11 Delicious Halloumi Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Why do you soak halloumi in water before cooking? ›

Why do you soak halloumi before cooking? While completely optional, many swear by this step for a softer, more flavourful, and sweeter result that will set your halloumi apart from all others. The easiest method is to soak the whole block of cheese in cold water for at least two hours (or overnight if you have time).

To stop your halloumi getting rubbery, make sure that you cut the slices thicker. You also need to make sure that you are not over-cooking it and that you are eating it straight away.

Halloumi hack: soak in boiling water before cooking for the softest texture 😍. Method: 🧀 Slice 30g halloumi cheese. Tip: I use a crinkle knife to slice the halloumi to get the grill lines without having to use a griddle pan, it's a game changer.

Halloumi is a semi-hard cheese made principally in Cyprus from sheep or goat milk or mixture of the two. The raw milk is coagulated as for Feta cheese. The blocks of the cheese (10 × 10 × 3 cm) are heated at 92–95°C in the whey extracted during draining.

Spoiled halloumi cheese can be easily identified. If the cheese has become slimy or developed a mold, it's time to toss it out. Moreover, a strong sour smell or change in color can also indicate that the cheese is past its prime.

In the Middle East, halloumi is usually fried or grilled to take advantage of its high melting point. Although halloumi can be eaten straight from the packet, some chefs recommend soaking it in buttermilk for a day or two before preparing, to give it a richer, less salty flavour.

Originally from Cyprus, halloumi cheese is a popular dairy product. Its firm texture and unique savory taste are enjoyed worldwide. Given that it provides a good amount of protein and calcium in each serving, adding it to your diet may enhance your bone health and protect against type 2 diabetes.

This is because, unlike many cheeses, halloumi has a high pH, as no starter cultures are used in its production. It seems that when this dense casein network “rubs” against the enamel of the teeth, it produces a squeak. Other cheeses usually have a lower pH, which tends to make the casein more fragile.

don't overcook the halloumi – a couple of minutes on each side is all it needs! You still want it to be soft, not totally crispy. eat the halloumi within 5 minutes or so of cooking it – if you leave it to cool, it will become a little more rubbery.

What is halloumi? Originating from Cyprus, halloumi is a semi-hard, un-ripened, brined cheese that can be made from cow, sheep or goat's milk. It can be eaten raw but is truly delicious cooked, having a high melting point, makes it an excellent choice for grilling or frying.

How do you know when halloumi is done? ›

Use your spatula to test for doneness before you remove it from the heat. Once the cheese feels soft inside and gives easily you'll know that it is cooked to perfection. If you'd rather skip the oil, halloumi can also be dry-fried in a non-stick pan. Or toss it in your air fryer for up to ten minutes.

Cheeses that have a high melting point can be fried. While the cheese melts slightly, it will generally retain its shape in the fryer or skillet. Popular fried cheese options are cheese curds, queso blanco, halloumi, paneer, mozzarella, bread cheese, certain cheddars, and provolone.

Many Halloumi-style cheeses are prepared by dairy and goat farmers in Canada and the United States. For legal proprietary reasons, these cheeses are usually called Halloumi-style or grillable cheeses. Sometimes they are called grilling cheese or frying cheese, or queso de freír in Spanish.

Halloumi saganaki is a traditional Greek dish made with semolina-crusted fried halloumi cheese that is served with fresh figs, pomegranate seeds, bitter greens, and a drizzle of honey for sweetness.

What's more, halloumi is made from sheep's milk, which is more expensive than cow's milk or goat's milk due to a lower milking yield from sheep. And halloumi is often aged, which can also amplify the price.

Simply patting the haloumi dry with paper towel will remove some of the saltiness, but you can also place it in a bowl of cold water to remove more of the salt, if you prefer. Just soak for 5 minutes, then pat dry with paper towel – patting dry is important to ensure the lovely golden crispy edges!

Halloumi is stored in brine to control moisture content, salt levels, and preserve texture. Dry salting for 24 hours retains more calcium and nutrients, making it a preferable method. Effect of partial substitution of NaCl with KCl on proteolysis of halloumi cheese.

How to store halloumi. An unopened packet of halloumi will keep in the fridge for up to a year. Once opened store in salt water in the fridge.

It is the high pH (low acid) of the cheese that causes this non-melting characteristic.