Everything You Need to Know About Halloumi

Halloumi grilling cheese is a popular choice during the warmer months. Find out more about your ultimate grilling ally that’ll feed your taste buds’ wanderlust each time you light up the grill. Bonus: Simple and delicious recipes to add it to your menu more often.

Where Does Halloumi Come From?

It originates from Cyprus, an island southwest of the Mediterranean Sea. It’s prepared with a mixture of goat and sheep’s milk, but some varieties exist that include cow’s milk. The traditional method consists of heating curdled milk shaped into pieces and then pressing them to remove moisture.

The residual liquid, called lactoserum, is better known as whey. Once the cheese has been pressed and salted, it’s submerged in the hot liquid for a few hours. This step gives halloumi its characteristic texture, firm and elastic, and resistant to heat.

How to Cook with It

Halloumi is enjoyed for its salty flavour with a hint of tanginess, but what makes this cheese particularly popular is its ability to not melt when seared or fried.

● In a Skillet

Simply cut the cheese into cubes or ½ inch (1 cm) slices and brown for 2 or 3 minutes per side in a non-stick skillet.

● On the Grill

Cooking on the grill enhances halloumi’s texture. A crisp crust forms on the outside, a contrast to its softer inside. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes on each side. Tip: You can also cut it into cubes to build tasty skewers.

● Fried in Oil or in the Air Fryer

Frying accentuates halloumi’s colour and crisp side. Cut the cheese into slices or cubes before frying (in the skillet, fryer or even air fryer) and be sure to drain them on a paper towel before serving.

● In the Oven

Spread slices or cubes of halloumi onto a baking sheet and place it in a preheated oven at 400°F (200°C). Cook for 10 to 12 minutes and turn the halloumi pieces halfway through cooking.

PDO Certified

Halloumi has been certified by a protected designation of origin (PDO) since 2021 by the European Union. This means that only accredited producers in Cyprus are authorized to produce it, following precise specifications, and sell it under this name.

Find It in Grocery Stores

Halloumi is stored in a lactoserum-based brine. In grocery stores, it’s usually sold in blocks and vacuum-sealed. It’s also sold pre-sliced or marinated in herb-flavoured oil. Halloumi is also an ingredient often used in ready-to-eat dishes, like vegetable skewers and salads.

To soften halloumi’s salty flavour, rinse it and let it sit in a bowl of water for a few minutes prior to cooking.

In a vegetarian burger, with pasta, in a power bowl or salad, here are four delicious recipes featuring halloumi.