Easy Bacon Halloumi Bites Recipe | Kitchen Mason (2024)

FAQs

Should you soak halloumi before frying? ›

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).

There are a few things you can do to avoid this: – cut your slices of halloumi on the thicker side – very thin slices tend to become a little hard, rather than soft and squidgy, like thicker slices do. – don't overcook the halloumi – a couple of minutes on each side is all it needs!

This appetizer recipe, which also happens to be gluten-free, features halloumi cheese, cut into cubes, breaded in a thin layer of cornmeal, and shallow pan-fried in olive oil until golden brown. A mixture of honey and chili garlic sauce is drizzled on top for a sweet and spicy combo that's perfect with the cheese.

Here are some things you should know before cooking halloumi for the first time: Use a non-stick pan. This is especially important if you are frying the cheese in a dry pan without oil. Make sure the oil is well warmed.

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.

Pour the boiling water over the halloumi and leave for 20 minutes. This will make the cheese really soft and smooth in the centre when cooked. Drain the halloumi, the put it into a large bowl with the watermelon and bread.

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.

This is because, unlike many cheeses, halloumi has a high pH, as no starter cultures are used in its production. It seems that when this dense casein network “rubs” against the enamel of the teeth, it produces a squeak. Other cheeses usually have a lower pH, which tends to make the casein more fragile.

Heat your air fryer on 200C for 2 mins. Carefully pat the halloumi dry using kitchen paper or a clean cloth, then brush or rub with oil. Season with salt and pepper and any flavourings, if using. Put the halloumi in the air fryer basket and cook for 8 mins until beginning to brown.

However, while protein and calcium work to suggest that halloumi is healthy, there's no getting away from the fact that there's also a pretty high sodium and fat content. In fact, one 28g portion of halloumi contains a whopping 9 grams of fat and 15% of your DV (Daily Value) of sodium.

What are the black bits in halloumi? ›

As always, be sure to check the package of the specific product you use. It's also worth noting that halloumi is packaged with mint leaves, often chopped, so if you see little flecks of it throughout the package, it's just mint. There's no need to remove it before cooking.

Halloumi is a semi-hard cheese made principally in Cyprus from sheep or goat milk or mixture of the two. The raw milk is coagulated as for Feta cheese.

Cheeses that have a high melting point can be fried. While the cheese melts slightly, it will generally retain its shape in the fryer or skillet. Popular fried cheese options are cheese curds, queso blanco, halloumi, paneer, mozzarella, bread cheese, certain cheddars, and provolone.

These halloumi fries are Middle Eastern style mozzarella sticks made with only 4 ingredients – flour, eggs, panko and non-melting halloumi!

Don't slice it too thin, otherwise it will fall apart and also be too dry. About 1cm/0.5 inch thick slices are best. We used a crinkle cutter for ours, give give those grill line effects. Put the halloumi in a non-stick frying pan (no oil is needed).

Should I soak haloumi before cooking? When you buy a packet of haloumi, it comes with a little salty brine. Simply patting the haloumi dry with paper towel will remove some of the saltiness, but you can also place it in a bowl of cold water to remove more of the salt, if you prefer.

It's important to note that while soaking halloumi can help reduce its sodium content to some extent, it won't eliminate it entirely. Also, the flavor and texture of the cheese may be affected, so it's a compromise between lowering sodium intake and maintaining the original characteristics of halloumi.

How to store halloumi. An unopened packet of halloumi will keep in the fridge for up to a year. Once opened store in salt water in the fridge.

The tool for the job is a cheese press, though for small quantities a tofu press (I have one similar to this) works well. I bought mine for home-made paneer and bought tofu, but have also used it for halloumi and mozarella (home made, not brilliantly successful).