If you love the taste of halloumi cheese, you’ll be pleased to know that you can cook it in various ways in no time! From pan fried halloumi to grilled halloumi, there are plenty of options for how to cook Halloumi cheese, this delicious Mediterranean cheese!
In this post, we’ll discuss two simple methods and recipes for how to cook halloumi cheese using a pan. The first method is grilled halloumi in a grill pan and the second is pan fried halloumi with honey and sesame seeds. Both of which will give you a delicious result each time!
Tip: You could also use an outdoor barbecue to grill halloumi.
What is Halloumi Cheese?
Halloumi cheese is a firm, salty cheese made from sheep and/or goat milk originating in Cyprus. It is a semi-hard and unripened cheese that is tangy and salty.
Halloumi cheese has become increasingly popular in recent years as both an ingredient in Mediterranean dishes and as part of modern fusion cuisine.
Traditional cheese: Halloumi cheese comes from Cyprus and is a favorite in Greek recipes.
Halloumi cheese has a high melting point, so the outside sears and becomes crisp and charred or browned (depending on the cooking method), while the inside is deliciously warm and chewy.
Grilled Halloumi Key Ingredients
Halloumi Cheese: A block of halloumi around 250g or 8 ounces works well for two portions. Other ingredients: You’ll want some olive oil, juice of half a large lemon and either mixed pepper or black pepper to taste.
Grilled Halloumi Key Preparation Tips
There are just four steps to make simple grilled halloumi:
Remove the halloumi from the packaging and use some kitchen towel to dry it as much as possible. Cut it into eight pieces.
Heat a griddle pan to a very high heat. You want your grill pan to be nice and hot before adding the cheese! This helps prevent sticking. Brush each piece of halloumi with olive oil and season.
Cook for 1-2 minutes on each side. Don’t move it around the pan to create nice brown lines on it.
Remove from the heat and squeeze over the lemon juice before serving. Enjoy!
Find the complete recipe with measurements below.
Pan Fried Halloumi with Honey & Sesame Key Ingredients
Halloumi Cheese: Use the same 250g or 8 ounces for this recipe.
For this fried Halloumi recipe, you’ll need olive oil, runny honey, lemon juice, and some sesame seeds.
Tip: Use the best honey you have here as you can really taste the flavour in the finished dish.
Fried Halloumi Key Preparation Tips
To prepare this fried Halloumi remove the cheese from the packaging and use some kitchen towel to dry it, then cut it into eight pieces.
Heat a thick bottom frying pan over medium heat and toast the sesame seeds for around 1 minute until colored. Remove from the pan, making sure you wipe out any stray seeds.
Return the pan to the heat, add oil and heat until shimmering, then add the cheese. Cook on each side for 3-4 minutes until golden.
Spoon the honey over the cheese, then flip and as soon as the honey starts to bubble, remove it from the heat.
Serve with lemon juice drizzled over it, the remaining honey from the pan over it and topped with sesame seeds.
Find the complete recipe with measurements below.
Can you use different pepper on the cheese?
Using a mixture of peppercorns, including green and pink on the halloumi adds a variety of different flavors to the cheese. Pink peppercorns work particularly well.
However, regular freshly ground black pepper is a delicious alternative. If you don’t have a grinder for different peppercorns, they can be crushed using a pestle and mortar.
Variations
Instead of pepper or honey and sesame seeds, other variations that can be added to halloumi include garlic, herbs such as oregano or basil, cumin, chili flakes, lemon juice, olive oil and paprika.
Leftover grilled halloumi can be stored in the refrigerator for up to three days. To store, wrap it tightly in foil or place it in an airtight container. When you’re ready to reheat, put it on a grill or pan over medium heat until heated through.
Alternatively, you can also reheat it in a microwave. Before serving, make sure to check that the halloumi has been heated all the way through.
Serving suggestions
Grilled or fried halloumi can be enjoyed with a variety of Greek appetisers such as:
Popular options include salads (Greek salad) roasted vegetables, couscous, rice, or quinoa. You could also serve fried or grilled halloumi alongside some village bread, pita bread and hummus for a delicious and filling meal.
For something more unique, try serving it with grilled fruit such as peaches, plums, or apricots for a sweet and savory dish. Enjoy!
If you love the taste of halloumi cheese, you’ll be pleased to know that you can cook it in various ways in no time! From pan fried halloumi to grilled halloumi, there are plenty of options for how to cook Halloumi cheese, this delicious Mediterranean cheese!
Remove the halloumi from any packaging and pat as dry as possible with a piece of kitchen towel. Slice into 8 pieces (approx. 1/2 inch, 1.3cm thick) and pat each piece dry with a fresh piece of paper.
Heat a seasoned or non-stick griddle pan over a very high heat. Meanwhile brush each halloumi piece with olive oil and season well with freshly ground pepper.
Cook the cheese for a minute or two on each side, trying not to move it around the pan so it forms nice golden lines.
Remove from the heat and squeeze over the lemon juice before serving immediately.
Pan Fried Halloumi with Honey & Sesame
Remove the halloumi from any packaging and pat as dry as possible with a piece of kitchen towel. Slice into 8 pieces, and pat each piece dry with a fresh piece of paper.
Heat a very bottomed, non-stick frying pan over a medium heat. Toast the sesame seeds for about a minute until just coloured, and remove from the pan.
Wipe any stray seeds from the pan and return it to a medium high heat. Add the oil and once it is shimmering, add the halloumi. Cook for 3-4 minutes on each side until golden.
Spoon the honey over the top of the halloumi slices. Flip them, and the moment the honey starts to bubble, remove the pan from the heat. Squeeze over the lemon juice.
Serve the halloumi immediately with the honey from the pan drizzled over the top, and the toasted sesame seeds sprinkled over each slice.
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