Can You Eat Halloumi Raw? Is it Actually Good? - Olympus Cheese (2024)

FAQs

Can You Eat Halloumi Raw? Is it Actually Good? - Olympus Cheese? ›

When it's cooked, the saltiness mellows out, and it becomes soft and gooey, with a crisp exterior. It's not a typical cheesy cheese, it's simply salty and slightly creamy. You can eat halloumi raw, but it is much better when enjoyed warm when it turns gooey on the inside.

What is halloumi? 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.

If raw halloumi floats your boat, you can absolutely eat it as it comes. However, its texture is much enhanced when it's cooked, so most people prefer to eat it warm. The crunchy outside and soft middle is hard to beat when done well, which is why halloumi is such a crowd-pleasing food.

Halloumi saganaki is a traditional Greek dish made with semolina-crusted fried halloumi cheese that is served with fresh figs, pomegranate seeds, bitter greens, and a drizzle of honey for sweetness.

While you can eat Halloumi raw, it's usually enjoyed cooked—not just because you can, but also because cooking improves the taste and texture. Some of the saltiness (from brining) fades as it cooks. And the texture, which starts out a bit like mozzarella, becomes a bit creamier with cooking.

You can definitely eat halloumi raw. However, you don't often see uncooked halloumi served in a meal. It's definitely tastier when it's been cooked, as it's just irresistible when it's warm and squidgy – not to mention, you get those lovely crispy bits around the edges.

Many Halloumi-style cheeses are prepared by dairy and goat farmers in Canada and the United States. For legal proprietary reasons, these cheeses are usually called Halloumi-style or grillable cheeses. Sometimes they are called grilling cheese or frying cheese, or queso de freír in Spanish.

Use your spatula to test for doneness before you remove it from the heat. Once the cheese feels soft inside and gives easily you'll know that it is cooked to perfection. If you'd rather skip the oil, halloumi can also be dry-fried in a non-stick pan. Or toss it in your air fryer for up to ten minutes.

There are a few things you can do to avoid this: • cut your slices of halloumi on the thicker side – very thin slices tend to become a little hard, rather than soft and squidgy, like thicker slices do. don't overcook the halloumi – a couple of minutes on each side is all it needs!

Fresh halloumi has a semi-hard, elastic texture and a milder, less salty flavor compared to the aged version. As mature halloumi is stored in brine it has a harder, drier texture, as well as a saltier flavor. Both versions have a slight minty flavor, due to the addition of spearmint during the production of the cheese.

How should halloumi be eaten? ›

Halloumi could be eaten raw, but it typically isn't as its flavour and texture is enhanced when cooked. A big part of enjoying halloumi is the crisp, browned outside and soft inside when cooked, and this would be lost if eaten raw.

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).

Halloumi is NOT a Greek cheese, it's a Cypriot cheese. Cyprus isn't a Greek island!

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.

Halloumi is often high in sodium, saturated fat, and calories. It's not suitable for those following a vegan or dairy-free diet. Some types are not appropriate for a vegetarian diet, either.

Spoiled halloumi cheese can be easily identified. If the cheese has become slimy or developed a mold, it's time to toss it out. Moreover, a strong sour smell or change in color can also indicate that the cheese is past its prime. Always trust your nose and eyes when checking for freshness.

Halloumi could be eaten raw, but it typically isn't as its flavour and texture is enhanced when cooked. A big part of enjoying halloumi is the crisp, browned outside and soft inside when cooked, and this would be lost if eaten raw.

While you can eat halloumi raw, it's best enjoyed cooked. Cooking halloumi improves both its taste and texture. It becomes creamier and some of the saltiness from the brining process mellows to a pleasant amount of salty flavor.

Yes, you can eat halloumi cheese without cooking it first! Simply slice it and enjoy it as you would with any other block of cheese.