Andy Montoya
Halloumi cheese sticks, also known as halloumi fries, are a delicious snack or appetizer that can be easily made at home. Halloumi is a unique type of cheese that has a high melting point, making it perfect for frying or grilling. When cooked, halloumi develops a crispy, golden crust while remaining soft and squidgy on the inside, delivering a satisfying contrast of textures. To make halloumi cheese sticks, simply cut the cheese into sticks or fries, coat them in flour, egg wash, and breadcrumbs (optional), and then fry in hot olive oil until golden brown. Serve with a drizzle of honey, sesame seeds, and fruit for a sweet and salty treat, or enjoy them plain with your favorite dipping sauce.
How to cook halloumi cheese sticks
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of cheese | Halloumi |
| Type of dish | Appetizer, snack, side dish |
| Ingredients | Halloumi, olive oil, honey, sesame seeds, red pepper flakes, flour, eggs, panko breadcrumbs |
| Equipment | Frying pan, non-stick pan, griddle pan, wire rack, baking sheet |
| Cooking method | Frying, baking |
| Cooking temperature | Medium to medium-high heat |
| Cooking time | 1-3 minutes per side |
| Serving suggestions | Greek salad, crusty bread, soft-boiled egg, fruit |
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What You'll Learn
Slicing the halloumi into sticks
When slicing the halloumi, it's important not to make the slices too thin. Halloumi has a high melting point, so it won't melt when heated, but you don't want the slices to be so thin that they overcook and burn. Aim for a thickness that will allow the inside to be soft and the outside to be crispy and golden brown.
Once you have your halloumi sticks, you can move on to the next step of coating and frying or baking them to perfection!
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Cooking methods: frying or baking
Halloumi cheese sticks can be cooked by frying or baking. Frying halloumi is a quick method that yields amazing results in 5 minutes or less. You can fry halloumi in a nonstick pan with nothing else added, or you can add olive oil to enhance the flavor. If you're using a non-stick pan, you don't need to add oil, but if you're using a stainless steel pan, a dash of oil will help to prevent the cheese from sticking.
To fry halloumi cheese sticks, start by slicing the halloumi block into long rectangular shapes or thick sticks, about 1/2-inch wide. You can use a crinkle cutter to create fake grill lines if desired. Pat the halloumi sticks dry with paper towels or a clean kitchen towel. Heat your chosen oil in a skillet or frying pan over medium to medium-high heat. Carefully add the halloumi sticks to the hot oil, being careful of splatter. Fry the halloumi for 1 to 3 minutes, turning occasionally, until golden brown on all sides. Transfer to a wire rack to cool slightly before serving.
Baking halloumi cheese sticks is another option that uses less oil, making it a healthier choice. To bake halloumi cheese sticks, start by slicing the halloumi block into sticks, similar to thick-cut fries, about 1/2-inch thick. Set up a dipping station with three separate bowls: one with plain all-purpose flour or gluten-free flour, one with beaten eggs, and one with panko breadcrumbs. You can add seasonings like smoked paprika and garlic powder to the flour for extra flavor. Dip each halloumi stick first in the flour, then the egg, and finally in the breadcrumbs. Set the coated sticks on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, making sure they don't touch to ensure even crispness. Spray the sticks with extra virgin olive oil or brush it on if you don't have a spray. Bake in the oven at the temperature specified in your recipe (available online) for 20-25 minutes, or until the breadcrumbs turn golden and crispy.
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Using olive oil
Halloumi cheese has a high melting point, making it easy to cook. It is a pressed, layered cheese that tends to break apart when you cut it, so use a sharp knife with a thin blade. Cut the block of halloumi into slices about half a centimetre thick. If you want to create fake grill lines, use a crinkle cutter.
If you're frying the halloumi, use a non-stick pan. You can dry fry halloumi, but frying it in olive oil is recommended to enhance the flavour. Use an olive oil with a rich, robust flavour and a peppery finish, like Spanish Hojiblanca EVOO or Greek Early Harvest EVOO. Heat a little olive oil in the pan and arrange the halloumi sticks in a single layer. Cook each side for 1 to 2 minutes over medium-high heat, managing the heat as needed. Once the cheese turns golden brown, it's ready.
You can also bake the halloumi in the oven. Place the halloumi sticks on a baking sheet and bake until golden. You can also coat the halloumi in flour, egg wash, and panko breadcrumbs before baking.
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Dipping sauces
Halloumi cheese sticks can be served with a variety of dipping sauces. Here are some options:
Sweet Chilli Mayo
This sauce combines the spicy-sweet flavour of sweet chilli sauce with the creaminess of mayonnaise. It pairs well with the salty halloumi cheese sticks.
Jalapeno Dipping Sauce
A spicy jalapeno sauce can be a great complement to the cheese sticks, adding a kick of heat and a unique flavour.
Honey
Drizzling honey over the halloumi cheese sticks creates a sweet-salty combination. For an extra kick of spice, you can try using hot honey.
Marinara Sauce
A classic marinara sauce can be a tasty dip for halloumi cheese sticks, reminiscent of mozzarella sticks. It adds a tangy flavour to the salty cheese.
Pesto
The fresh flavours of pesto can brighten up the fried cheese starter. You can also mix pesto with mayonnaise to create a tasty pesto mayo dipping sauce.
Aioli
For garlic lovers, aioli can be a scrumptious dipping sauce option. It adds a strong garlic flavour to the cheese sticks.
Romesco Sauce
The smoky flavour of Romesco sauce pairs well with the halloumi. It adds a unique, grilled flavour to the cheese sticks.
Yogurt Sauce
A yogurt sauce mixed with lemon juice and salt can be a refreshing dip for the halloumi cheese sticks. Adding fresh mint and chilli flakes enhances the flavour and provides a refreshing contrast to the fried cheese.
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Serving suggestions
Halloumi cheese sticks can be served as a snack, starter, or appetizer. They can also be served as a side dish with grilled vegetables or a Greek salad, and crusty bread.
Halloumi fries are often served with a dipping sauce. Suggested sauces include honey, marinara sauce, and sweet chilli sauce. For a creamier sauce, you can mix mayonnaise with the sweet chilli sauce.
To make a honey sauce, you can mix honey with a hot sauce, such as chile or Aleppo pepper. You can also serve honey with fruit such as grapes, figs, or berries.
If you are making a platter, you can add sesame seeds, or a sprinkling of herbs.
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Frequently asked questions
Cut the halloumi block into long rectangular shapes or slices around half a centimetre thick.
You can cook halloumi cheese sticks in a non-stick pan with nothing else added, this is called "dry frying". Alternatively, you can fry the halloumi sticks in olive oil over medium to medium-high heat.
Fry the halloumi sticks for 1 to 2 minutes on each side over medium-high heat until all sides are golden brown.
You can serve halloumi cheese sticks with honey, sesame seeds, and fruit.
