Halloumi Fries

Halloumi Fries

Before we get into the fries part, what the heck is halloumi anyways? 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 have so many memories of weekend breakfasts with my dad grilling halloumi cheese and eating it with Arabic pita bread. Now I’m thrilled to see it becoming a super popular trending food. It’s popping up on so many restaurant menus lately, and rightfully so!

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

Ok, now that we have a proper introduction to halloumi, let’s get into the fries part of these Halloumi fries. Or you can also call them Halloumi sticks. This recipe is basically inspired by traditional mozzarella sticks, but I decided to use halloumi cheese instead of mozzarella cheese, and I added some toasted sesame seeds on the outside for added crispy factor, and I guess, added Mediterranean factor.

To make them, just set up an assembly line of flour, egg wash and panko bread crumbs with sesame seeds. Then bake in the oven until the halloumi fries are golden and crispy.

You can eat these halloumi fries alone, but I whipped up a quick homemade marinara sauce to go with it.

 

I’m making a few other recipes with halloumi because it’s so widely available in stores now, and I don’t have to wait to visit the local Lebanese stores in Dearborn Michigan to buy it. One of my favorite halloumi recipes already on the blog is the Zaatar Spring Rolls which are stuffed with halloumi cheese. After you make these halloumi fries, head to that recipe and try the spring rolls…YUM!

How to Make Halloumi Fries (1 min.)

Halloumi Sticks

• 1/3 cup flour
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
• 2 Tbsp sesame seeds
• 9oz block halloumi cheese, cut into sticks

Zaatar Marinara Sauce

• 3 tomatoes
• 3 garlic cloves
• 1 Tbsp zaatar
• ¼ cup fresh basil
• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• Salt & pepper to taste

Instructions

Halloumi Sticks

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Place the flour in one small bowl, the eggs in another bowl and the flour in a third bowl. Add the sesame seeds to the flour and stir to combine.
3. Dredge the halloumi sticks in the flour, shake off excess, then into the eggs, and finally into the panko sesame seed mixture.
4. Place the halloumi sticks on the prepared baking sheet and bake until the sesame seeds become golden, about 20 minutes.

Zaatar Marinara Sauce

1. Preheat the oven to 425°F
2. Place tomatoes in the roasting pan; add garlic cloves, basil, zaatar, olive oil, salt and pepper. Toss with your hands.
3. Place the pan in the oven and roast until tomatoes have reduced and are starting to get a few black edges, about 45 to 50 minutes. The pan should still have some juices, not be dry.