Halloumi

This khachapuri recipe makes all you need for a meal—a luscious cheesy, eggy, buttery bath to dip bread into.

Halloumi and mint are a classic Cypriot flavor combination and they meld so perfectly together. This recipe is inspired by my hosts at the Bougainvillea Guesthouse in North Nicosia, who greeted me with a plate of these when I checked in, tired and weary, after an international flight.

Let’s be honest, this salad is a vehicle for eating crispy, melty cheese for dinner. Not just any cheese, but rich and dense grillable cheeses like bread cheese, Halloumi, or paneer. When grilled or seared, these varieties brown and crisp on the outside while becoming soft and meaty inside, without melting into a puddle.

One bowl and one baking sheet is all you need to achieve sweet, creamy squash, crispy pita chips, and chewy, charred cheese. Fresh mint and a splash of vinegar perk up the final dish.

Served on a bun or pita, this sweet potato and grilled cheese burger will lighten up your summer barbecue.

These delicious crisp, cheesy snacks are perfect for entertaining and parties. Serve them with a glass of wine and a bowl of olives or as savory dippers for tzatziki.

Pile seared Halloumi cheese and a yogurt-dressed cabbage-and-chickpea salad over a swath of hummus for these satisfying vegetarian sandwiches.

Pile charred Halloumi cheese, kale, and cherry tomatoes on garlicky bread for an almost-instant dinner from the grill. No bread? No problem—toss everything else together and eat it as a salad.

Sear squeaky, salty Halloumi cheese in a pan—it won’t melt, but will get a crisp golden crust—then douse in honey and a spicy nut and seed sprinkle and serve as an appetizer or with a simple green salad.

Tangy seared plums, tart lemons, and chewy charred halloumi pair perfectly with rich pork chops. Quick tip: Bring all of the ingredients to the grill on a baking sheet for easy cleanup later.

We love halloumi’s squeaky texture and ability to take on some char, but torn salted mozzarella would be just as good (just don’t try grilling it).

Salty, smoky grilled halloumi is the star of this tasty, satisfying vegetarian option for the grill.

Literally grilled cheese. We love the squeaky texture and salty bite.

Literally grilled cheese. We love the squeaky texture and salty bite. It goes perfectly with our Grilled Brined Vegetables.

This cheesy, spicy flatbread is completely irresistible. Cook it on the grill until just lightly charred, and serve with ribs—it's great for mopping up all the delicious sauce.

If this were our party, we'd get all the grilling out of the way early in the day and toss this Mediterranean fantasy of a salad together in our caftans.

Grilled fennel, tomatoes, and scallions, plus cumin-rubbed grilled steak, turn this quinoa salad into a one-dish dinner you'll want to keep serving all summer long.

You'll want to eat the cheese as soon as possible after it comes out of the pan-it's most magical when hot.

Haloumi is a semihard cheese made from sheep’s milk; look for it at Middle Eastern markets.