WINTER SALE: Save up to $862 on our trips! Book now and secure your adventure!

11 Different and Delicious Ways to Eat Halloumi

Grilled Halloumi cheese
Grilled Halloumi cheese | ©CTO Zurich/Flickr

A semi-hard cheese made of sheep’s, goat’s and cow’s milk, halloumi originates from Cyprus. Its popularity beyond the Mediterranean is due to the fact that halloumi maintains its shape even if you fry or grill it, thanks to its high melting point. Instead, it gets a crispy crust while its interior softens. As such, it is perfect for a variety of recipes. From salads to curry, here are different ways to eat halloumi.

Traditional Cypriot Flaounes

Traditionally prepared for Easter by Orthodox Cypriots as well as for Ramadan for Muslim Turkish Cypriots, flaounes are cheese pastries usually decorated with raisins and/or sesame seeds. Depending on the region, these babies can be sweet or savoury and infused with different aromas such as mastic or mahlab (mahlepi).

Easter Flaounes pastry

Halloumi Cheese Bread Rolls

Perfect to pair with your meal or to use as sandwich buns, these halloumi cheese bread rolls are great for cheese lovers. The dough is simple and includes grated halloumi to get you a pop of bursting cheese flavor with every bite. The recipe calls for a dash of garlic, which complements the halloumi. Want to have a go? Check the recipe ASAP!

Lemon Haloumi Chicken

Sometimes, coming up with a balanced and delicious dinner can be a headache, so for those weeknights when you have no inspiration, this easy-peasy lemon and halloumi chicken is what you need. The bonus is that everything goes into one pan, and there’s less than 20 minutes of cooking. All you have to do is get your chicken breasts ready, some halloumi cheese, lemon and some herbs. Yummy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMGlUDQ5Xr8

Halloumi Fries

That’s right, we are talking about deep-fried cheese sticks. A hit for those looking to reduce their carb intake, these delicious protein-packed fries that go well with any sauce. With only 10 minutes of prep time and 10 minutes of frying, you’ve got yourself a crowd-pleaser.

Halloumi and Watermelon Salad

Summer time in Greece is synonymous with ending a great meal with watermelon. But don’t limit it to dessert; incorporate it into your meal with this easy halloumi and watermelon salad. The saltiness of the cheese is complemented by the sweetness of the watermelon, making it a refreshing and delicious salad to eat when the temperatures rise. Since halloumi tastes best when it’s warm, make sure to cut the watermelon and other ingredients ahead of time.

Veggie kebabs with halloumi

Vegetarians rejoice! This one is for your next barbecue dinner. You don’t have to forego the experience altogether by not eating meat. And even if you do, this quick and easy recipe will prove you that you don’t need to eat meat to enjoy a delicious barbecue with friends. This vegetarian-friendly alternative to souvlaki includes colorful vegetables and cubes of marinated halloumi. Serve with pitta bread and a scoop of Greek yoghurt or tzatziki sauce.

Halloumi kebabs

Cashew Nut Curry with Halloumi and Broccoli

Colder weather calls for heart-warming, creamy food. Enter this delicious vegetarian-friendly cashew nut curry with halloumi and broccoli. It’s also fairly easy. Combine ground cashews, coconut milk and tomatoes into a sauce, which is then cooked down with spices while you fry the halloumi in a frying pan. See? We told you it was easy.

Halloumi Cheese Burger

By now you will have gathered that halloumi is a great alternative to meat. In this recipe it substitutes meat in a burger. Cut into slices, coat the cheese with flour, an egg mixture, dip in breadcrumbs and fry. Only fry for a few minutes to make the inside soft.You can add grilled prawns to your burger or simply add some garnishes and serve with a salad.

Homemade Haloumi and Coriander Ravioli

This recipe is your chance to get your hands dirty and make your own ravioli. With a delicious filling of halloumi and fresh coriander (cilantro), these babies are the perfect way to showcase your cooking skills. We guarantee your family and friends will rave about your ravioli, and probably even ask for the recipe themselves.

Grilled Lamb & Halloumi Wrap

This recipe may take more time since you have to prepare your own lamb meatballs, so a good idea would be to do a full batch ahead of time and simply freeze the leftovers. Once that’s out of the way, all you have to do is fry some halloumi that’s been cut into small cubes, warm your tortilla wraps or flatbreads, add the salad, the halloumi cubes and finish with warm lamb meatballs. You can also forego the meatballs and simply make a scrumptious wrap, perfect for a light dinner or a quick lunch on the go.

Halloumi Wrap

Grilled Halloumi and Roasted Vegetables Salad

This tasty salad full of Mediterranean flavors is so easy we suspect it will quickly become a staple in your home. It’s got everything your body needs. Nutrients, vitamins, proteins and no carbs! Serve it warm as a side dish or as a delicious light lunch.

About the author

Polyglot (with a Master Degree in Translation), adventure seeker, professional shower singer and food enthusiast, Ethel enjoys spending quality time with friends and family, usually with a certain amount of eating and drinking involved. Brussels-bred and Athens-bound, she loves traveling around the world, uploading photos on her Instagram feed and daydreaming with a good book in her hands. Want to see the world through her eyes? Find her on Instagram at @heyitsetelle

If you click on a link in this story, we may earn affiliate revenue. All recommendations have been independently sourced by Culture Trip.
close-ad