Fried Halloumi Recipe for a Classic Cypriot Dish Everyone Will Love

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Treat yourself to a thick slice (or several) of one of Cyprus’ and the Eastern Mediterranean’s most beloved cheeses with our fried halloumi recipe, and enjoy it in salads, with fresh bread, or on its own in all its fried glory.

Halloumi Recipe

There’s a reason Cyprus went as far as to even trademark halloumi: it’s that good! And while seeking out the most delicious halloumi would take you to some of the most gorgeous, rustic, and sun-kissed locations throughout Cyprus and the Mediterranean, our recipe gives you everything you need to gorge on this fried semi-soft cheesy delight from the comfort of your own home.

What is Halloumi?

Traditionally a Cypriot dish but widely popular in Turkey, across the Eastern Mediterranean, and throughout Europe, halloumi itself is a Cypriot semi-soft cheese that has a squeaky texture and a mild, slightly tangy flavor, often said to share similarities, but also differences, to mozzarella.

While halloumi can be eaten and enjoyed in so many different ways, in this simple recipe we’re going to fry it to create a wonderfully balanced salty, tart, and fried snack that will keep you reaching for one more slice it’s that satisfying!

Ingredients

To make our super simple halloumi recipe, you only need the following ingredients:

• Halloumi Cheese
• Olive Oil

We used 2 packs of halloumi of 225 grams/8 oz each. They make for great appetizers for about 6-8 people.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1 – Slice the halloumi cheese into 1 cm or 1/2 inch slices.

Step 2 – In a large regular pan or grill pan (for beautiful grill marks), over medium heat, add 1-2 tbsp of olive oil when the pan is hot. Then, add the halloumi cheese slices.

Step 3 – Cook them for about 2 minutes on one side and then flip and cook them for another 2 minutes.

Once ready, we opted to serve out halloumi in a long serving platter, so that dinner guests can help themselves to as much as they like.

That golden brown coating adds plenty of depth to the texture of each slice, while still locking in that beloved mild and tangy flavor and soft-yet-firm, squeaky texture.

Honestly, there’s no end to the fun you can have with fried halloumi. It’s deep, salty, and flavorful enough in its own right to be served on its own, but you can also add it to salads, eat it with bread or grilled vegetables, and try it in so many other ways.

Halloumi Recipe Card

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