Why Halloumi Deserves a Spot in Your Kitchen

Among those cheeses that probably pass you by in the store when you reach for gouda, a pack of fresh cow‘s cheese, or your favorite goat cheese, we definitely include halloumi. In our stores, it is mostly sold packaged in plastic and then in a cardboard box, which usually features a photo of halloumi on a grill, but in fact, it is a versatile cheese that, besides being grilled, can be prepared in several different ways.

Pexels/

Halloumi is a semi-hard cheese that comes from Cyprus and is originally made from a combination of goat and sheep milk, although some producers like to add cow‘s milk as well. It has a firm texture, can seem a bit rubbery, and when processed, it does not melt but stays in one piece. Besides Cyprus, it is also loved in Greece and Turkey.

Nonmim/Getty Images

This cheese is most often grilled, but it can always be quickly fried in a pan, or even baked in the oven. Besides classic barbecue delicacies, it can be served briefly fried in salads, with pasta, and in sandwiches or tortillas, and it can also be deep-fried. Once, in a Berlin fast food place, we had an excellent falafel sandwich with grilled halloumi and peanut sauce, and we also like to add it to burgers, or even, despite the sharp looks from the crew at the table, put it in a flatbread with ćevapi.

Lidija Lončarić/

This cheese can also serve as a side dish or a substitute for meat in heartier meals, and baked cubes can be added to soups or, for example, curry. Halloumi also pairs well with sauces such as tzatziki, which is made by combining Greek yogurt, cucumbers, garlic, lemon juice, herbs like mint or dill, salt, and pepper.

Marko Mišćević/cropix/

In addition, due to its simple, more neutral taste, halloumi also adapts well to sweet additions, such as a bit of honey and fresh fruit like grapes and figs. Although it can be eaten raw, it is definitely recommended to briefly cook it in a dry pan or with a little olive oil before serving, as this gives it a crispy crust while becoming lightly creamy inside.

Pexels/

Halloumi is certainly one of the more interesting and versatile cheeses that we especially love to pair with various summer dishes, so next time you spot a pack in the supermarket fridge, don‘t skip it and give it a chance. It might just surprise you.