The Best Halloumi Burger
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The perfect vegetarian burger that won’t leave you craving a regular patty. This halloumi burger dish is flavourful, packed with veggies, and served with a delicious tzatziki dressing. You’ll also be serving these burgers on toasted sesame buns. These crispy halloumi burgers are great for any season but are especially fitting for dinners or picnics in the summertime.
Table of Contents
Why you should try this recipe
Vegetarian burgers at restaurants can rack up calories quite quickly, especially when they’re covered in a creamy, decadent sauce. By swapping out the typical aioli or sriarcha mayo with a Greek tzatziki version, you can enjoy a restaurant-quality halloumi burger from home. Aka, I’ve found a way to turn halloumi burgers healthy!
Additionally, the Greek yogurt in this halloumi burger recipe ensures you get an extra protein boost during mealtime. With the number of veggies included in each grilled halloumi burger, each bite will be packed with nutrients making it a tasty, better-for-you sandwich.
Another bonus when making halloumi burgers is the prep time. Unlike other veggie burgers, which require blending or mashing ingredients together, you can slice the cheese and veggies in a few minutes. Pair these burgers with Sweet Potato Wedges, and you’ll have a well-rounded meal.
If you love halloumi, you’ll need to try these recipes: The Crispiest Halloumi Fries, Spicy Tomato Rice topped with Halloumi and Coriander and The Best Halloumi salad.
Ingredients
Halloumi Cheese
Halloumi cheese is the main ingredient in this recipe. However, you can use another similar cheese like paneer, feta, or queso panela. Using a replacement will change the flavour profile. You can even use halloumi to make my delicious Halloumi Curry!
Sweet Chili Sauce
Using sweet chilli sauce for your halloumi burger ensures the burger has plenty of flavour and a slight hint of heat.
Greek Yogurt/Cucumber and Lime
It boosts the protein and is the base for the tzatziki sauce. Though the texture will change slightly, you can also use non-dairy yoghurt. Cucumber is an essential ingredient for making homemade tzatziki sauce and the lime adds the freshness.
Sesame Buns
Any store-bought Sesame buns will do; you can also purchase gluten-free rolls if you follow a gluten-free lifestyle. Or, turn it into a more decadent burger by using brioche burger buns.
For the full list of ingredients, see the recipe card.
How to make a halloumi burger
Preheat oven to 392° F (200°C)
- Place the sliced peppers on a baking tray with a little olive oil. Season with salt and set the timer for 30 minutes (Image 1).
2. Remove from the oven and set aside (Image 2).
3. Meanwhile, make the Tzatziki by combining the yogurt, grated cucumber, the juice of half a lime and a generous pinch of salt (Image 3).
4. Mix together until everything is fully incorporated (Image 4).
5. Slice the halloumi into thin pieces and fry each side with a little olive oil for a couple of minutes to brown (Image 5).
6. Then toast/brown the sesame buns in a skillet or pan (Image 6).
7. Assemble the burger in this order (I spent way too long thinking of this, but it’s essential so just roll with it). Bottom ciabatta bun, teaspoon of sweet chilli first (Image 7).
8. Then add the roasted peppers, halloumi, tomato, Tzatziki, rocket and top with sesame bun (Image 8).
Or try these easy, airfryer recipes to serve with your burger : Airfryer Frozen Fries, Airfryer Hash Browns and Frozen Roast Potatoes
Tips for the best results
- Fry the halloumi to give it that crispy texture and enhance its taste. Cook it over medium-high heat until it develops a golden-brown crust on the outside.
- Toast the burger buns will add a nice crunch and prevent them from getting soggy.
- Select toppings that complement the flavours of halloumi, such as fresh lettuce, ripe beef tomatoes, roasted peppers and a tangy sauce like tzatziki or a spicy aioli. Experiment with different combinations to find your favorite flavour profile.
- Serve immediately, as halloumi is best enjoyed when it’s hot and just fried in the pan and then assembled with all the toppings and bun.
Adaptations
If you’re vegan, you can make a few easy swaps to turn this halloumi burger into a vegan-friendly dish. Swap out the regular halloumi for a dairy-free option, like the Violife grillable cheese. Instead of using Greek yogurt for the tzatziki sauce, swap to a dairy-free option such as cashew yogurt.
Those on a gluten-free diet can enjoy this recipe with an easy swap. Instead of standard ciabatta bread, use a gluten-free version instead. The other ingredients are naturally gluten-free, so you should be able to keep everything else according to the recipe.
How to store a halloumi burger?
The best way to store a halloumi burger is by separating the elements. Keep the tzatziki sauce in an airtight container, the veg in separate containers, the buns in their bag, and the cooked halloumi in another container.
FAQs
Yes place the halloumi slices in the air fryer basket and cook for 5 minute then flip over and cook for another 5 until crispy and golden.
The short answer is sort-of. You can freeze certain elements of the halloumi burger, though you can’t freeze it already prepared and assembled. The veggies and sauce on the burgers will cause the sandwich to become soggy and unappealing if you freeze it together. However, you can freeze unused ciabatta buns, raw halloumi, and mixed peppers without issue.
When you’re ready to enjoy a sandwich, warm up the veg, buns, and halloumi. Then, assemble as normal. If you’re making sweet potatoes and halloumi burgers, you can reheat the sweet potato fries in an air fryer for a crisp texture.
Explore More Recipes
If you tried this Halloumi Burger recipe, it would be mean so much to me if you could leave a review & a star rating to let me know how you found it! I love hearing about your experiences – it motivates me to keep creating more and more recipes for you guys 💛 Let’s get cooking! – Mimi x
The Best Halloumi Burger
Ingredients
- 225 g halloumi (£2.70)
- 4 tbsp Sweet chilli sauce (add to each bun) (£1.00)
- 500 g 1 pot Greek yogurt (£0.48)
- 1 beef tomato, sliced into rounds (£0.75)
- 3 mixed peppers, cut in thick slices (£1.35)
- 4 sesame buns (£1.20)
- 150 gram Wild rocket (£0.80
- ½ cucumber sliced (£0.48)
- 1 lime £0.30
Cupboard Essential
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Salt
Method
Preheat oven to 392° F (200°C)
- Place the sliced peppers on a baking tray with a little olive oil. Season with salt and set the timer for 30 to 40 minutes.
- Meanwhile, make the Tzatziki by combining the yogurt, grated cucumber, the juice of half a lime and a generous pinch of salt.
- Slice the halloumi into thin pieces and fry each side with a little olive oil for a couple of minutes to brown.
- When the peppers have 10 minutes left, toast the sesame buns in a non stick frying pan over a high heat for 2 minutes.
- Once the peppers have charred nicely. Assemble the burger in this order (I spent way too long thinking of this, but it’s essential so just roll with it). Bottom sesame bun, tablespoon of sweet chilli, peppers, halloumi, tomato, Tzatziki, rocket, top bun. Enjoy!
Notes
- Fry halloumi until golden-brown for crispy texture and enhanced taste.
- Toast burger buns for added crunch and to prevent sogginess.
- Choose toppings that complement halloumi's flavours, like lettuce, tomatoes, roasted peppers, and tangy sauces. Serve immediately for optimal enjoyment.
Nutrition
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