Grilled Halloumi Cheese

Grilled Halloumi Cheese is the perfect low carb hot appetizer you can have on the snack table in under 30 minutes. 

Grilled Halloumi Cheese is like food from the Gods. It is so simple but yet so delightful. Grilled Halloumi Cheese can be served as a snack or light meal.  Whether you are looking for an elegant quick and easy hors d'oeuvre for weekend entertaining or a healthy after school snack for the children, this recipe is sure to please. In less then 10 minutes, you can have a delicious and hearty snack on the table. If you are watching your carbs or following a diabetic friendly diet, place the grilled halloumi cheese on top of a gorgeous salad with your favorite salad dressing and you are good to go.

Halloumi cheese is made from a mixture of goats and sheep's milk and it originated from Cyprus. The cheese is white and has a very dense textured consistency. Because of its firm consistency, it holds up very good to cooking.  In addition, the cheese has a salty rich cream flavor. Yum Yum Yum!

One place that we used to visit on our way to or from Home Depot, when living in the States, was Leo's Coney Island Restaurant.  This is a fantastic inexpensive Greek restaurant that used to serve very tasty Flaming Halloumi cheese, yummy lemon rice soup and crisp Greek salads with a smile on their faces. This is a great place to bring the kids and grab a quick bite.  http://www.leosconeyisland.com/

Grilled Halloumi Cheese: (Serves 4 adults or 2 hungry teenagers as a snack)

Ingredients:

• 180 grams (6 ounces) Halloumi Cheese 
• 1 lemon
• olive oil for frying
• ground cracked pepper
• Crusty Bread or Pita Bread
• Butter for bread

Step 1: Place oil in grill pan and preheat to medium heat.

Step 2: Cut Halloumi cheese in slices or full whole slices as they need to be thinner so they cook quickly (your choice horizontal or diagonal cuts)

Step 3: Place the Halloumi cheese on the grill pan and cook for about 2 minutes on each side or until nice grill marks show.

Step 4: Add cracked pepper to taste.

OPTIONAL STEP for FLAMING GREEK CHEESE (Kasseri cheese would be the better alternative for flaming cheese, but it can be difficult to find, so Halloumi cheese is an acceptable alternative)
(If you wish to have FLAMING Cheese (Saganaki) take the pan off the direct flame and add 2 tablespoons cognac or brandy slowly and directly into pan of cheese. BE VERY CAREFUL as we do not want any flaming eyebrows or hair!  Then, torch it and carefully return pan to top of stove to let the alcohol burn off for just a moment and and then squeeze lemon juice on top of cheese and serve) Ummpah! Please be very careful- I did not do this today as I had too many teenagers in kitchen- safety first!

Step 5: Add juice of fresh lemon.

Step 6: Serve Grilled Halloumi Cheese with lightly buttered grilled bread or grilled pita breads. Enjoy!

More Delicious Grilled Appetizer Recipes

Grilled Halloumi Prosciutto Wrapped Nectarines and Balsamic Glaze 

How to Make Bruschetta Bread

Firecracker Grilled Shrimp

How to Grill Shishito Peppers on the Grill

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