43 halloumi recipes
Make the most of this unique, squeaky cheese to create veggie burgers, vibrant salads and meat-free entertaining dishes. Plus: a quick guide to cooking halloumi properly
Make the most of wonderful, squeaky halloumi cheese with our ultimate recipe collection. Our favourite halloumi recipes include grilled halloumi, halloumi salads, halloumi dinner party starter ideas (check out our vegetarian entertaining recipes here), and how to make a brilliant vegetarian burger with halloumi. Then, try our best vegetarian BBQ recipes.
Just remember to check your halloumi if you’re serving it as a vegetarian option. Some halloumi is set with rennet so look for a vegetarian make, there are lots of good ones available.
Check out the olive shop for a selection of halloumi and regional cheese from artisan producers.
How do you cook perfect halloumi?
How to fry halloumi
The simplest way to cook halloumi is to just fry slices in a dry non-stick frying pan. You don’t need any oil and in fact dry-frying helps create a lovely golden crust on the outside of the cheese whilst the inside will be soft and squishy and ready to add to a salad.
How to bake halloumi
Halloumi is also great baked – add slices to an ovenproof dish and drizzle with olive oil and herbs or spices. It’ll need about 10-15 minutes in a 200C/fan 180C/gas 6 oven. The halloumi soaks up the flavours whilst baking so it’s an easy way to add extra welly to your dishes.
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How to grill halloumi
Halloumi can stand up to a BBQ really well. It’s best to rub the outside of the halloumi with some oil and to cook it quickly over a very hot direct heat to prevent it sticking to the bars. Try adding some seasoning before you grill for extra oomph.
Here are more ways that you can cook halloumi
Here's our epic halloumi recipe for halloumi fries
Easy halloumi recipes
Hasselback halloumi traybake
Hasselbacking the halloumi opens up more surface area for maximum crispness. Serve this easy traybake with flatbreads and a green salad.
Halloumi toastie with harissa and honey
Check out Sabrina Ghayour's take on everybody's favourite, the classic cheese toastie. Filled with salty halloumi, rose harissa and honey for a touch of sweetness, this toastie is too delicious for words. It's meat-free too, so your veggie friends don't have to miss out.
Halloumi fries
Ever since we tried street food van Oli Baba’s legendary halloumi fries they’ve been haunting our dreams. This is our attempt to recreate that deep-fried cheesy magic.
Air fryer halloumi fries
Halloumi fries can be on the table in just 15 minutes, served with a fat-free Greek yogurt dip with pomegranate molasses.
Halloumi burger
Check out our recipe for the ultimate veggie burger packed with mushroom, avocado, spinach and halloumi - ready in just 30 minutes.
Aubergine and halloumi burgers
Make the most of aubergines by deep-frying in breadcrumbs until crisp and golden before stuffing in a bun with grilled halloumi and harissa mayo.
Peri peri halloumi burgers with citrus slaw
These peri peri halloumi burgers (made with Nando's peri peri sauce) are a great alternative to a meaty burger, with the citrus slaw perfectly cutting through the delicious cheesiness. Guaranteed to be a hit with veggies and meat eaters alike!
Halloumi wraps
Salty halloumi makes a satisfying vegetarian wrap filling. Serve with a fresh and bright salad for a quick, nutritious midweek meal.
Halloumi fajitas
If you're a veggie who loves fajitas, check out these super simple wraps with salty halloumi, sweet red peppers and crunchy red onions. Ready in 20 minutes, this easy recipe is a great midweek meal for two.
Vegetable pasta bake
A Mediterranean-inspired freezable pasta bake packed with summer veg – use frozen if not in season.
Grilled halloumi salad
Try this halloumi salad as a side dish at your next barbecue, or serve it as a vegetarian main.
Nectarine and chilli maple halloumi quinoa salad
Nectarines shine in this salad that highlights the seasonal stone fruit – coating the halloumi in a chilli-maple dressing is a game-changer.
Halloumi and Mediterranean veg traybake
Our vegetarian tray bake packs in plenty of seasonal veg and salty halloumi for a vibrant Mediterranean dinner ready in 30 minutes. Discover our best traybake recipes here.
Pea and halloumi fritters with charred lemon dip
Combine halloumi, peas, mint and chilli to make these quick vegetarian fritters, served with a charred lemon dip.
Halloumi and black olive cake
Packed with Cypriot flavours, including oregano, mint, black olives and salty halloumi, this olive cake will make a crowd-pleasing centrepiece at a summer feast.
Halloumi and watermelon salad
Warm, salty halloumi goes brilliantly here with sweet watermelon and fresh mint – ideal for a BBQ side dish.
Aubergine pilaf with crispy halloumi
A vegetarian's dream, this midweek winner with aubergine chunks, rice seasoned with ras el hanout, shards of golden halloumi and sesame seeds, is ready and on the table in 35 minutes.
Honey and sesame halloumi with jalapeño yogurt and tabbouleh
A clever new way to serve your favourite squeaky cheese. Honeyed halloumi sits on top of a freekeh salad, made punchy with jalapeño yogurt.
Halloumi-stuffed peppers
Hurrah for the stuffed pepper! Make this vegetarian classic shine brighter with cubes of halloumi, harissa and a whack of red chilli.
