Learn how to cook halloumi cheese! Cook this salty, delicious and gooey Cypriot cheese perfectly with our guide on how to grill or fry halloumi cheese, in the comfort of your own kitchen.
What's halloumi cheese?
Halloumi cheese is a Middle Eastern cheese from Cyprus, and is traditionally a cheese made from sheep's or goat's milk, or a mix of the two - though today, cow's milk halloumi is also fairly common.
Halloumi is famous for having a high melting point and retaining its shape when grilled, instead getting a brown, crispy exterior while becoming gooey and melted on the inside.
My favorite way to eat halloumi cheese is just with slices of bread or pita, or gluten free cornbread. Bonus points if it's eggy bread. It's perfect for halloumi tacos and espresso bar fried halloumi salad. I also like to have it on salad, like this Circassian fried cheese (it can be fried in the same way).
Pay Attention to Timing!
But pay attention with grilled halloumi and serve immediately! Time is of the essence with this delicate grilled cheese, and it doesn't do well if you try to reheat it.
Option 1: How to Pan Fry Halloumi Cheese at home
What you need to fry halloumi
Steps to Fry Halloumi Cheese in the Pan
- To make pan fried halloumi, grab your pan and turn on the stove. Drizzle the pan slightly with oil, and preheat the pan over medium heat.
- Once your pan is pre-heated and oiled, place the halloumi cheese slices directly on the pan; cook them for 2 minutes on one side, and 1 minute on the other.
- Remove halloumi from the pan. Fried halloumi is best served immediately - it will lose its gooey texture and become more rubbery as it cools.
Option 2: How to Grill Halloumi Cheese at home
What you need to grill halloumi
Steps to Grill Halloumi Cheese on the Grill
Grilling halloumi cheese on an outdoor grill is a great way to add flavor and texture to this delicious, salty Middle Eastern cheese.
- To start, fire up your grill! I like to use a coal grill (we have a Weber charcoal grill), but you can also use a propane gas grill or an electric drill if cooking indoors.
- You'll need to slice the halloumi into ½-inch thick slices, then brush both sides lightly with olive oil.
- Once your outdoor grill is hot and ready, you can place the slices of halloumi onto the grates, spacing them evenly apart so that they cook through without burning. Grill each side for around 3-4 minutes until golden brown and slightly charred in places.
Serve warm alongside vegetables or any other dishes you're preparing for a tasty meal!
Storing Instructions for Cooked Halloumi Cheese
While you can use leftover grilled halloumi cheese in the fridge, halloumi is best eaten immediately after frying. I recommend storing the uncooked halloumi block in a water-salt solution of 1 cup of water to 1 teaspoon of salt, and cooking it to order.
Recipe
Tried and loved this recipe? Please leave a 5-star review below! Your reviews mean a lot to me, so if you've got any questions, please let me know in a comment.
How to Cook Halloumi Cheese (Grilled and Fried Halloumi Recipes)
Equipment
- Stovetop
Ingredients
- 1 block halloumi cheese
- 2 tsps olive oil
Instructions
How to fry halloumi cheese on the pan:
- Add 2 tsps of olive oil to a non-stick pan or a cast-iron pan over medium heat.
- Once your pan is pre-heated and oiled, place the cheese slices directly on the pan; cook them for 2 minutes on one side, and fry for 1-2 minutes on the other.
- Remove halloumi from the pan, and serve or use in your desired recipe immediately.
How to grill halloumi cheese on the grill:
- Slice the halloumi into slices of ½-inch thickness, then brush the halloumi lightly with olive oil to cook on both sides.
- Once your outdoor grill is hot and ready, you can place the slices of cheese onto the grill grates directly, spacing them evenly apart so that they cook through without burning. Grill each side for around 3-4 minutes until golden brown and crispy in places. Serve grilled salty halloumi immediately.
Kris says
I LOVE halloumi and this turned out great! We used the fry method and served it over pasta and it was amazing. Thank you for such a helpful post!
Lauren says
I absolutely love halloumi cheese, and both of these methods worked great! I like to grill it and then dip it in my tomato soup instead of a grilled cheese. Thanks for reminding me of halloumi!
Lisa says
I wasn't sure how to pan-fry halloumi cheese but all your tips make it come out perfect! Thanks so much for sharing.
Sherry L Ronning says
I learned a lot from reading your recipe. I have not heard of Halloumi cheese before and now I am on the hunt to try it. Thank you for the great information!!