Best Air fryer Halloumi
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This delicious halloumi air fryer appetizer is made with bold seasonings and sweet chilli sauce, giving it a savory, sweet, bold spice flavour. It’s cooked in the air fryer, so you’ll be using less oil than if you brown it in a skillet. Yet, you’ll still get deliciously crispy air-fried halloumi every time.
Table of Contents
Why you’ll love this recipe
Quick cooking – This halloumi air fryer dish only takes about 10 minutes (including prep time!).
Sweet and savory – The spices and chili sauce have a deliciously complex taste, so expect bold flavours in every bite.
Only two ingredients – This recipe requires only two ingredients (not including pantry essentials!).
Diet-friendly – This crispy air fryer halloumi is naturally gluten-free, low-carb, and keto-friendly, so it’s the perfect way to boost protein in a healthy meal.
Satisfy your halloumi cravings and try these other recipes; Sweet Chilli Halloumi Wrap, Halloumi Tacos and Halloumi Pasta
What is Halloumi Cheese?
If you’re making this halloumi air fryer recipe, you may be wondering about this cheese. It’s a semi-soft cheese originally made with goat or sheep milk. In some cases, halloumi was made with both types of milk. However, it’s typically created with cow’s milk now.
It has a rubbery texture that’s similar to fresh mozzarella, and it doesn’t melt like other common types of cheese. Instead, it stretches, making it great for browning and adding to salads and sandwiches. Halloumi is a yummy, tangy, salty cheese.
Where to buy
As it has become more popular worldwide, it is now easier than ever to buy halloumi cheese in stores! I recommend heading to a larger grocery store and checking in the specialty cheese area. It will likely be in a vacuum-sealed bag.
Can you cook halloumi in the air fryer?
Yes, you can cook crispy halloumi in the air fryer! See the notes below for more details on this air fryer halloumi recipe.
Is it okay to put cheese in the air fryer?
I would not recommend putting other types of cheese (sliced or shredded) in the air fryer, as they can fly around and cause a mess. If you’re wondering, can you air fry halloumi? The answer is yes! Since you’re cutting this air fry halloumi in larger chunks, they should be heavy enough to stay in place.
How long to cook halloumi in the air fryer?
It will take about 10 minutes to get a deliciously crispy exterior on the air fryer halloumi.
How do you know when it is done?
You’ll know this yummy halloumi air fryer recipe is ready when the outside is golden brown.
Need inspiration for some other air fryer recipes? Try my; Cauliflower Rice, Air Fryer Shrimp and Air Fryer Chicken Bites
Ingredients
Halloumi Cheese – Halloumi is the star of this halloumi air fryer recipe. You can use any brand you’d like; they all work well to create appetizer cuisine.
Sweet Chilli Sauce – The sweet chilli sauce helps create a complex flavour in this halloumi in air fryer recipe. If you prefer another sauce, hot honey is a great alternative.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Variations/ Adaptations
Here are a few ways to make this halloumi air fryer recipe your own! Instead of halloumi cheese, consider using Kefalotyri cheese, paneer cheese, or queso panela. They each offer a slightly different flavour, but they will all work well as toppings for salads, rice bowls, and other dishes.
Instead of cutting the halloumi into chunks, you can cut the halloumi into halloumi bites, which are easier to add to salads. Or, you can add a breading to them to create The Crispiest Halloumi Fries.
How to make air fryer halloumi
- Slice the halloumi into 2cm x 2cm chunks (Image 1).
- Add to a bowl with the onion powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika and cayenne pepper. Toss to combine until the pieces are evenly coated (Image 2).
3. Evenly distribute across the airfryer basket allowing gaps in between the pieces. Add a few sprays of oil then cook for 5 minutes at 392°F (200°C). Rotate the pieces with tongs and cook for a further 4-5 minutes, until golden brown.
