Here's how to perfectly grill halloumi cheese. Use it in salads or serve it as an appetizer - it's a delicious, salty treat.
Because of halloumi's unique texture it softens when grilled, but won't fully melt. It takes on a delicious flavor and forms a crackly, browned crust when heated.
It's an excellent ingredient to add to salads, sandwiches, or serve on its own as an appetizer.
What is Halloumi?
Halloumi is a goat, cow, or sheep's milk cheese common in the Mediterranean. It's a sturdy cheese that's salty and good for grilling or melting, similar to mozzarella.
It's commonly used in Cypriot, Greek, and Egyptian cuisine and is often used in salads, kabobs, and mezze plates.
It's known for having a 'squeaky' texture in its raw form - it has a rubbery texture because it's cooked at such a high heat when it's being made. This allows for it to get soft when it's grilled but not fully melted.
How to Use Halloumi
If you make grilled halloumi, you can serve it on its own or on a mezze plate, but you can also add it to lots of different dishes. Here are some of our favorite ways to eat halloumi.
- Grilled Halloumi Salad - fresh, crunchy vegetables, paired with toasted halloumi cheese.
- Grilled Halloumi Watermelon Salad - juicy watermelon, grilled halloumi, and lots of fresh herbs
- Grilled Halloumi Sandwich - crispy halloumi, fresh tomatoes, ciabatta, and a balsamic glaze
Tips for Making this Recipe
- Make sure to really oil both sides of the halloumi before sticking it on the grill or grill pan - you don't want it to stick!
- There's a fine line between burnt halloumi and perfectly crusted halloumi with grill lines - and it's about a 30-second window! Keep an eye on your halloumi while it grills, don't walk away.
Grilled Halloumi
Here's how to perfectly cook halloumi so it has a toasted crust and is slightly melted.
Ingredients
- 8 ounces halloumi cheese
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- optional - chopped mint or oregano
Instructions
- Heat a grill pan over medium-high heat or heat a grill to medium heat.
- Slice the halloumi into ¼ inch thick strips.
- Brush the halloumi slices with the olive oil, coating both sides of the cheese.
- Place the halloumi on the grill pan or grill and cook on each side for 2 to 3 minutes or until grill lines form and the cheese has slightly melted.
- Once the halloumi has cooked, remove it from the heat and squeeze some lemon juice on it.
- Optional - sprinkle the cheese with fresh herbs, like chopped mint or oregano
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 203Total Fat: 16gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 45mgSodium: 356mgCarbohydrates: 2gFiber: 0gSugar: 1gProtein: 13g