Air Fryer Halloumi gets beautifully browned and crispy in this quick & easy homemade recipe.
Air Fried Halloumi is the perfect cheese recipe for fromage fans. The salty Greek cheese can be enjoyed as a snack all on its own, stuffed in a sandwich or topped on a salad.
Our irresistible Air Fryer Halloumi recipe features simple and affordable ingredients like salty Greek cheese, olive oil, salt and pepper.
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What Is Air Fryer Halloumi?
Halloumi, also known as haloum, is a semi-hard, unripened cheese made from a mixture of goat and sheep milk, and sometimes also cow milk.
It has a high melting point so it is most often fried or grilled, a property that makes it a popular meat substitute for vegetarians.
Halloumi is often associated with the island of Cyprus, where it has been produced for many centuries. It is also popular throughout the Eastern Mediterranean in countries like Greece and Turkey.
Culinary historians believe the process of making halloumi likely originated sometime in the Medieval Byzantine period (AD 395–1191). A recipe for enhancing ḥalūm (‘cheese’) by brining is found in a 14th-century Egyptian cookbook. The earliest known descriptions of Cypriot halloumi were recorded in the mid-16th century by Italian visitors to Cyprus.
By 2013, demand in the United Kingdom for halloumi cheese had surpassed that in every other European country except Cyprus. A halloumi-style sheep’s milk cheese is produced by Cypriots in England under the name Anglum as the protected name halloumi cannot be used.
Traditional halloumi is sold in a semicircular shape, about the size of a wallet, weighing 220–270 grams. Its firm texture when cooked causes it to squeak on the teeth when being chewed.
The most common way to cook the Greek cheese is by making Oven Baked Halloumi Cheese. Since our family bought an air fryer we’ve enjoyed making quick & easy Air Fried Halloumi.
Best Air Fryers
An air fryer is a small countertop convection oven designed to simulate deep frying without submerging the food in oil. A fan circulates hot air at high speed, producing a crisp layer via browning reactions.
In 2010, Philips introduced the Airfryer brand of convection oven at a consumer electronics fair in Berlin. It used the patented Rapid Air technology, though the term air fryer is now used generically.
Early air fryers were barrel-shaped, though more recently, many have come to resemble toaster ovens and pressure cookers, offering additional functions like toasting, baking, dehydrating and rotisserie.
A decade after their launch, Air Fryers are now one of the trendiest kitchen appliance. They are particularly popular with gourmands living in condos or apartments in big cities like Toronto as they reduce the number of appliances taking up space in your kitchen.
- Hamilton Beach: I tested this recipe with a Hamilton Beach toaster oven-style air fryer. They are an excellent option for those looking for an affordable air fryer and I particularly like mine as it allowed me to replace my toaster, dehydrator and rotisserie. It’s also easier to spread food out and make it crispy by using a baking tray rather than a basket.
- Instant Vortex: This popular air fryer is brought to you by the inventors of the popular Instant Pot. It’s 6 quart capacity features an easy to clean tray that air frys, roasts and bakes.
- COSORI: This 5.8 quart air fryer is an 11-in-1 cooker featuring a nonstick basket and helpful shake reminder setting.
- Ninja: This premium brand is the perfect option for those looking to invest in a heavy duty stainless steel air fryer. The product has been designed to look similar to an Instant Pot, with the top of the air fryer flipping backwards so you can easily lower a basket filled with food.
- NuWave: This sleek digital air fryer features a traditional removable basket and reaches temperatures up to 390 F.
How To Make Air Fryer Halloumi Cheese
Our air fryer halloumi recipe is so easy to make you’ll have it ready to serve in under 15 minutes!
There are two methods to making halloumi cheese in an air fryer, which depend on the style of air fryer you are using.
You can make Air Fried Halloumi as slices, sticks or fries depending on how you want to serve them.
- Traditional Basket: air fryers with a removable basket are still the most common. In order to make Air Fryer Halloumi in these machines, simply place the cheese slices at the bottom of the basket. Be sure they are spaced out and do not touch to ensure they get crispy when cooking.
- Toaster Oven Tray: modern air fryers featuring a glass door and tray configuration make it easy to prepare air fried halloumi at home. Simply place the halloumi in an air fryer basket, being sure they don’t touch. Then slide the basket into the air fryer in the top position and watch the cheese bubble and squeak while peaking through the glass door.
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Travel to Greece by Making Halloumi in An Air Fryer
I love traveling to Europe.
As a professional food and travel journalist, I’ve had the opportunity to enjoy amazing meals in Europe, from traditional markets to award winning restaurants.
