Halloumi Fries (2024)

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Halloumi Fries (1)Yumna Jawad
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5 from 804 votes

These halloumi fries are Middle Eastern style mozzarella sticks made with only 4 ingredients - flour, eggs, panko and non-melting halloumi!

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These Halloumi Fries make for a great appetizer or finger food to serve guests. Easy to make and super fun to eat! My fries are baked in the oven for maximum crunch and a healthier version of the fried cheese sticks you get at restaurants. Serve it with a marinara sauce for dipping. It’s the perfect vegetarian finger food for entertaining.

Halloumi Fries (2)

When it comes to entertaining, a cheesy finger food is never a bad idea! These halloumi fries (or halloumi sticks) are crispy and full of flavor for an addictive bite, I promise you, you won’t stop at one! Serve it up with marinara or ranch, and you are in for a real treat!

What is halloumi?

It’s basically a white firm cheese made from sheep’s milk. It has a salty taste (which usually fades when cooked) and a rubbery texture, and it’s often referred to as the “grilling cheese” because it doesn’t melt when grilled! I grew up eating halloumi and love seeing it become more mainstream nowadays.

  • It has a unique flavor and texture.
  • It doesn’t melt, making it so versatile for recipes.
  • And it adds a meaty texture to otherwise plain salads or meals.

How to make halloumi fries

This recipe is inspired by traditional mozzarella sticks, but with a mediterranean twist by using halloumi cheese instead of mozzarella cheese. To make the halloumi fries, just set up a dredging station of flour, egg wash and panko bread crumbs.

Next, cut the halloumi cheese block into long rectangular shapes to mimic fries. Now, dip the halloumi in the flour, then the egg wash, and finally the panko breadcrumbs.

Halloumi Fries (3)

Set them on a tray lined with parchment paper. They will spread a tiny bit but definitely won’t ooze out so don’t worry about using a super large tray. Then bake in the oven until the halloumi fries are golden and crispy.

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You can eat these halloumi fries alone, but they’re even better with some type of sauce, marinara, ranch or even garlic sauce.

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Tips for making halloumi fries

  1. Keep one hand wet and one drywhen you are dredging the halloumi so that you don’t get into a sticky mess.
  2. Don’t let the fries touchwhen you place them on the baking sheet or they won’t get as crispy. Although they won’t spread, the distance helps avoid unnecessary steam nearby so the panko becomes crisp on the outside.
  3. Make it gluten-free by coating in almond flourinstead of all-purpose flour. I haven’t tried other flour substitutes aside from almond flour. But you should be able also use an general gluten-free flour substitute.
  4. Use paneer or other firm white cheese if you can’t find halloumi.The beauty of halloumi is its non melting aspect, but you may be able to fin other similar cheese like paneer to use.

Frequently asked questions

How many calories are in halloumi fries?

This recipe makes nine servings, and each serving, is about 125 calories so they make a great party food. They aren’t exactly a health food, but they are delicious and cheesy and perfect for a treat!

Can you make halloumi fries ahead of time?

These fries are best served straight out of the oven so that they are super crispy and the cheese is perfectly soft. You can dredge the cheese ahead of time though, place them on the baking tray and keep the covered in the fridge and then pop them in the oven when you are ready to serve.

Can you eat halloumi fries cold?

If you do have any leftovers, you can keep them in the fridge in an airtight container for two or three days. To have them cold, I prefer to chop them up and add to a salad – YUM!

Halloumi Fries (6)

There’s so many fun recipes using halloumi. After you finish making these fries, head over the my Zaatar Spring Rolls – they are basically spring roll wraps stuffed with halloumi cheese and then rolled in zaatar. My family is obsessed with them and pretty much anything that has the word halloumi in it.

More fries recipes

If you make this healthy-ish feelgood Halloumi Friesrecipe, please be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! I would love to hear about your experience making it. And if you snapped some shots of it, share it with me onInstagram so I can repost on my stories!

Halloumi Fries (7)

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Halloumi Fries

These halloumi fries are Middle Eastern style mozzarella sticks made with only 4 ingredients – flour, eggs, panko and non-melting halloumi!

5 from 804 votes

Servings 9 servings

Course Appetizer

Calories 126

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Video

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

  • Place the flour in one small bowl, the eggs in another bowl and the panko breadcrumbs in a third bowl.

  • Dredge the halloumi sticks in the flour, shake off excess, then into the eggs, and finally into the panko breadcrumbs

  • Place the halloumi sticks on the prepared baking sheet and bake until the panko breadcrumbs become golden, about 20-25 minutes.

Notes

Storage: If you do have any leftovers, you can keep them in the fridge in an airtight container for two or three days.

Sourcing: You can find the halloumi cheese in the dairy section of health stores or Middle Eastern grocery stories. It’s slowly starting to become more popular in major grocery stories as well.

Nutrition

Calories: 126kcal, Carbohydrates: 6g, Protein: 8g, Fat: 8g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Cholesterol: 18mg, Sodium: 372mg, Potassium: 18mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 26IU, Calcium: 292mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate. It will vary based on cooking method and specific ingredients used.

