Halloumi Sandwich

Our Halloumi Sandwich is a fresh summer recipe that can be made in less than 15 minutes. An easy lunch or snack for those busy days or the perfect vegetarian sandwich to bring with you!

Sandwich is always an easy option to get for lunch or dinner. At home, we love making our sandwiches with loads of fresh ingredients to make them healthier and fresh.

Our Halloumi sandwich is a vegetarian option for those busy days that we don't have much time to cook. We normally have Halloumi in our fridge and bread in our freezer so this recipe can be made quite fast and enjoyed while you keep working, or for a quick break.

What is Halloumi?

Halloumi is a Cypriot cheese made from goat, sheep, and/or cow's milk. Halloumi cheese has become really popular as a grilling cheese for barbeques, sandwiches, veggie skewers, or salads.

This cheese from Cyprus maintains its shape when heated which makes it perfect for grilling and panfrying.

As vegetarians, we love this type of cheese especially when we have a barbeque party as you can cook it and it won't melt!

What does Halloumi taste like?

Halloumi is salty and slightly tangy and has a rubbery texture. Halloumi is best eaten straight after grilling it, while still warm.

How do you cook Halloumi?

This type of cheese comes in blocks. All you need to do is slice the Halloumi block into slices and grill or panfry each slice on both sides. It cooks fast, you just need to cook it for about 2 minutes per side.

To cook halloumi, heat some olive oil in a pan or grilling pan to medium heat and cook the slices for about 2-3 minutes on each side.

Our Grilled Halloumi Sandwich is:

• Vegetarian
• Spicy (can be made without the spicy sauce)
• Snack, light lunch, or dinner
• Perfect to bring with you
• Easy to prepare
• Quick to make
• Fresh

How to prepare the best Halloumi cheese Sandwich

Ingredients

We keep our Halloumi Sandwich simple by adding just a couple of ingredients. Believe me, you don't need much for the ultimate Halloumi cheese Sandwich.

• Bread. So, which type of bread works better for a Halloumi Sandwich? I would say it depends on your taste. We love the panini type of bread for our Halloumi Sandwich. You can use Ciabatta, French Baguette, Whole-wheat bread, or even gluten-free bread for a gluten-free Halloumi Sandwich.
• Spicy mayo. The best Grilled Halloumi Sandwich needs to have the best spicy sauce. We love making spicy mayo with sriracha or Valentina spicy sauce. They both work really well when making spicy mayo. For this recipe, we used Valentina
• Fresh ingredients. A proper summer sandwich needs to have some fresh ingredients such as lettuce, carrot, cucumber, and tomatoes. You can add other ingredients such as mango, avocado, red or green pepper, pickled veggies, or even raw zucchini noodles.
• Halloumi Cheese. Once you have your spicy mayo ready, and the fresh vegetables sliced, you can get grilling! Prepare your Halloumi cheese right before closing up your sandwich, so it will be nice and warm!
• Fresh leaves or herbs. We love adding some fresh basil or cilantro to add some extra flavor to the sandwich.

Step by Step Photos

Variations

We love this recipe as it is, but you may want to have some alternatives to slightly change this recipe or adjust it to your taste:

• Make it vegan or dairy-free. You can make a delicious vegan Halloumi sandwich! Check The Hidden Veggies to make your own Vegan Halloumi with tofu.
• Make it gluten-free. Choose a gluten-free bread and enjoy this Sandwich with no gluten.
• Add some roasted veggies. If you have some extra time, you can roast some red peppers and aubergines to add to this vegetarian recipe.
• Change the sauce. You can choose another sauce to your taste such as pesto, regular mayo, hummus, or tahini sauce. Our favorite hummus when it comes to sandwiches is this delicious and colorful Beetroot Hummus.
• Change the cheese. Maybe halloumi is not easy to find where you live, or you prefer a cheese that melts. This mozzarella sandwich is also easy to make, and if you enjoy that gooey melting cheese, is a fantastic choice!

Serving Suggestions

We normally prepare this grilled cheese sandwich for a quick and easy meal during busy weekdays.

Summer gets really hot in Spain, where we are based, especially during lunchtime. As busy working parents we need to have some fresh meals that don't involve much cooking but are healthy and filling. Gazpacho, noodle salads, or sandwiches such as this Halloumi Sandwich or our Falafel Pita Sandwich are our go-to summer meals that keep getting cooked often at home.

This Halloumi Sandwich can be served on its own, with some Kalamata olives, or with a fresh salad or soup such as Gazpacho.

You can as well have this grilled cheese sandwich with some crudités and dips like Hummus or Baba Ganoush.

FAQ and Tips

• Is Halloumi vegetarian? Some Halloumi producers use animal rennet which would make the cheese non-vegetarian. Make sure you are choosing a Halloumi made with non-animal rennet (microbial rennet) to be sure you are having a vegetarian product.
• How do I keep the Halloumi from getting rubbery? To keep your Halloumi from getting too rubbery, do not overcook your Halloumi and serve it straight after grilling, while still warm.
• Can I use a regular pan instead of a grilling pan to prepare the Halloumi? Sure! We use a grilling pan but you can as well use a regular pan to cook the cheese.
• Where can I buy Halloumi? We normally buy our Halloumi in a Middle-eastern local shop. They have products from different countries such as Cyprus. As well, some weeks we can find it in Lidl and other big supermarkets.

If you tried our recipe, please leave a comment or tag us on Instagram. We are always happy to see your creations! 

Other Sandwich Recipes:

• Falafel Pita Sandwich
• Vegan Banh Mi