Halloumi cheese is a kind of stretchy and stringy cheese that is made of pasteurized cow’s or sheep’s milk. The name of the cheese comes from medieval Egypt time, when, at that time halloumi meant cheese. Halloumi is characterized by its high melting point, which makes it suitable for frying, cooking, or grilling. Halloumi is also sometimes sold in form of rolls; these halloumi cheese rolls can serve as appetizers next to your favorite meal and its characteristically similar to mozzarella sticks.
Is Halloumi healthy?
Is halloumi cheese healthy? Well, yes and no. How? You may ask, well, halloumi contains a high content of sodium, which means that if you have high blood pressure or related diseases, then we advise you to consume it in moderation or even not at all, but, if this is not the case for you, then keep an open eye as we walk you through the benefits of halloumi cheese.
Health benefits of halloumi cheese
Halloumi cheese, just like any other dairy product, is rich in calcium and proteins, which makes it a great addition to your meals to grow healthy and strong bones and teeth, it also lowers risks of bone fractures.
If you also exercise to grow stronger muscles, maybe adding halloumi cheese into your diet can be a smart move, as its high protein content in addition to exercising can increase muscle growth, and strength and speed up muscle recovery in case of an injury.
Did you know that consuming halloumi can lower your risk of developing diabetes type 2? Well, dairy products including halloumi were found to improve insulin sensitivity, which helps enhance the body’s ability to regulate blood sugar levels.
Nutrition facts about halloumi cheese
28 grams (1 ounce) of halloumi cheese contains 90 calories and 6 gms of protein and 390 mg of calcium. So based on the previous facts, halloumi is considered to be a high-calorie food with a high protein and calcium content. Halloumi also contains other micronutrients besides calcium, such as sodium, but don’t be mistaken, consuming food with high content of sodium is not healthy, so consider halloumi cheese both a blessing and a cure, only depending on how you consume it of course.
Healthy halloumi recipes
Now, that we convinced you to add fresh halloumi cheese to your diet, we feel like we must provide you with healthy halloumi recipes to help you with getting ready for your new diet.
Grilled halloumi salad
No diet is ever healthy without vegetables and fruits, which means that salads are always an essential part of any diet, but who says that salads have to be dull and tasteless? In this recipe, we will provide you with a delicious and healthy salad recipe that combines the benefits of vegetables and halloumi.
This salad takes about 20 minutes to prepare and is well worth the time. The savory and salty grilled halloumi is mouthwatering in this fresh, bright salad. It’s simple to prepare and filling enough to serve as your main course. So, tune in as we tell you how to prepare this delicious meal.
Ingredients
- 220 grams of halloumi, sliced.
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil, divided
- 3 small cucumbers, sliced
- 1-pint cherry tomatoes, halved
- 114 grams of baby greens mix
- 3 tablespoons of chopped fresh mint
- 1 tablespoon of freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon of salt
- ½ teaspoon of ground black pepper
Instructions
- Heat a grill pan over medium-high heat.
- Brush the halloumi slices with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, coating both sides of the cheese.
- Place the halloumi on the grill pan or grill and cook on each side for 2 to 3 minutes or until grill lines form and the cheese is melting.
- Toss the sliced cucumbers, halved tomatoes, greens, and mint together. Spread them across a large, low bowl or large plate.
- Mix the remaining olive oil, lemon juice, sea salt, and pepper. Drizzle across the salad.
- When the halloumi is done cooking, add it to the salad and serve immediately.
Halloumi and watermelon salad
This recipe combines the freshness and sweetness of watermelon with the savory taste and chewy texture of halloumi cheese. This recipe is perfect for late summer nights or just to eat as a healthy but tasty twist of flavors now and then when you are dieting.
Ingredients
- 500 gms of watermelon, peeled and cut into thin wedges
- 2 tablespoons of white balsamic
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil
- 1 red chilli, finely chopped
- 2 packs of 250 grams of halloumi, thinly sliced
- a handful of leaves mint, shredded
Method
- Fill a large dish halfway with watermelon. Whisk together the white balsamic vinegar and olive oil with a pinch of salt, then add the chilli. Toss the watermelon in the dressing and set aside for 15 minutes.
- Heat a nonstick pan over medium heat and dry-fry the halloumi on both sides until golden.
- Arrange the watermelon and halloumi on a platter, then drizzle with any remaining dressing from the watermelon marinating dish. Serve with the mint on top.
Now if you are wondering where you can get halloumi cheese, we recommend visiting our online store to get more information.