Nutritionally haloumi cheese contains slightly less fat (26 per cent) than regular cheddar cheese but more than double the sodium content thanks to the brine used to preserve it. Haloumi is delicious, and as such one of the biggest issues it poses is the risk of overeating.
Brands vary, but feta is usually the winner. Haloumi tends to have more calories and a higher fat content. Plus, it usually has more salt. Haloumi makes a good cooking cheese thanks to its high melting point.
Even though it has a good amount of protein, it is also high in fat. Therefore, it is recommended not to consume halloumi for weight loss. Instead, low-fat/non-fat cottage cheese or tofu can assist in your weight loss journey.
Traditionally prepared from goat's and/or sheep's milk on the Eastern Mediterranean island of Cyprus, Halloumi is a white, layered cheese, similar to mozzarella. It is a semihard, unripened, and brined cheese with a slightly spongy texture. Its flavor is tangy and salty, and it has no rind.
Nutritionally haloumi cheese contains slightly less fat (26 per cent) than regular cheddar cheese but more than double the sodium content thanks to the brine used to preserve it. Haloumi is delicious, and as such one of the biggest issues it poses is the risk of overeating.
Rich in bone-friendly calcium
Halloumi, like other dairy foods, is rich in calcium, a mineral we need for muscle and nerve function as well as strong healthy bones and teeth. A portion (80g) supplies a significant contribution towards your daily calcium needs, something which is of important for all life-stages.
Halloumi is often high in sodium, saturated fat, and calories. It's not suitable for those following a vegan or dairy-free diet. Some types are not appropriate for a vegetarian diet, either.
Halloumi Nutrition
While not necessarily a healthy superfood, halloumi cheese is high in protein and calcium. However, halloumi is quite high in sodium, so it's important to eat it in moderation.
Feta cheese has few calories than any other cheese, so it a good choice for weight loss. 28 grams of feta cheese contains 75 calories.
It is also high in saturated fat (12g per 70g), which has been linked with 'bad' cholesterol levels. It also matters how you prepare the halloumi as adding lots of oil – if frying – will increase the calorie count.
Halloumi cheese is one of very high sodium and fat content dairy items in common with other brined cheeses like feta or domiati. High salt diet may cause water retention and elevated blood pressure. Halloumi composes about 15g of saturated fats/3.5 Oz, making it one of the high saturated fat food items.
Or, consider switching to Swiss cheese; one study found the probiotics in this variety could decrease inflammation.
Generally speaking, mozzarella, Cheddar, Swiss and cottage cheese are some of the most popular types of cheese, but all kinds of cheeses can be a part of your diet as long as you enjoy them in moderation. Depending on your age and energy expenditure, the number of recommended servings of dairy may differ.
Provolone: This cow's milk cheese originated in Italy. It tastes mild when young, and grows sharper as it's aged. Sliced thin, young provolone is one of the best cheese choices to use in sandwiches—it goes with everything!
It has a high melting point and so can easily be fried or grilled, a property that makes it a popular meat substitute. Rennet (mostly vegetarian or microbial) is used to curdle the milk in halloumi production, although no acid-producing bacteria are used in its preparation.
Fry. Heat a little olive oil in a pan and arrange the halloumi sticks in one single layer. Cook on each side for 1 to 2 minute over medium-high heat, managing the heat down as needed, until all sides have crisped and turned a nice golden brown. Garnish and Serve immediately!
It is possible to get food poisoning from semi-soft white brined cheeses like Halloumi. Traditionally Halloumi is made from unpasteurized sheep and goat milk which can leave it susceptible to listeria contamination.
Don't eat mould-ripened soft cheese, such as brie, camembert and chevre (a type of goat's cheese) and others with a similar rind. You should also avoid soft blue-veined cheeses such as Danish blue or gorgonzola. These are made with mould and they can contain listeria, a type of bacteria that can harm your unborn baby.
Goat's cheese is considered a 'high-fat' product – mozzarella and ricotta are lower in fat, as is feta, which traditionally is made from sheep's milk or sheep and goat's milk.
The halloumi base is typically made from unpasteurised goat's or sheep's milk, and sometimes cow's milk. The inclusion of dairy milk of any kind renders halloumi completely not vegan friendly, and should not be consumed by anyone strictly following a plant-based diet.
Haloumi is a hard, white cheese traditionally made from a mixture of sheep and goat milk, though nowadays cow's milk is sometimes added too.
Soaking, especially as here, with some lemon juice, leaches out halloumi's preserving salt, and also softens the cheese nicely. The result is that you'll taste and smell the farmy sweetness of the milk in the finished dish.