42 halloumi recipes

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.

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.

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.