What’s briny, creamy, savory and positively magical? If you guessed halloumi cheese, you’re right. When fried or grilled, the semi-hard Cyprian cheese develops a crispy crust on the outside and a warm, gooey inside that’s not only tasty but surprisingly versatile, too. Don’t believe us? Here are 24 halloumi recipes that prove it.
24 Tangy, Unexpected Halloumi Recipes You’ve Never Tried Before
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Published Aug 18, 2022
1. Halloumi And Caramelized Mushroom Tacos
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, vegetarian, gluten free
Not all taco fillings need to be slow-cooked for hours or prepped in advance. Case in point: These handhelds stuffed with pan-fried halloumi and tender, golden brown mushrooms.
2. Crispy Halloumi ‘fries’ With Roasted Tomato Dip
- Time Commitment: 45 minutes
- Why I Love It: vegetarian, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
Not only do the fries cook in just five minutes, but the roasted tomato dip comes together in the blender. In the words of Ina Garten, how easy is that?
3. Sweet Potato, Tomato, Kale And Halloumi Sheet Tray
- Time Commitment: 45 minutes
- Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, sheet pan recipe, beginner-friendly, vegetarian
When you want to make something stunning but don’t feel like cooking, this is your go-to dish. All you really have to do is chop some veggies and let your oven do the rest.
4. Grilled Caprese Skewers With Halloumi And Sourdough
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, vegetarian, crowd-pleaser
No barbecue is complete without skewers, and these are sure to kick the cookout off right. They’re fun to make, even more fun to eat and have “dinner party” written all over them.
5. Tomato Salad With Grilled Halloumi And Herbs
- Time Commitment: 10 minutes
- Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, one pan
Think of this salad as a caprese upgrade. Pop some halloumi on the grill until it’s charred and gooey, and you might never go back to mozzarella again.
6. Grilled Peach And Halloumi Salad With Lemon-pesto Dressing
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: vegetarian, special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser
Sure, you could make a boring grilled chicken Caesar for dinner. Or you could spice things up with this gorgeous fruit-and-cheese creation that begs to be eaten alfresco.
7. Halloumi Nuggets With Marinara Dipping Sauce
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 5 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, <10 ingredients
They’re basically mozzarella sticks for adults. Need we say more? Bonus points for finishing the golden nuggets with fried basil leaves.
8. Coconut Chickpea Curry With Rice And Fried Halloumi
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why I Love It: vegetarian, beginner-friendly
We bet you can’t find this at your local Thai spot. And we should mention the curry is cooked in a single pot, so you'll have minimal dirty dishes to clean post-dinner.
9. Roasted Cauliflower Fried Halloumi Tacos With Spicy Avocado-basil Guacamole
- Time Commitment: 35 minutes
- Why I Love It: vegetarian, beginner-friendly
Proof that vegetarian tacos can be just as tasty as meat-filled ones. These boast halloumi, shredded cucumber, black beans, spiced cauliflower and a uniquely herby guacamole.
10. Melon Halloumi Salad
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, special occasion-worthy
Melon and feta are a fab combo…but we need something new. The briny flavor of halloumi really complements the sweet cantaloupe, honeydew, watermelon and mint vinaigrette. Plus, it’s got that crunchy-outside, creamy-inside thing going for it.
11. Pan-roasted Brussels Sprouts With Bacon, Dates And Halloumi
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, special occasion-worthy
It’s time to introduce halloumi to our other two favorite ingredients: bacon and Brussels sprouts. Bookmark this to serve at Thanksgiving dinner.
12. Fried Halloumi Tacos With Guacamole
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, vegetarian, kid-friendly
Step aside, fish tacos. These vegetarian ones are just as crispy and satisfying, with the added benefit of cheese and charred corn guacamole. (Thanks, Coterie member Gaby Dalkin.)
Floating Kitchen
13. Butternut Squash And Apple Soup With Fried Sage And Halloumi
- Time Commitment: 50 minutes
- Why I Love It: vegetarian, special occasion-worthy
This soup couldn't be more autumnal if it tried. Use a tart type of apple like Granny Smiths—the acidity will cut through the squash's sweetness just right.
14. Pea Guacamole And Seared Halloumi Soft Tacos
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, vegetarian, beginner-friendly
It doesn’t get much better than sweet peas, ripe tomatoes and golden halloumi, all wrapped in a tortilla blanket. Thanks, Coterie member Aida Mollenkamp.
15. Sweet Potato Agnolotti With Halloumi, Pecans And Fried Sage
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 25 minutes
- Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, vegetarian
If you’re going to make homemade pasta, you might as well go all out. (And who’s ever complained about extra cheese and brown butter?)
16. Grilled Vegetable And Halloumi Skewers With Pistachio Pesto
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, vegetarian
Charred cheese, caramelized vegetables and pistachio pesto sure beat a hot dog or hamburger. For the ultimate fridge clean-out, use whatever veggies you have on hand.
17. Roasted Shrimp And Polenta With Halloumi Crisps
- Time Commitment: 35 minutes
- Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, sheet pan recipe, beginner-friendly
Aside from being totally delicious and impressive, this dish comes together on a single baking sheet. Go the extra mile by adding crispy prosciutto or pancetta on top.
18. Arugula And Cantaloupe Salad With Grilled Halloumi
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly
In a room full of steaks, be a grilled halloumi salad. Feel free to swap in spinach for arugula, blueberries for blackberries or honeydew for cantaloupe.
19. Apple, Halloumi And Labneh Flatbreads
- Time Commitment: 15 minutes
- Why I Love It: vegetarian, <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
Oh hey, 15-minute flatbread dinner. With your sweet, salty and spicy flavor profile, we might just make you every night for the rest of forever.
20. Roasted Yellow Tomato Soup With Green Harissa And Halloumi Croutons
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, special occasion-worthy
Choosing between bread and cheese is almost impossible, unless you’re talking croutons. These have a toasty exterior, creamy interior and are just what your savory tomato soup needs.
21. Halloumi Hummus Bowls
- Time Commitment: 35 minutes
- Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, vegetarian
The secret to an irresistible grain bowl? A generous variety of color, flavor and texture. This one is creamy, chewy and crispy, with plenty of fresh herbs and lemon for good measure.
22. Za'atar Spring Rolls
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, vegetarian, beginner-friendly
These crackly, crispy appetizers are filled to the brim with halloumi cheese and fresh mint. In case that's not enough dairy for you, they're served with labneh yogurt for dipping.
23. Chili Crisp Peanut Noodles With Crispy Halloumi
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegetarian, beginner-friendly
One bite and this nutty masterpiece will wiggle its way into your weekly rotation. First, the halloumi is pan-fried in sesame oil. Then, it's tossed in fresh garlic-chile oil, peanuts and sesame seeds for spice and extra crunch.
24. Easy Fried Halloumi With Warmed Honey
- Time Commitment: 5 minutes
- Why I Love It: <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, <10 ingredients
Make this drool-worthy dish the focal point of your next charcuterie board. Place the fried cheese in the center with a bowl of honey for drizzling, then surround it with grapes, figs, berries, olives and pita chips.
For even more great recipes, check out our first cookbook, Only the Good Stuff.