Course: Appetizer

5 from 804 votes (790 ratings without comment)

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Comments

  1. Going to make these tonight. What would you recommend as dipping sauce? Hummus or tzatziki? Thanks

    Reply

    1. Yay, I hope you like them! I usually serve halloumi fries with marinara but have dipped them in ranch and garlic sauce as well. If you only have hummus and tzatziki on hand, I think tzatziki would work better!

      Reply

  2. I’ve never had this cheese before. Turned out great. Thank you!

    Reply

    1. Yay, so glad you liked it!! Halloumi is the best, isn’t it?

      Reply

  3. Loved this. However, I believe that it should have been mentioned that Hallumi is a cheese from Cyprus 🙂

    Reply

    1. Thank you for the feedback!

      Reply

  4. What oven temp for halloumi fries ?

    Reply

    1. Hi Anne, you will find the oven temperature as well as the full instructions in the recipe card right above the comment section. Hope you enjoy!

      Reply

  5. Halloumi is Not middle eastern , its 100 percent cypriot cheese , it is made in only in Cyprus , it’s like saying mozzarella cheese is middle eastern when it is italian . Or saying boereworse is jamaican when its South African. It wouldn’t be okay to take an Arabic food or Lebanese Kibbeh and say it is Chinese dish , authenticity is key . So give credit where credit is due . Recipe is good though.

    Reply

    1. I’m glad you enjoyed the recipe! I should clarify that I said that these are Middle Eastern style mozzarella sticks, not that halloumi is Middle Eastern.

      Reply

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Halloumi Fries (2024)

FAQs

What are halloumi fries made of? ›

These halloumi fries are Middle Eastern style mozzarella sticks made with only 4 ingredients - flour, eggs, panko and non-melting halloumi!

What are Mcdonald's halloumi fries made from? ›

100% real Halloumi coated in a light tempura batter for deliciously crispy Halloumi fries – perfect as a starter, sharer, topper or side on any menu – drizzle in hot honey and discover the flavour trend that's getting everyone talking! Discover the on-trend cheese side that everyone is talking about!

Is halloumi healthy for weight loss? ›

Is Halloumi Good for Weight Loss? In a word, no. As Watkins explains, Halloumi is 'high in saturated fat (12g per 70g), which has been linked with 'bad' cholesterol levels. It also matters how you prepare the halloumi as adding lots of oil – if frying – will increase the calorie count.

Are halloumi fries healthy? ›

Is halloumi healthy? Halloumi is high in protein and calcium, but it is also high in fat and salt, so keep an eye on portion size. How many calories in halloumi fries? There are 560 calories in a portion, however number will be slightly inflated as not all of the flour, breadcrumbs or egg is used.

How unhealthy is fried halloumi? ›

When eaten regularly in large quantities halloumi can be considered unhealthy, as this fried cheese is pretty high in saturated fat and salt. However, when eaten sporadically as part of a balanced diet, halloumi has a range of health benefits, as it's high in calcium and protein.

Why is halloumi so expensive? ›

Halloumi is made out of sheep's milk, which is more expensive than cow's or goat's milk due to the animal milking production—though nowadays you can also find Halloumi varieties with a mix of these kinds of milk, thus lowering the price of the product.

What are the cons of halloumi? ›

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.

Why is halloumi not vegetarian? ›

It has a dairy-base usually made from unpasteurised goat or sheep's milk (sometimes cow's) meaning that it is not vegan-friendly and won't be consumed by anyone following a strictly plant-based diet.

Is halloumi inflammatory? ›

Halloumi cheese also contains high levels of selenium, which is a mineral that has anti-inflammatory properties. Selenium helps reduce inflammation throughout the body, which can help relieve pain and improve joint health. The high levels of selenium in halloumi cheese also help boost the immune system.

Are McDonald's halloumi fries nice? ›

They are perfectly salted and there is a generous amount of cheese. If you love dunking chips into sauce, you'll love the dip which compliments it so well, it's almost too good to be true. The halloumi fries are so moreish you swipe away any intruding hands wanting to pinch one.

Why are halloumi fries so salty? ›

To preserve the cheese, the halloumi was soaked overnight in a salty brine and then packed in mint leaves to keep them fresh.

Can you eat halloumi fries raw? ›

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.

What is halloumi meat? ›

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.

What is halloumi cheese made from? ›

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.

What makes up halloumi? ›

Halloumi is made from the milk of goats, sheep, or cows. The production process involves adding rennet to milk to separate the curds and whey, draining the curds, pressing them into a mold, and then poaching and brining them.

Is halloumi a goat or sheep? ›

Traditional halloumi is typically made from fresh, unpasteurised sheep and/or goat's milk. However, for its commercial production a mixture of pasteurized sheep, goat and occasionally cow's milk is used (with the cow's milk making up the lowest proportion of the milk used, if used at all).

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