What are halloumi fries?
Halloumi fries are fried sticks of halloumi, a semi-hard cheese from Cyprus made from a combination of goat’s and sheep’s milk. Its high melting point makes it perfect for grilling and frying. To make the fries, the cheese is coated in a mixture of flour and seasoning before getting dipped in hot oil. It is often accompanied by various garnishes and dipping sauces. (e.g. za’atar, chili sauce, marinara, garlic mayo, etc.)
Halloumi fries were invented in 2015 by Oli Baba’s, a Levantine food stand in London’s Camden Market. It is a loose interpretation of the Greek fried cheese hors d’oeuvre saganaki and has spread like wildfire throughout the U.K. into Dubai and Toronto.
Where can I get it?
Unless you live across the pond in London, halloumi fries can be hard to find. Just a few places outside the U.K. have included it in their menus. So if you’re lucky and live nearby a place that makes these fries, go for it. Otherwise, keep scrolling down to learn how to make your own halloumi fries at home.
Here are a few places where you can at least try different versions of fried halloumi…
Philadelphia, PA: Kanella South
New York, NY: Cafe Select
Washington D.C.: Small Fry
Looking for more places that serve halloumi fries? If you do find yourself in the U.K., check out this interactive map to see where to get them:
How can I make it?
This is the only guaranteed way to get your hands on these sought-after fries and only takes a few mins. Follow the recipe below, or save it on Glutto for later. You can even follow our baked version here.
halloumi fries
Ingredients
- 10 oz halloumi cheese
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- vegetable oil (for frying)
- toppings of your choice (e.g. pomegranate seeds, crushed chili, mint…or even bacon)
- sauce of your choice (e.g. chili sauce, za’atar, sour cream)
Instructions
- First, cut the halloumi cheese into 10-12 thick sticks (think thick carrot sticks)
- Fill your pan or deep fryer with enough vegetable oil to soak the fries and turn heat to medium high.
- Mix the flour and paprika until it is combined evenly. Coat the cheese sticks in the mixture.
- Carefully place the coated cheese sticks in the heated oil for 3-4 mins, or until golden brown all over (note: the oil should be hot enough so it sizzles as soon as the cheese is placed in it)
- Place the fries on a paper towel for a minute to soak the oil. Then, transfer to a plate and add your toppings.
- Dip your fries in the sauce and enjoy!
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Kristina Reynolds is the Founder & CEO of Glutto and an alumna of the University of California, San Diego. She writes articles & posts for Glutto Digest with insights from fellow industry experts. Furthermore, she is the author of The Fittest Food Lovers: How EVERY BODY Can be Incredibly Fit and Still Enjoy Food, a collaborative philanthropic book with proceeds going to charities that fight world hunger.
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