Halloumi shawarma
Grill spiced halloumi until golden and serve with warm flatbreads and a fresh salad for a spiced veggie midweek meal.
Pepper and halloumi pide
Take your Turkish pizza up a notch with diced halloumi and red and green peppers for an easy vegetarian midweek meal.
Carrot, halloumi and dill balls
Rarely do you see carrots fried, so here Sabrina Ghayour has combined them with halloumi to make these crispy little balls – perfect with drinks at a party or as part of a feast. Discover more of our easy canapé style recipes here.
Spiced lentil and chickpea salad with halloumi
Check out our warm salad recipe with spicy lentils, golden halloumi and chickpeas. This simple veggie salad is low in calories and on the table in 40 minutes.
Beetroot borani and halloumi breakfast bowls
Check out our vibrant breakfast bowl with salty pan-fried halloumi, creamy beetroot borani topped with crunchy dukkah. This wholesome recipe comes from food writer John Gregory-Smith.
Spiced halloumi and watermelon skewers
Check out these super simple skewers with salty halloumi and sweet watermelon. Make these easy veggie skewers for your next bbq with friends.
Prosciutto-wrapped halloumi with melon and mint salad
Check out this quick and easy halloumi recipe wrapped in prosciutto and served with a fresh and punchy melon and mint salad, an ideal midweek meal for 3. Plus it's low in calories, too.
Zaalouk recipe with halloumi cheese
Zaalouk is served at room temperature as a side dish. It’s perfect for dunking, so get plenty of warm soft pitta lined up. To make this into more of a meal, serve the zaalouk with pieces of crispy, pan-fried halloumi. Although it’s not really Moroccan, the salty cheese works perfectly with the richness of the aubergines.
Bacon-wrapped halloumi with pea salad
Check out our bacon-wrapped halloumi with pea salad. This super simple halloumi recipe is gluten free and ready in just 20 minutes, a great midweek meal idea.
Halloumi salad with caper and lemon dressing
Our first halloumi cheese recipe is one of the best: a moreish, filling yet healthy salad that comes with an easy, zingy caper and lemon dressing. On the table and ready to eat in under 30 minutes.
Halloumi stuffed garlic mushrooms
Try our easy halloumi stuffed garlic mushrooms. This vegetarian halloumi recipe makes for a moreish midweek meal for two. Plus it's gluten free, too.
Crusted halloumi tacos with pico de gallo
Sharing is caring, so why not make these vegetarian tacos for everyone to enjoy? Set everything up on the table and let your dinner companions help themselves. Ready in under 25 minutes, they're a really quick and easy tasty dinner idea.
Halloumi mixed grill
This is our most popular halloumi recipe. We've paired this squeaky pan-fried cheese with sliced avocado, toasted sourdough, grilled mushrooms and juicy tomatoes but you can you can mix it up and throw some other veg under the grill – the possibilities are endless!
Halloumi, kale and tahini salad
Our simple halloumi, kale & tahini salad is quick, delicious and perfect for lunch or a lighter evening meal. The salty halloumi works wonders with the soften kale and nutty tahini.
Sage and halloumi roasted broccoli with caramelised leeks
This low calorie recipe is easy to prepare and the delicious combination of broccoli, halloumi slices and caramelised onions makes this a winning dish.
Sweetcorn fritters with tomato and halloumi
Don't you just love fritters? We've made these ones with sweetcorn, and suggest serving your stack with squeaky halloumi and roasted tomatoes.
Peppers with halloumi, chilli and pine nuts
How's this for a dinner party starter idea? Baked peppers with halloumi make a great easy entertaining starter, which can also be served as a light lunch with salad. The zingy chilli dressing gives this an extra kick.
Beetroot and halloumi sliders with chilli jam
These vegetarian sliders made from chickpeas, beetroot and halloumi work great as snacks, starters or even a main course, simply adjust the portion size each time!
Halloumi, tomato and aubergine skewers
Make an easy marinade for BBQ vegetarian halloumi skewers. Add tomatoes and aubergine and grill on the barbecue. Piled on to crusty bread these will be a hit.
Halloumi salad with peppers, pine nuts and broccoli
Filling vegetarian salad for two: on the table in half an hour, a main-course salad with halloumi, broccoli and red peppers. Sprinkle with pine nuts to serve.
Warm Puy lentil, cherry tomato and halloumi salad
A hearty, nutritious, salad that can satisfy a healthy appetite and be assembled very quickly. Tender Puy lentils and squeaky, golden, halloumi are served with a salad of tomatoes, red onion and lemon juice.
Halloumi-stuffed pittas with cucumber and pickled cabbage
These quick and easy halloumi-stuffed pittas with cucumber and pickled cabbage serve the family in under 30 minutes.
Quick halloumi flatbreads with harissa dressing
These quick halloumi flatbreads with harissa dressing are easy to make, ready in under 30 minutes and vegetarian – perfect for a midweek meal.
Halloumi pizzettes with caper and chilli dressing
These mini-pizzas are seriously moreish, and this recipe feeds 4 for just £3.60. For an even quicker meal, serve fried slices of halloumi with the dressing spooned over with some warm pitta breads.
Looking for an alternative to halloumi? Have a look at our best cheese recipes.
We have plenty more vegetarian entertaining ideas here, too.
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