a wonderful salad topping. Sometimes I add it to this arugula salad to turn it into a complete meal.

    Other times, I serve it on a keto English muffin that I skillet-toast in olive oil or on thick slices of almond flour bread.

    It's also delicious all by itself, eaten as finger food. This is actually my favorite way of enjoying this tasty cheese.

    Storing leftovers

    Ideally, you should enjoy this recipe when freshly prepared. Keeping leftovers is kind of 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 leftovers in the fridge, in an airtight container, for 3-4 days. Reheat them very gently in the microwave on 50% power, or eat them cold. 

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

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    Recipe Card

    Grilled halloumi cheese served on a white plate.
    4.97 from 127 votes
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    Grilled Halloumi Cheese

    Grilled Halloumi cheese is a delicacy. Golden brown, crispy exterior. Soft, gooey interior, and a wonderfully savory flavor. It's a magic cheese that you can grill!
    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

    • 1 (8 oz) package halloumi cheese
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil

    Optional:

    • A pinch of spices (such as smoked paprika, ground cumin, and garlic powder)*

    Instructions

    • Slice the halloumi block into eight (1 oz) slices.
    • Brush the slices with olive oil on both sides.
    • Heat a nonstick grill pan over medium heat for about 5 minutes. If you don't own a grill pan, a regular nonstick pan will work, although the fried cheese won't look as pretty without the grill marks.
    • Place the cheese slices in the pan (work in two batches if necessary). Cook for 3 minutes on each side, until crisp and browned. Serve immediately.

    Video

    Notes

    Instead of grilling the cheese, you can pan-fry it. The instructions are pretty much identical. You slice the cheese, spray the frying pan with olive oil, heat it over medium heat, then fry the cheese slices until browned, about 3 minutes per side.
    *You can sprinkle the cheese with spices before grilling. I don't usually do that - I prefer the natural flavor of the cheese. But if you'd like to try, a few tasty options include smoked paprika, ground cumin, and garlic powder. I don't recommend using dried herbs, as they tend to burn when grilled.

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    Nutrition per Serving

    Serving: 1slice | Calories: 105kcal | Carbohydrates: 0.1g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 9g | Sodium: 297mg
    SubscribeI typically publish a new or updated recipe once a week. Want the new recipes in your inbox? Subscribe today! You can unsubscribe at any time.
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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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