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Halloumi
🧀 Cheeses

Halloumi

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Halloumi

Audio: Halloumi

Halloumi is a Cypriot semi-hard brined cheese with a high melting point that is fried and grilled.

Halloumi is a traditional semi-hard brined cheese from the island of Cyprus, made from a mixture of sheep's and goat's (sometimes with the addition of cow's) milk. Its main unique property is its extraordinarily high melting point.

Thanks to a special technology (the pressed blocks of curd are poached in hot whey), halloumi does not spread when heated but only softens and takes on an appetising golden crust. That is why, unlike most cheeses, it can be fried in a pan or grilled — and this is the main way of eating it. Fried halloumi has a salty taste, a springy, slightly “squeaky” texture, and pairs beautifully with vegetables, herbs, watermelon, or honey. This versatile cheese has won worldwide popularity and become a favourite ingredient of vegetarian cuisine and summer grills.

Masterclass: Halloumi
Cultural Versus

Compare “Halloumi” with another term

Meaning, origins and distinction — side by side.

HalloumiBrie

Distinction

Two cheeses with opposite behaviour when heated. Brie is a soft cheese with a white mould rind and a creamy, almost flowing centre; in warmth it spreads and melts, so it is mostly eaten as is. Halloumi, by contrast, is a firm brined cheese with a high melting point: it does NOT melt on the heat but only takes on a golden crust, so it is grilled or pan-fried. Brie melts; halloumi holds its shape.

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