Crispy potato and halloumi bake (2024)

FAQs

What happens when you put halloumi in the oven? ›

Baked halloumi becomes gooey and soft for a short period of time like pan fried halloumi does. The block of halloumi will not melt like mozzarella or brie, however. Halloumi becomes quite firm as it cools, which is why I recommend serving this dish straight from the oven.

My halloumi is too tough / rubbery

This can happen when it's cooked for too long in the oven, so next time try a lower cook time or thicker slices. It can also happen when it's been sitting out for too long, or with reheated halloumi.

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).

Rich in protein

Halloumi is a great source of protein, packing 7 grams into a 1-ounce (28-gram) serving ( 1 ). Protein is essential for many aspects of your health, including hormone production, immune function, and tissue repair ( 3 ).

Things to remember: You can't undercook halloumi – you're better to slightly under-do it than over-do it. Once it starts going golden brown, it will cook quite quickly, so be ready to flip it or remove it from the heat.

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.

Halloumi is made out of sheep's milk, which is more expensive than cow's or goat's milk due to the animal milking production—though nowadays you can also find Halloumi varieties with a mix of these kinds of milk, thus lowering the price of the product.

Baked halloumi is another delicious way of cooking the Cypriot cheese. Pre-heat your oven 200°C (180ºC fan). Cut your halloumi into 5mm-1cm thick slices, then lay them in a single layer in an ovenproof dish. Drizzle with a little olive oil, then place in the oven for 10-15 minutes; turning halfway through.

You may be thinking this sounds messy, but Halloumi is a cheese that won't melt so it retains its texture and shape. If heated, the surface caramelizes slightly and the inside softens. The flavor is incredible, especially when still warm, and it's a really cool cheese to grill.

For a cheese to melt it needs a protein structure that stretches in the frying pan or under the grill. Halloumi contains a tightly knit three-dimensional network of milk proteins that hold fast during cooking.

How to stop halloumi from being squeaky? ›

🧀 Cut it into thicker pieces, and make sure to not. overcook it ❌