4. Serve with sweet chilli sauce and a crack of black pepper.
Pair this yummy hallloumi recipes with one of these mains for an even tastier meal: Tabbouleh Inspired Chicken Salad, Tricolore Salad and Vegetarian Burrito Bowl
Tips for the best result
Preheat the air fryer
When making this halloumi air fryer recipe, be sure to preheat the air fryer first. Otherwise, it will take much longer for the cheese to crisp up.
Spread the slices out
If you overcrowd the air fryer basket, the halloumi slices won’t be able to properly crisp up on the outside. Be sure to properly space them out so the hot air can circulate around the pieces of the cheese.
Flip them mid-way through
This step ensures the halloumi is golden-brown on all sides.
Coat the sides with olive oil cooking spray
Whether you use olive oil or another cooking spray, coat all sides of the halloumi pieces so the outsides are nice and crispy.
Serving Suggestions
Now that you know how to cook halloumi in the air fryer, it’s time to add it to recipes! This halloumi air fryer recipe is delicious by itself as a protein-rich snack. However, you can also use the air-fried halloumi as a salad topper, an ingredient in a rice or Buddha bowl, turn it into tacos, etc.
Serve the halloumi with some; 5 Ingredient Vegan Mayonnaise or some romaine salad with Healthy Caesar Salad Dressing
Leftover Storage and Reheat Instructions
This halloumi air fryer recipe is best eaten fresh! I recommend halving the recipe if you know you can’t eat the entire amount. Then, cook the extra when you’re ready for more halloumi. If you have an opened pack, store the extra halloumi in a container with cold, salty water. It should stay good in the fridge for up to two weeks.
If you make extra halloumi that you can’t eat, it will keep in the fridge in an airtight container for about a week. Reheat the leftover halloumi in a pan over medium heat or in the air fryer for 1-2 minutes on each side.
If you have leftover halloumi, consider making one of these yummy recipes; Halloumi Kebabs, Halloumi Burger and Halloumi and Avocado Toast
FAQs
Some home chefs claim soaking halloumi in cold water before cooking it helps create a softer, more flavourful cheese. However, I have found it’s unnecessary to soak it beforehand, as the halloumi air fryer recipe will still create tasty pieces of cheese.
Since halloumi is a grilling cheese, it does not melt when it cooks. It simply crisps up on the outside and becomes a bit gooey on the inside.
If you don’t eat the halloumi right away, it can become rubbery as it cools. Overcooking the halloumi can also lead to a rubbery texture.
This halloumi air fryer recipe is best eaten fresh. I would not recommend making it ahead of time.
Yes, you can eat this cheese “raw” like any other cheese. However, I think it’s best after cooking, as it enhances the flavour of the cheese.
Need inspiration for some other main meal recipes? Try my; Easy Tuna Fishcakes, Gochujang Aubergine and Quorn Chicken Pieces Recipe with Pesto
Explore More Recipes
If you tried this Air Fryer Halloumi 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
Best Air fryer Halloumi
Ingredients
- 450 g (2 blocks) of halloumi (£2.70x2)=£5.40)
- 3 tbsp sweet chilli sauce (£2.15/4)=(£0.54)
Cupboard Essentials
- 1 tsp onion
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp Cayenne pepper
- Oil spray
Method
- Slice the halloumi into 2cm x 2cm chunks. Add to a bowl with the onion powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika and cayenne pepper. Toss to combine until the pieces are evenly coated.
- Evenly distribute across the airfryer basket allowing gaps in between the pieces. Add a few sprays of oil then cook for 5 minutes at 392°F (200°C)
- Rotate the pieces with tongs and cook for a further 4-5 minutes, until golden brown.
- Serve with sweet chilli sauce and a crack of black pepper.
Notes
- Preheat the air fryer to ensure the halloumi crisps up quickly.
- Spread out the slices to avoid overcrowding and allow proper air circulation.
- Flip the slices halfway through for even, golden-brown crispiness.
Nutrition
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