Grilled Halloumi and Vegetables

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Ready in 20 minutes, this grilled halloumi is paired with a rainbow of grilled veggies including zucchini, yellow squash, peppers and onions. It’s a wonderful vegetarian main dish.

Grilled halloumi with grilled vegetables on an oval serving dish.

Nothing gets me more exciting during the warm months than grill marks. Take me outside, let me fire up that grill and give my oven a break, at least a short one.

Besides vegetables, I love grilling halloumi. If you’ve never had this cheese, it is pretty special because you can grill it, which couldn’t be easier to do. And then you can present a beautiful platter of zucchini, yellow squash, peppers and onions with slices of halloumi, all perfectly striped with those unmistakable char lines.

Before I grill everything, I brush the veggies and the cheese with olive oil and lemon juice for a dish that embraces easy summer cooking when there is so much in season.

What Is Halloumi?

Hailing from Cyprus, halloumi is a semi-hard cheese that’s made from goat’s milk or sheep’s milk. Sometimes it’s a combination of both. Its texture is a bit chewy and some would say squeaky.

This cheese is low fat, so it’s good for grilling.  Halloumi has a high-melting point, so even in that intense heat, it will hold its shape. Keep in mind that quick is best. You are basically searing it on both sides.

The flavor is best described as salty. And that’s a total compliment! Because it’s brined, halloumi is bright and pungent with a lot of personality. It goes perfectly with grilled vegetables.

Tips for Grilling Cheese

Slice the halloumi in equal thicknesses. Like pretty much anything you grill, having ingredients prepped at the same size means they will be done in about the same amount of time.

Oil the grates of the grill to prevent sticking. I use my grill brush with its coarse bristles to make sure the grates are as clean as possible. Then I dip a paper towel into vegetable oil to grease the grates.

The Ingredients

Ingredients including halloumi, zucchini, squash, peppers, onions, olive oil and lemon juice
  • Halloumi used to be harder to find, but now I see it regularly in the cheese section at the grocery pretty much year round, but especially during summer grilling season it’s stocked.
  • Vegetables: I like lots of color, so that’s why I go for a combination of zucchini, yellow squash, red bell peppers and red onions. It’s really up to you the balance of these veggies. If you love peppers, then use more of those. Or if you have a lot of zucchini, then just skip the squash since they are similar.
  • Lemon is citrusy and bright and goes with everything that’s grilled and smoky.
  • Olive oil: Extra virgin olive oil has the best flavor.
  • Salt & pepper: This recipe is all about the halloumi and the vegetables, so I keep the seasonings to a minimum. Kosher salt and black pepper work in the background to enhance the overall ingredients.
  • Parsley: Once you plate the grilled halloumi cheese and vegetables, finish them with chopped fresh herbs.

How To Make Grilled Halloumi and Vegetables

Preheat a gas or charcoal grill on high heat.

1. Make the marinade and brush it on the halloumi. Whisk together the olive oil and lemon juice. I do this before adding salt and pepper because I save all the seasonings for the vegetables. This cheese has a lot of flavor on its own.

2. Stir the salt and pepper into the marinade and brush on the vegetables.

Brush the hallloumi and vegetables with the marinade.

3. Grill the cheese until it has grill marks, about 3 minutes per side.

4. Grill the vegetables. Like the cheese, you want some char and grill lines.

Halloumi and vegetables on the grill with grill marks.

Serving

This recipe is great for a vegetarian main dish. Pair it with a side dish like herby lemon quinoa or arugula cannellini bean barley.

You can also dice the halloumi and vegetables and stir them into orzo. No matter how you end up eating it, try a adding a dollop of hummus. It can be store-bought and a flavor like roasted garlic hummus or spicy hummus. Basil pesto is a great condiment too.

Leftovers

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge up to 3 days. They can be eaten cold for a salad or warm them in a 350-degree F oven.

FAQs

What’s the best way to cook halloumi?

Either grilling or roasting on a baking sheet are great because the halloumi will get golden brown. They both add a smoky or roasted flavor. You can also pan fry it in a little olive oil in a skillet on the stove.

Should you soak halloumi before grilling?

Halloumi does not require any soaking before it’s grilled. In this recipe I do brush it with olive oil and lemon juice. That is primarily for the taste of the overall dish.

How do you prevent halloumi from sticking to the grill?

Having a clean grill with lightly oiled grates will help eliminate any issues with the cheese sticking.

Can you use a grill pan on the stove to cook halloumi?

Yes. Just give the grill pan enough time to preheat before grilling, so it’s hot.

Can you eat halloumi raw?

Yes, but you will be missing out on its the full potential as a cheese with a high melting point that can be grilled, baked or fried. When halloumi is raw, it is more dense.

Grilled halloumi cheese with grill marks and grilled zucchini, squash, pepeprs and onions.

More Halloumi Recipes

Roasted Eggplant with Tomatoes and Halloumi
Roasted Mediterranean Vegetables and Halloumi

I hope you grill halloumi with lots of veggies. If you make this recipe, please leave a comment and a rating, so I know how you liked it.

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Grilled Halloumi and Vegetables

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Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
Total: 20 minutes
Servings: 4
Ready in 20 minutes, this grilled halloumi is paired with a rainbow of grilled veggies including zucchini, yellow squash, peppers and onions.

Ingredients 

  • Vegetable oil for grill grates
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • Juice of 1 lemon
  • 1/2 pound halloumi sliced 1/4-inch thick
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 medium zucchini sliced lengthwise 1/4-inch thick
  • 2 medium yellow squash sliced lengthwise 1/4-inch thick
  • 2 red bell peppers cut lengthwise into 2-inch wide strips
  • 1 tablespoon chopped parsley

Instructions 

  • Preheat a gas or charcoal grill on high heat. Lightly oil the grates.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil and lemon juice. Then brush it on both sides of the halloumi slices.
  • Stir the salt and pepper into the remaining lemon oil. Brush it on the zucchini, squash and peppers.
  • Grill the halloumi about 3 minutes per side until it has grill marks.
  • Grill the vegetables until they have grill marks all over, about 3-4 minutes per side for peppers and onions and 2-3 minutes per side for zucchini and squash.
  • Arrange the halloumi and veggies on a serving dish and sprinkle with chopped parsley.

Notes

To prevent the cheese from sticking to the grill, clean the grates and lightly oil them.
Serve the halloumi and veggies with grains or orzo. 
Hummus and/or pesto are good options for sauces if you want a dip for the cheese and veggies.
Leftovers
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge up to 3 days. They can be eaten cold for a salad or warm them in a 350-degree F oven.

Nutrition

Calories: 320kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Sodium: 1275mg | Potassium: 647mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 2341IU | Vitamin C: 112mg | Calcium: 604mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Main Dishes
Cuisine: Mediterranean
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Hi, I'm Paige.

Welcome to Last Ingredient where you will find simple seasonal recipes with plenty of fruits and vegetables, all for the home cook.

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