halloumi

[Abitrary]

I've discovered a cypriot cheese called halloumi. My latest hobby is frying cheese and slithering it over whatever dinner I'm eating... and I thought I'd try halloumi tonight.

But it stays solid! It doesn't melt! It tastes like hard omelette!

Not sure how I'm going to work it into my diet yet though. What are everyone else's halloumi stories?

 

[purpleR]

mm, definitely the squeakiest cheese.

 

[Rhythm Thief]

Delicious. Try it barbecued on a kebab skewer with cherry tomatoes, red onion and peppers, or grilled for breakfast. It's lovely.

 

[Abitrary]

mm, definitely the squeakiest cheese.

It is! On the tooth and the knife. I'm eating some right now. You don't even need bread.

 

[Rhythm Thief]

Just don't eat it raw ...

 

[jasper]

Lovely with your bacon butties. Eat it with anything and everything. Try stuffing peppers with it and bake in the oven. Alternatively, grated raw and mixed with mint , sprinkled over pasta or diced (uncooked) and sprinkled into salads. Comes into it's own on BBQ's. You name it, you can do it.

The secret when frying/cooking is to cut it thick (not too thick though) and then the outsides will be cooked and the inside quite soft.

 

[tdr1nka]

Yeah, good stuff!
It's nice cut into slices, lightly fried until golden brown then left to cool to be used in salads!

 

[rustychisel]

Haloumi, hello you!!

Fry it and add it to a salad of greens and walnuts... mmmm

 

[summerdays]

Just don't eat it raw ...

No its delicious raw ... eat it anyway.

 

[Globalti]

In Syria they have a version of this, which comes in strings like spaghetti with roasted sesame seeds in them. Absolutely delicious.

 

[barq]

RT is right about the BBQ idea. Also nice with leaves like rocket and escarole.

 

[MessenJah]

I tried halloumi a few years ago. I loved it and had it quite often until the novelty wore off, and haven't had it since. Good stuff though.

 

[Kirstie]

Soak it in water for about an hour - it gets softer then. Then dip it in egg and breadcrumbs and shallow fry it. Crispy on the outside soft, warm and gooey on the inside. It's nice with chilli jam or sweet chilli sauce...

 

[Slim]

The squeaky Halloumi will be very fresh and mass produced. If there's a decent deli'* around try the stuff from the tins (stored in brine). It'll be harder and saltier but have a lot more flavour.

FWIW - it freezes well. I usually come back from Cyprus with at least a dozen bought direct from the dairy.


* If you're in an area with a Cypriot/Greek/Turkish population the local supermarket should have a decent supply.