Halloumi is a fabulous cheese that is best when grilled or fried. The outside forms a salty crust while the inside is soft and melty. This cheese is typically made from a combination of goat, sheep and sometimes cow’s milk.
Most cheese will completely melt and loose their shape if you tried to fry them, but halloumi keeps it’s shape and becomes warm and chewy, making it a super fun snack all on it’s own.
The flavor isn’t overly cheesy, maybe a bit like a cold mozzarella stick. It can be eaten raw, but it’s irresistible with that crispy crust. Bring the halloumi alive with honey and spice. I fried the cheese in my cast iron pan and served with charred mini tortillas because it’s what I had on hand; crackers work too!
~Happy eating,
Monique
Grilled Halloumi & Honey Appetizer Platter
1 package Halloumi
Olive oil
Red pepper flakes or serrano pepper, thinly sliced
Lemon zest
Dried mint
Honey drizzle
Optional: toasted pine nuts and pesto
Heat a pan or grill over medium heat. Slice the halloumi into thick strips. Add a spritz of olive oil to the pan, then add the halloumi strips and cook a few minutes until golden brown. Flip over and brown the second side.
Arrange the halloumi on a plate. Drizzle with a spoon of olive oil and a few spoons of honey (pre-warm the honey if needed). Sprinkle with the pepper flakes/serrano slices, zest a bit of lemon and crush dried mint over the top.
Option: It’s not in my photo, but a sprinkling of toasted pine nuts and a couple spoons of pesto are quite lovely on fried halloumi cheese as well (yes, with the honey!)
Note: Halloumi stays put and doesn’t melt all over, so you can pan-fry, use a grill pan or grill right on the bbq.
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