Wednesday 25 May 2016

Halloumi Cheese Home Made


I have been making cheese at home for years.  
Ricotta, mozzarella, boccocini, feta, labneh and halloumi.



A few weeks ago I bought a packet of halloumi and when it was sliced nd fried, I was quite disappointed, it was simply not as good as home made. Home made Halloumi has a firm texture and an incredibly full flavour.  



Last Friday I had to take a sign I had painted for Honey Week (for my amateur beekeeping club) to a  nearby town so a friend came along for a coffee afterwards and to do some shopping.  My friend mentioned during our coffee break that she would like to make her own cheese, so we promptly drove to the local cheese supply shop so she could get rennet, chloride calcium (in case your milk is homogenised) and mesophilic starter. Stepping into this shop is like stepping into an old dark, musty shop from 50 years ago.   As well as stocking cheese making supplies  it is also a home brewing supply shop that, despite it's size actually keeps everything you might need to make your own wine, beer, mead, spirits and cheese.  It is an eclectic mix of very useful items housed with olde world charm.  This visit inspired me to make my own cheese again, especially now that the weather is cooling down and I am happy to stir over a pot on the stove.

I like to share my techniques with you and also, my blog is a record, a digital book of my triumphs and successful recipes. Plus, I really enjoy cooking and creating  ...




A gorgeous side dish for your dinner is halloumi and cauliflower fritters which we had last night served with barbecued steak and prawns, mushrooms and a green bean salad.

This version I follow is from home made Haloumi and there are only slight variations between Haloumi on different websites - the spelling especially but the temperature is the most important thing for success.  Halloumi is a Cypriot cheese traditionally made from goats or sheeps milk and sometimes flavoured with mint or other herbs.  Halloumi has been westernised and is often now made with cows milk, due to the ready availability of this milk.

Fried in a little butter to accompany my breakfast of fried eggs and chilli
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   H A L L O U M I

5 comments:

  1. I need to make more cheese. It's one of those things I do sometimes. Maybe once every two years. It's so good, though -- gotta start doing it routinely. This looks wonderful -- thanks.

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    1. It is wonderfully rewarding and like everything else, much better when home made :)

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  2. Totally agree on home made halloumi! It's the best! I haven't had a great success with making my own halloumi but one day hope to! :D

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    1. It is so much better than the store bought equivalent :)

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  3. I once went to a cheese making class and it was fascinating but I don't think I have the patience, the skillz or the equipment to make my own! I wish I did though! Halloumi is one of my favourite cheeses - I've been experimenting with fritters for a blog post, your cauliflower ones look fab!

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