Frying Halloumi Cheese: A Keto-Friendly Treat

Frying halloumi cheese is a quick and easy way to add a delicious, crunchy and salty kick to a variety of meals. Halloumi is a semi-firm, traditional Cypriot cheese that holds its shape well when heated. Its high melting temperature makes it perfect for frying, grilling, or barbecuing. To fry halloumi, simply cut the cheese into slices or sticks, season if desired, and fry in a pan with a small amount of oil until golden brown. Serve with a dip or as a side dish. For an extra pop of flavour, squeeze some fresh lemon juice over the cooked cheese.

How to get the perfect golden crust

Frying halloumi is a quick and easy process, but there are a few key steps to follow to achieve the perfect golden crust. Here's a step-by-step guide:

Step 1: Cut the Halloumi

Use a sharp knife to cut the halloumi into slices or cubes. The thickness can vary depending on your preference, but it's recommended to keep it between 2-10mm. Thicker slices will result in a spongy texture, while thinner slices may become crunchy halloumi chips.

Step 2: Seasoning (Optional)

Although not necessary, you can sprinkle some salt, pepper, herbs, or spices on the halloumi slices to enhance their flavour. Just be mindful of the carb content in the seasonings, as some may contain hidden carbohydrates that can affect your keto diet.

Step 3: Choose Your Cooking Method

You can fry, bake, grill, or smoke halloumi. Frying is the simplest method and delivers excellent results. Baking in the oven is another option, but be cautious as it can be prone to overcooking. Grilling on a barbecue is ideal when the weather is nice, and smoking provides a rich flavour but takes longer.

Step 4: Heat Your Pan

If you're frying, grilling, or smoking the halloumi, heat your pan, barbecue, or smoker to medium-high heat. For frying, a non-stick pan is best, and no additional oil is needed as the cheese will release its natural fat during cooking. If using a regular pan, add a small amount of extra virgin olive oil to prevent sticking.

Step 5: Cook the Halloumi

Place the halloumi slices into the pan and let them cook until golden brown. The cooking time will depend on your preferred level of doneness, but typically it takes around 1-2 minutes per side. If you're grilling or smoking, adjust the heat as needed to prevent the halloumi from burning.

Step 6: Flip and Cook the Other Side

Once the first side is golden, use a spatula or tongs to carefully flip the halloumi slices and cook the other side until it reaches the same beautiful golden colour. This step is crucial, as you want both sides to have an even colour and texture.

Step 7: Serve and Enjoy

Now that you've achieved the perfect golden crust, it's time to serve and enjoy your halloumi! It's delicious on its own, with a squeeze of lemon, or as a topping for salads, burgers, or wraps. You can also serve it as a side dish or appetizer with a dipping sauce like marinara or ranch dressing.

How to fry halloumi without oil

Frying halloumi without oil is a great way to enjoy this delicious, semi-firm cheese from Cyprus. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to do it:

Step 1: Prepare the Halloumi

Start by slicing the halloumi into thick pieces, about 0.5 cm to 1 cm thick. This ensures that the cheese doesn't dry out and become hard during cooking. You can also cut the halloumi into fry-shaped sticks if you prefer.

Step 2: Use a Non-Stick Pan

Place a non-stick frying pan on your stovetop and turn the heat to medium. A non-stick pan is essential when cooking halloumi without oil, as it will prevent the cheese from sticking to the pan.

Step 3: Cook the First Side

Place the halloumi slices in a single layer in the pan, making sure not to overcrowd it. Allow the cheese to cook for a few minutes without moving it. The halloumi will release some liquid, which will then evaporate.

Step 4: Flip the Halloumi

Once the liquid has evaporated and the underside of the halloumi is golden brown, it's time to flip the slices over. This side will cook more quickly, so keep an eye on it to avoid overcooking.

Step 5: Serve Immediately

Halloumi is best enjoyed straight out of the pan! It tends to become rubbery as it cools down, so serve it immediately for the best texture and taste. You can garnish it with herbs, spices, or a drizzle of honey to enhance the flavour.

Tips:

• Use a splatter guard when cooking halloumi, as it tends to splatter due to the release of liquid.
• If you want grill marks on your halloumi, use a griddle pan or a crinkle cutter to create fake grill lines.
• Halloumi is a versatile cheese that can be served in many ways. Try it in salads, grilled vegetables, sandwiches, or as a meat substitute.
• While halloumi is delicious on its own, you can also dip it in sauces like low-carb marinara, spicy buffalo, or tzatziki.