For over ten years, I’ve been on the hunt for the best crispy halloumi recipe. In Greece and Turkey, I enjoyed halloumi at restaurants in Meteora, Athens, Santorini, Mykonos, Cappadocia, Bodrum, Ephesus, and Istanbul.
After you’ve enjoyed your first few bites, you’ll realize why halloumi cheese is a must-try when visiting Greece, Cyprus and Turkey!
Once back home from a trip to the Eastern Mediterranean impress your friends and family by making our easy crispy Air Fryer Halloumi Cheese recipe.
Where To Eat Crispy Halloumi Cheese
If you live in a large city in Canada or America you’ll likely have access to a local Greek or Turkish restaurant that serves halloumi cheese.
Haven’t traveled to the region before? It may be helpful to first sample halloumi at a local restaurant to better understand how the Mediterranean cheese is served. You’ll get an idea for how to cut the cheese (slender fries, chunky sticks or thin slices), ideal crispy texture and creative ideas on how to present it on a plate such as in a salad or sandwich.
In Toronto, popular Greek and Turkish restaurants that may serve Halloumi Cheese include Mamakas Taverna, Mezes Greek Restaurant, Estiatorio Volos, Messini, Pizza Pide, and Byblos.
My Family Loves Air Fryer Halloumi
My father and sister are obsessed with halloumi cheese.
My sister discovered the salty and chewy Greek cheese at a restaurant in Vancouver on a fresh salad and later introduced my dad to the crispy baked cheese. Now he’s officially addicted!
We often serve halloumi cheese grilled on the barbecue in the summer at our cottage in Muskoka. My father’s favourite way to prepare the chewy cheese is by tossing it with summer sweet Niagara peaches and Ontario tomatoes as a juicy salad.
Once our family purchased an air fryer we started to have fun recreating recipes for some of our favourite dishes.
Rather than grilling the cheese on a barbecue or baking it in an oven we’ve really enjoyed the simplicity and speed of cooking Air Fried Halloumi.
We often enjoy it as a snack at cocktail hour with some crackers, nuts and olives. Or it can be enjoyed as a vegetarian protein on top of salads or stuffed in sandwiches.
Air Fryer Halloumi Recipe Tips
This healthy vegetarian Air Fried Halloumi Cheese recipe is quick and easy to make at home.
- Think about how you are going to serve and eat the cheese before picking up your knife.
- In this recipe we made Air Fryer Halloumi slices that can easily be picked up with your hands and enjoyed as a snack as part of a cheese and charcuterie board. They can also be added to the top of a salad as they’re easy to pierce with a fork.
- Cut the cheese into slender sticks or fries if you’re planning to serve it as an appetizer with a homemade dip.
- You can also slice halloumi into cubes the size of croutons and use them as a gluten free soup or salad garnish.
- Our recipe is simple, featuring olive oil, salt and pepper. You can get creative in the kitchen by tossing the cheese in your favourite spices. We recommend smoked paprika, lemon or orange zest and garlic powder.
What To Serve with Halloumi
Our Air Fryer Halloumi recipe is incredibly versatile and can be enjoyed any time of day.
We love serving air fried halloumi at breakfast or brunch with scrambled eggs, toast, bacon and sausage.
You can eat the crispy cheese all on its own for a light vegetarian snack or in a salad or sandwich at lunch or dinner.
If you’re looking to impress guests at a Greek or Turkish themed dinner party we suggest serving air fryer halloumi cheese with:
- Melitzanosalata
- Fakes Soupa
- Garides Saganaki Sizzling Greek Feta Shrimp
- Baked Mediterranean Chicken Thighs
- Turkish Pogaca Feta and Dill Bread Rolls
- Vegan Spicy Turkish Salsa Ezme Salata Salad
- Kisir Turkish Bulgur Salad
- Mihlama Kuymak Turkish Melted Cheese and Cornmeal
- Peynirli Pide Cheesy Chorizo Turkish Pizza
- Kiymali Pide Spiced Minced Meat Turkish Pizza
- Turkish Mint Yogurt Corbasi Soup
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How To Make Crispy Air Fryer Halloumi Cheese
Air Fryer Halloumi Cheese
Equipment
- Air Fryer
- French knife
- measuring spoons
- Pastry brush
Ingredients
- 225 g Halloumi Cheese cut into six 1/2 inch slices
- 2 tsp Olive Oil
- Salt & Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 375 F.
- Brush halloumi cheese slices on all sides with olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
- Brush the bottom of your air fryer basket with more olive oil and place the halloumi slices on top. Ensure they do not touch and are spaced out so they get crispy.
- Cook for 10-12 minutes until golden brown.
Nutrition
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