Crispy Halloumi Fries

An often looked over Cheese in the world of deep frying is Halloumi. This wonderful stretchy cheese that has its origins in Greece and Cyprus is often lightly fried and paired with a refreshing Salad. However, coat this delicious Cheese with a beautiful crispy breading and deep fry it and a whole new world of flavor and texture opens to you. In this recipe we’ll show you how to make amazing Crispy Halloumi Fries that are packed full of amazing flavor

What’s the best way to enjoy our Crispy Halloumi Fries

This dish falls somewhere between a classic French Fry and a Mozzarella Stick. On the one hand you’ve got these beautiful strips of golden-brown crunchy bites that look at home on a plate next to a burger. On the other, biting into these wonderful Crispy Halloumi Fries reveals a luscious, cheesy filling that you’d expect from a classic Mozzarella Stick

They are a versatile treat that can be enjoyed in so many different settings. Try a classic pairing with some simple dipping sauce for an enjoyable bite to eat, which pairs especially well with your favorite beverage. For the dipping sauce we tried a few variations, from Sweet Chili Sauce to a Creamy Mayo. Honestly, the best pairing is a simple squeeze of fresh Lemon Juice, as it brings out the beautiful flavor of the Halloumi the best

How to make Halloumi Fries

The first step is to get your hands on Halloumi. It’s becoming quite a popular cheese in recent years so there’s a good chance your local grocery store will stock it. Halloumi falls somewhere between Mozzarella and Feta in terms of consistency

It’s slightly stretchy, but retains its shape very well, which lends it well to turning into Fries. Grab a big block of Halloumi and then take your time cutting the Cheese into French-Fry-like shapes. I prefer to cut them in the style of thick-cut fries, as this will ensure a more even cook in the hot Oil

You’ll want to pat the Cheese dry before we move onto the next step. So, simply lay the Cheese out on a paper towel and pat dry. Leave it for about 30 minutes to allow the room to dry it out a bit more before we move onto the cooking step

For the best results, we recommend using a Panko Breadcrumb breading

I’ve seen versions of this dish that use a batter, but in our opinion you will achieve the optimal results of gooeyness and crispiness by using Panko Breadcrumbs. Panko are the thicker breadcrumbs that have Japanese origins, and are simply amazing when fried

Their rough texture gives the Crispy Halloumi Fries their amazing texture and beautiful crispiness once cooked, while remaining light enough to eat a whole bunch of them at once. Panko is applied to the Halloumi with a classic 3 bowl breading station

Fill the first bowl with Flour (AP Flour is fine), the second bowl with a few Eggs that you can whisk to create an Egg Wash, and the third bowl with the Panko Breadcrumbs

Seasoning is critical

Like most recipes, seasoning is the key to unlocking flavor, and our Crispy Halloumi Fries are no exception. When deep frying, the best way to get seasoning into the dish is by adding it to the breading. So, in this instance you will want to season both the Flour and the Panko Breadcrumbs

You can use whole kinds of different seasonings when making this dish to tailor the flavors to your unique flavor profiles. For our recipe we’re keeping things classic and simple with a combination of Salt, Pepper, Garlic Powder, and Onion Powder. Add all these seasonings to the Flour and mix well

I just like to add some Salt to the Breadcrumbs, no need to add all the other stuff. If you want to get super-fancy you can try grating some Parmesan Cheese into the Breadcrumbs to add an even cheesier touch to the Halloumi Fries

Cooking the Halloumi Fries

Our Fries are cooked in Oil, so you want to fill a large, heavy bottomed saucepan with neutral frying Oil such as Vegetable or Canola Oil deep enough to submerge the fries. Never fill the pot more than halfway up, as you want to avoid any risk of the Oil overflowing during cooking

Heat the Oil to a frying temperature of between 320F – 350F, using a kitchen thermometer to monitor the heat accurately. While the Oil is heating, coat your Fries by dipping them in the Flour, Egg Wash, and finally the Breadcrumbs. Ensure consistent, even coating for each step

Carefully place the Halloumi one piece at a time into the hot Oil, laying it away from you so if any Oil splashes it won’t splash you! Avoid overcrowding the Oil as this will result in the temperature dropping too much which will impact the crispiness of the Fries and will make them greasy

Cook for about 3 – 4 minutes, until the breadcrumbs turn a brilliant golden-brown color. Just use visual queues to check when it’s done, with that golden-brown color being the objective

Once cooked, use a spider strainer to remove the Fries and place them on an elevated wire rack and season immediately with Salt. Repeat for the remaining Fries and serve immediately!

Crispy Halloumi Fries Recipe

Ingredients

• 300g / 10 oz. Halloumi Cheese
• 1 cup All Purpose Flour
• 2 Eggs
• 1 ½ cups of Panko Breadcrumbs
• 1 tsp. Salt
• ¼ tsp. Pepper
• ½ tsp. Onion Powder
• ½ tsp. Garlic Powder
• Neutral Frying Oil (enough to fill pot deep enough to submerge fries)
• 1 Lemon, cut into wedges
  
  

Equipment needed: Spider Strainer and Kitchen Thermometer

Instructions

1. Cut the Halloumi into strips that resemble the same size as thick-cut style French Fries. Pat with a paper towel and set aside to dry at room temperature
2. Create a breading station by filling three separate bowls, the first with AP Flour, the second with Eggs (which you can then whisk), and the third with Breadcrumbs
3. Season the Flour with Salt, Pepper, Onion Powder, and Garlic Powder. You can also add a touch of Salt to the Breadcrumbs
4. Coat the Halloumi Fries with Flour, Egg Wash, then Breadcrumbs, ensuring an even and consistent coating at each step. Set aside on a plate
5. Fill enough Frying Oil into a heavy bottomed pot to allow the fries to be submerged (never fill the pot more than halfway full) then place over medium high heat on the stovetop until the temperature reaches 320F – 350F
6. Carefully place the breaded Halloumi into the Oil one at a time, avoiding overcrowding the pot. Fry for 3 – 4 minutes until the outside turns golden-brown
7. Remove from the Oil using a spider strainer and set on a wire rack to strain. Season with Salt immediately and repeat for remaining Fries. Serve with some fresh Lemon Slices
   
   

Recipe Notes

• You can also try pairing the Fries with Sweet Chili Sauce or Sweet Mayo for some fun flavor combinations
• For a little spice, try adding some Cayenne Pepper or Chili Powder into the Flour breading mixture
  
  

These fun Crispy Halloumi Fries are a great way to enjoy this amazing cheese. It offers a flavorsome alternative to Mozzarella Sticks, and are well worth trying at home yourself

For more fun recipes just like this one, check out these delicious dishes:

• Tempura Onion Rings
• Calabrian Chili Flatbread
• Pan Con Tomate
• Glazed Pork Belly Bacon
  
  

Happy Cooking!