How to fry halloumi on a barbecue

Halloumi is a traditional cheese from Cyprus, made using a blend of sheep's and goat's milk, and sometimes with added cow's milk. It has a high melting point, which makes it ideal for frying, grilling, and barbecuing.

• Light the barbecue and wait for the coals to turn ashen and the grill to get very hot. Ensure the grill is clean. If you are using a gas barbecue, heat it to high.
• Remove the halloumi from its packaging and pat it dry with kitchen paper.
• Cut the halloumi into slices approximately 1cm thick.
• Brush both sides of the halloumi slices lightly with olive oil and season with spices, if desired. Smoked paprika works well.
• Place the halloumi slices directly onto the grill bars and cook for 2-3 minutes on each side, until grill marks form and the cheese softens. Turn the slices 90 degrees while cooking if you want to create a criss-cross pattern.
• Remove the halloumi from the barbecue and enjoy immediately while hot.

How to fry halloumi in an air fryer

Frying halloumi cheese is a quick and easy way to create a delicious, golden, crunchy snack or side dish. Here is a step-by-step guide to achieving the perfect fried halloumi in an air fryer.

Step 1: Prepare the Halloumi

Slice the halloumi into pieces about 2-3mm thick. You can also cut the halloumi into sticks or cubes, depending on your preferred shape. The thickness is important to ensure you get a nice, spongy texture—too thin, and you might end up with crunchy halloumi chips.

Step 2: Seasoning (Optional)

Halloumi is already quite salty, but you can add a sprinkle of salt and pepper, herbs, or spices to enhance the flavour. Be careful not to overdo it, as you don't want to mask the delicious, natural flavour of the halloumi.

Step 3: Bread the Halloumi (Optional)

If you want to add a crispy coating to your halloumi, you can bread the pieces. To do this, beat an egg in a shallow bowl. In a separate shallow bowl, mix together almond flour, grated parmesan cheese, garlic powder, paprika, and cayenne pepper. Dip each piece of halloumi into the egg, then coat it with the flour mixture.

Step 4: Air Frying

Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C). Place the halloumi pieces in the air fryer basket in a single layer, making sure they don't touch each other. Air fry for 6-8 minutes, or until golden and crispy.

Step 5: Serve

Your halloumi is now ready to serve! For an extra pop of flavour, squeeze some fresh lemon juice over the cooked halloumi. Halloumi goes well with a variety of dipping sauces, such as marinara, ranch dressing, or tzatziki. Enjoy!

How to fry halloumi to make keto halloumi fries

Halloumi is a semi-firm cheese with a high melting temperature, which makes it perfect for frying. It is a traditional Cypriot cheese, often made from sheep's milk, and is popular in Cyprian and Greek cuisine.

Ingredients:

• Halloumi
• Egg
• Almond flour
• Parmesan cheese
• Garlic powder
• Salt and pepper
• Oil for frying (avocado, coconut, olive, or ghee)

Optional Ingredients:

• Dipping sauce (keto-friendly brand)
• Fresh parsley for garnish
• Cayenne pepper
• Paprika

Utensils:

• Medium-sized shallow bowl
• Baking sheet
• Parchment paper
• Sharp knife
• Slotted spoon
• Paper towels
• Air fryer (optional)

Method:

• Cut the halloumi into fry-shaped sticks or cubes, around 2-3mm to 10mm thick.
• Season the halloumi with salt and pepper and any other desired herbs and spices.
• Beat an egg with salt and pepper in a shallow bowl.
• In a separate shallow bowl, mix the almond flour, parmesan cheese, and garlic powder.
• Dip each halloumi stick into the egg mixture, then coat it with the almond flour mixture.
• Heat oil in a large skillet or non-stick frying pan over medium to high heat.
• Fry the halloumi sticks in a single layer for 2-3 minutes on each side, until golden brown and crispy.
• Remove the halloumi fries from the pan with a slotted spoon and place them on a paper towel-lined plate to absorb excess oil.
• Serve hot with your choice of dipping sauce.

Tips:

• If you don't have a sharp knife, you can use a cheese slicer to cut the halloumi.
• If you don't have a non-stick pan, you can use parchment paper to line your baking sheet.
• You can also bake or air-fry the halloumi fries if preferred.
• Halloumi is already quite salty, so be mindful of this when adding salt to your seasoning.

Frequently asked questions