This is an incredibly simple and delicious Grilled Halloumi Cheese recipe. This unique, non-melting cheese transforms into a golden, crispy delight on the grill. Perfect for vegetarian grilling, a side, or to serve in salads or sandwiches.

Grilled halloumi on a plate with sliced cucumber, tomatoes, and olives

What is Halloumi Cheese?

Halloumi cheese is a white, layered, salty cheese popular in the Middle East and Cyprus. It’s like a traveling tale of deliciousness – no one is quite sure if it started its journey in Cyprus and then made its way to Lebanon, or the other way around. Traditionally, halloumi was made from sheep and goat milk, but these days it’s also made with cow’s milk because it’s a bit cheaper. This cheese is super interesting – it has no rind and doesn’t melt easily, making it perfect for grilling.

Another popular way to cook halloumi is to sear it on a pan with little oil until it’s golden on both sides.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

Versatile: You can enjoy halloumi raw, but grilled halloumi cheese really shines. The grilling brings out a unique flavor, creating a whole new cheese experience.
Healthy Protein Source: It’s packed with protein, making it a fantastic meat replacement in salads, sandwiches, and even on its own.
Easy to Find: In the US, you can find halloumi cheese at Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods and online, while in the UK, it’s available at most supermarkets like Tesco’s, Asda, Sainsbury’s, M&S, and Waitrose.

Ingredients Needed

The main star of this show is the halloumi cheese. We’re going to need 8oz (225g) of this cheese, sliced into ½ inch slices. Now remember, when choosing your halloumi, look for a nice firm piece. The firmer it is, the better it will hold up on the grill.

Halloumi is sold seasoned or unseasoned, I usually go with plain halloumi but choose your favorite.

How to Grill Halloumi

Here’s where the magic happens!

Take your halloumi slices, and let’s heat up the grill. Remember, the grates should be greased to avoid sticking, and we’re going for medium heat. The key here is patience. Grill your halloumi for 3 minutes on each side without flipping or touching it. This will give you those pretty grill marks that make it so appetizing.

Another great way to enjoy grilled halloumi is to make these delicious Halloumi Veggie Kabobs, they’re a family favorite and we make them all the time!

Recipe Tips

When serving, it’s lovely to pair the grilled halloumi with fresh sliced tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, and fresh mint leaves as I did in the images of this post. Drizzle with olive oil, and garnish with a grind of black pepper or even sumac. The vibrancy of these flavors will bring out the best in your halloumi.
If you’re using a grill pan instead of a traditional grill, remember to drizzle the pan with olive oil before adding the halloumi. This will help it cook evenly and avoid sticking.
In my family, we enjoy grilled halloumi with watermelon in the summer, or in a caprese salad instead of mozzarella. It’s such a delightful way to switch up classic recipes and add a twist of the Mediterranean.

An angle shot of the halloumi platter with grilled halloumi and fresh cut vegetables

It’s time for you to experience the deliciousness of grilled halloumi cheese. Happy cooking, and I can’t wait to hear how your grilled halloumi turns out! Don’t forget to rate and review this recipe in the comments box below. Enjoy!

Recipe

5 from 1 vote

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Grilled Halloumi

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 6

Total Time 11

4 servings

This recipe guides you through the simple steps to grill halloumi cheese, creating delicious and crisp grilled halloumi slices with irresistible golden brown grill marks.

Ingredients

▢ 8oz (225g) Halloumi sliced into into ½ inch slices

Instructions

Slice the halloumi into ½ inch slices, and remove any moisture (brine) with paper towels.
Preheat the grill over medium heat, and clean and grease the grill grates.
Place the slices of cheese on the grill grates, and grill for 2-3 minutes on the first side without flipping or touching, then flip and grill for 2-3 more minutes. This will give you the grill marks.
If using a grill pan, drizzle the pan with olive oil before adding the halloumi and cook for 2-3 minutes per side.
Serve with fresh sliced tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, and fresh mint leaves. Drizzle with olive oil, and garnish with a grind of black pepper or sumac.

Notes

When serving, it’s lovely to pair the grilled halloumi with fresh sliced tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, and fresh mint leaves as I did in the images of this post. Drizzle with olive oil, and garnish with a grind of black pepper or even sumac. The vibrancy of these flavors will bring out the best in your halloumi.

If you’re using a grill pan instead of a traditional grill, remember to drizzle the pan with olive oil before adding the halloumi. This will help it cook evenly and avoid sticking.

In my family, we enjoy grilled halloumi with watermelon in the summer, or in a caprese salad instead of mozzarella. It’s such a delightful way to switch up classic recipes and add a twist of the Mediterranean.

Nutrition

This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.

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