Halloumi Saganaki

What is Halloumi?

Halloumi cheese is a semi-hard, unripened cheese made in the Republic of Cyprus, a Mediterranean island south of Turkey. In May 2021, it was awarded special recognition by the European Union as a Protected Designation of Origin, which means in order for the cheese to be called Halloumi, it must be made in certain areas of Cyprus.

It's made from goat, sheep or sometimes cow's milk. It is firm and retains its shape when cooked either in a skillet or on a grill.

Swaps and Subs

This recipe calls for pomegranate arils (seeds) which can be difficult to find in the United States outside of fall.

If you can't find fresh pomegranates, look in the freezer section for frozen arils sometimes you can find them there, or in the cooler section of the produce aisle where they are sometimes sold as individual snack servings.

If you've lucked out and found a fresh pomegranate, but aren't sure how to work with it we wrote a Guide to Pomegranates that will help you pick the freshest fruit, store it, and how to use up the extra seeds.

When it comes to opening a pomegranate it can be tricky for first timers. If you're looking for a hands on guide to walk you through cutting open and removing the arils of a pomegranate we have all of that information in our step by step guide on How to Cut and De-Seed a Pomegranate.

Don't worry if you can't find pomegranate in any form. You can simply leave the arils out and the recipe will still taste delicious or you can experiment and try adding in another tart fruit like fresh raspberries. The texture won't be the same, but you will get some juicy tart notes to balance the richness of the halloumi.