We at Calin has been trying to make different cheeses from different countries. Halloumi cheese is a Cypriot cheese that is one our favorite products. This cheese is used in various Iranian food. Also, you can make salad with halloumi cheese and even eat it alone with lemon juice.
What is halloumi cheese?
People of Cyprus make halloumi cheese with goat and sheep’s milk. In some countries, halloumi is made by cow’s milk. Halloumi is a white cheese which is hard and layered. Some people say that this cheese is similar to mozzarella, though it’s texture is spongy and semi-hard.
The flavor of halloumi is tangy and salty. You can eat raw halloumi or add it to stews. Halloumi has high melting point, so it would be better to be grilled or fried. If you eat raw halloumi, you taste something rubbery and salty, though, grilled halloumi is crispy sand savory.
Halloumi health benefits
This Cyprus cheese is full of calcium. Also, it has a lot of salt and fat. This Cypriot cheese is useful source of protein and Cypriot people eat it instead of meat. Also, vegetarian people add halloumi to food instead of meat. It contains magnesium and phosphorous and help you in strengthening your bones. Halloumi cheese keep you fuller for longer, but be careful and don’t eat it a lot. Some scientist say that halloumi reduces the risk of 2 diabetes. This cheese is not safe for everyone. If you are advised to watch your salt intake, don’t eat halloumi a lot.
How Halloumi is made?
First, the milk is heated and then rennet or vegetarian rennet is added to the milk. This process is called coagulation. This process is called coagulation. After this process, curds and whey is separated. The unique characteristic of halloumi is its resistance to melting. You can’t melt halloumi and add it to pizza or burger, however, it is used in salad and different stews. Also, you can grill halloumi and eat it with grilled chicken and meat. It is well accompanied by fresh fruits, tomatoes, toasted sesame seed and honey.
How halloumi is stored?
After buying halloumi, you should keep it in refrigerator. Once it opened, keep it in salted water or wrap it in the cheese wrap. If you wrap halloumi in the cheese wrap, you can enjoy it up to three months. Plastic foil is good for preserving halloumi cheese too.
What can you make with halloumi?
Professional chefs suggest that the best way of using halloumi is grilling or frying. Also, it goes well with lemon, mint, watermelon, honey, pomegranate, vegetables and chili. Italian people loves halloumi with penne. They add fried halloumi as garnish to pasta and penne.
One of the popular things with halloumi is bean salad. It is consisted of halloumi, bean, pomegranate, onion and mint. You can add a little soya sauce to it. Some people make sandwiches with haloumi cheese. They add halloumi sheet to hamburger and sandwiches. Another salad with halloumi is made with this cheese, chickpea, tomato and mint. This delicious salad can be eaten for lunch too.
The bottom line
Calin company has started producing halloumi cheese since 2021. Calin halloumi cheese is made by cow’s milk and has mint on its top. Don’t forget to keep moderation in eating halloumi, because it has a lot of fat and salt. You can enjoy fried, baked or grilled halloumi or add it to salad.