Originating from Cyprus, halloumi is a traditional Cypriot semi-hard pasteurized cheese traditionally made with a mixture of goat and sheep milk.
Its charms have long been recognised in its homeland of Cyprus, where the average resident gets through an average of 8kg (17lbs) of it each year. But now Britons are said to consume more halloumi than any other European country outside Cyprus, with Sweden coming in behind.
The Cypriot cheese is a staple across the island and a popular choice in Greece and the Middle East, but did you know these fun facts about Halloumi: It is a cooked, semi-hard, unripened, brined cheese that has a high melting point so is great grilled, pan-fried or cooked on the BBQ.
The pride of Cyprus
Haloumi hails from the Mediterranean and was first made on the island of Cyprus during the Medieval Byzantine period (AD 395 – 1191). Cypriot famers relied on haloumi as a source of protein and in many villages the entire community would join forces and make huge batches together.
Haloumi originates from the eastern Mediterranean coast, with close ties to Cyprus. It's been produced there by a multi-ethnic population for many centuries. It also has roots in Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, and Turkey.
Originating from Cyprus, halloumi is a traditional Cypriot semi-hard pasteurized cheese traditionally made with a mixture of goat and sheep milk. Eventually, some producers started to add cow milk to the mix.
Halloumi, like other dairy foods, is rich in calcium, a mineral we need for muscle and nerve function as well as strong healthy bones and teeth. A portion (80g) supplies a significant contribution towards your daily calcium needs, something which is of important for all life-stages.
While raw halloumi contains a moderate number of calories, it's often consumed fried or coated in oil. This can significantly increase the calorie content, potentially contributing to weight gain.
Halloumi or haloumi is an unripened cheese that originates from Cyprus but that is extremely popular in Australia. It looks a bit like fresh mozzarella, but because it has a higher melting point it can be sliced and fried until golden without becoming molten.
Nutritionally haloumi cheese contains slightly less fat (26 per cent) than regular cheddar cheese but more than double the sodium content thanks to the brine used to preserve it. Haloumi is delicious, and as such one of the biggest issues it poses is the risk of overeating.
Brands vary, but feta is usually the winner. Haloumi tends to have more calories and a higher fat content. Plus, it usually has more salt. Haloumi makes a good cooking cheese thanks to its high melting point.
This is because it has not been pre-soaked. Soaking, especially as here, with some lemon juice, leaches out halloumi's preserving salt, and also softens the cheese nicely. The result is that you'll taste and smell the farmy sweetness of the milk in the finished dish.
Yes, you can eat halloumi raw, and here's how
There are many, many recipes in which halloumi is much better fried. 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.
Europe held a leading position in the global halloumi cheese market in 2019, and is expected to maintain its dominance in the future.
It's no secret some of the best cheese in the world comes from France, Switzerland and Italy. But true cheese aficionados should be eager to explore what the rest of the globe has to offer.
The halloumi base is typically made from unpasteurised goat's or sheep's milk, and sometimes cow's milk. The inclusion of dairy milk of any kind renders halloumi completely not vegan friendly, and should not be consumed by anyone strictly following a plant-based diet.
Halloumi Nutrition
While not necessarily a healthy superfood, halloumi cheese is high in protein and calcium. However, halloumi is quite high in sodium, so it's important to eat it in moderation.
Feta. While the texture of feta is more dry and crumbly than halloumi, they are both salty and cheesey. Feta won't squeak or melt in the same way but it's the closest option.
Over the years, Halloumi has earned the reputation of a delicious meat substitute. Halloumi is a salty and semi-hard cheese that many people consider the king of grilling cheeses because of its high melting point. Halloumi turns crispy and golden-brown when grilled or pan-fried.
Halloumi itself is not poisonous to dogs, but it can still make them sick. Halloumi is a dairy product and most adult dogs are lactose intolerant, so eating too much cheese like halloumi can give them gastrointestinal troubles like vomiting and diarrhoea.
Halloumi is a semi-hard cheese made principally in Cyprus from sheep or goat milk or mixture of the two. The raw milk is coagulated as for Feta cheese. The blocks of the cheese (10 × 10 × 3 cm) are heated at 92–95°C in the whey extracted during draining.
Even though it has a good amount of protein, it is also high in fat. Therefore, it is recommended not to consume halloumi for weight loss. Instead, low-fat/non-fat cottage cheese or tofu can assist in your weight loss journey.
For a cheese to melt it needs a protein structure that stretches in the frying pan or under the grill. Halloumi contains a tightly knit three-dimensional network of milk proteins that hold fast during cooking.
Since cottage cheese is high in protein but low in calories, it is often recommended for weight loss. Several studies indicate that eating high protein foods like cottage cheese can increase feelings of fullness and help decrease overall calorie intake, which in turn may lead to weight loss ( 14 ).