Grilled or fried, halloumi cheese is a versatile treat
Today’s recipe is so simple, I’m almost embarrassed to write it down. But I’m sure it’s one you will end up making again and again for all kinds of occasions, so I’ll get over myself.
Most cheeses melt when exposed to heat. But there’s a type of cheese called halloumi (pronounced Ha-LOO-mee) that keeps its shape. Whether you pan-sear or barbecue it, it gets golden-brown on the outside while staying warm and soft on the inside. It’s usually quite salty, has a slightly firmer texture than mozzarella, and it squeaks when you bite into it.
Halloumi originally came from Cyprus, but now it’s popular all over the world. It’s usually made from sheep and goat’s milk, although you can find varieties made from the milk of cows and even water buffalo.
You can buy halloumi locally at most grocery stores and specialty stores. It’s often coated with mint and other herbs. You can do many things with it:
Eat it warm from the pan, with a few drops of lemon juice on top;
Cube and skewer it instead of meat on a kebab; Grill slices to top burgers or a salad; Pan-fry cubes of it to mix with lentils and grilled vegetables;
Eat the golden-brown slices with sweet, juicy fruit such as watermelon or oranges.
That last suggestion is where I’m going today. I cut slices of halloumi and fried them to golden-brown in a little oil, then layered them simply with orange slices and mint leaves. That’s all!
It’s a perfect light lunch or supper dish, part of a buffet, or to serve as a snack with late-afternoon drinks. You could even make it for breakfast. The salty cheese is a perfect match with the sweet fruit and fragrant mint.
Fried halloumi with oranges and mint
About 250 g (8 oz.) halloumi cheese
15 to 30 ml (one to two tablespoons) vegetable oil
2 medium oranges
Fresh mint leaves
Cut cheese into slices a little thicker than half a cm (quarter of an inch)
Heat your frying pan on medium heat and add one tablespoon (15 ml) of the oil.
Fry cheese until golden-brown on both sides. Add the other tablespoon of oil if you need it. When cheese is golden brown on both sides, drain with paper towels and set aside.
While cheese is frying, peel the oranges, remove any seeds and cut into slices.
Layer the cooked cheese slices with the orange slices and garnish with the mint leaves. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Makes 2 servings.