Tomato and Halloumi Bake • Halloumi Recipe • The Cook Report (2024)

FAQs

How long does halloumi take in the oven? ›

Baked halloumi

Cut your halloumi into 5mm-1cm thick slices, then lay them in a single layer in an ovenproof dish. Drizzle with a little olive oil, then place in the oven for 10-15 minutes; turning halfway through.

Why do you soak halloumi before cooking? While completely optional, many swear by this step for a softer, more flavourful, and sweeter result that will set your halloumi apart from all others. The easiest method is to soak the whole block of cheese in cold water for at least two hours (or overnight if you have time).

Same day is best - It's best to fry only what you're going to eat while the cheese is still warm. Once it cools down, halloumi will get rubbery again. Beware of refrigerating cooked halloumi for use on another day; refrigeration tends to make fried halloumi too hard and firm.

Heat the air-fryer to 200C. Pat the halloumi dry with kitchen paper and cut into 1cm-thick pieces. Place halloumi slices in a single layer in the air-fryer basket. Cook for 8-10 mins, flipping halfway, until golden brown and crispy.

Bake it. 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.

Halloumi has a range of nutritional benefits, as it's high in protein and calcium. These nutrients work to promote bone, muscle and heart health – essentially, they're pretty important.

Things to remember: You can't undercook halloumi – you're better to slightly under-do it than over-do it. Once it starts going golden brown, it will cook quite quickly, so be ready to flip it or remove it from the heat.

It should be noted that currently, the minimum ratio of goat and sheep milk in the raw materials used for halloumi production stands at 25%, and within five years, this minimum quota must increase to 50%.

Yes, you can eat halloumi raw, and here's how

Golden-delicious grilled or fried halloumi creates a texture and flavour which pairs so well with both cooked and raw vegetables, meats, in burgers, wraps or for breakfast. There are so many other ideas for using halloumi.

This is because, unlike many cheeses, halloumi has a high pH, as no starter cultures are used in its production. It seems that when this dense casein network “rubs” against the enamel of the teeth, it produces a squeak. Other cheeses usually have a lower pH, which tends to make the casein more fragile.

Can you eat halloumi raw? ›

Originating from Cyprus, halloumi is a semi-hard, un-ripened, brined cheese that can be made from cow, sheep or goat's milk. It can be eaten raw but is truly delicious cooked, having a high melting point, makes it an excellent choice for grilling or frying.

You can enjoy halloumi slices cold in the salad. So, if you're prepping your lunch before work, you won't need to worry about reheating the cheese for your halloumi salad. Can you eat halloumi raw? Yes, you can eat halloumi cheese without cooking it first!

Stack in style and combine fried slices of halloumi with harissa, red peppers, aubergine and hummus. If you don't fancy quite such a beastly bap, treat fried halloumi as you would a meat patty and top with salad and sauce of your choice, grilled mushrooms, avocado or salsa. Maybe hold the processed cheese slice though.

🧀 Cut it into thicker pieces, and make sure to not. overcook it ❌

When you buy a packet of haloumi, it comes with a little salty brine. Simply patting the haloumi dry with paper towel will remove some of the saltiness, but you can also place it in a bowl of cold water to remove more of the salt, if you prefer.

– don't overcook the halloumi – a couple of minutes on each side is all it needs! You still want it to be soft, not totally crispy. – eat the halloumi within 5 minutes or so of cooking it – if you leave it to cool, it will become a little more rubbery.

Yes, you can eat halloumi raw, and here's how

Golden-delicious grilled or fried halloumi creates a texture and flavour which pairs so well with both cooked and raw vegetables, meats, in burgers, wraps or for breakfast.

This high-quality cheese product is pre-cooked and diced, making it easy to use in a variety of dishes. With its salty, tangy flavor and unique texture, halloumi is a popular choice for Mediterranean-inspired dishes, salads, and sandwiches.

1 Preheat the oven to 210°C/200°C Fan/Gas mark 7. 2 Place your Halloumi Fries onto a baking tray and pop them into the middle of the oven. 3 Bake for 10-12 minutes, until they're lovely and crisp.