Nov 28 2011
What Is Halloumi Cheese
If you are planning to enjoy your holidays to Cyprus, make sure to drop by local food establishments and cafes. Here you can taste the mouth-watering dishes, desserts, soups, stews, and delicacies that distinctly characterize Cypriot cuisine. These delectable dishes are described by many as a mix of several Greek cuisines. When you partake of Cypriot dishes, expect a first-class gastronomic experience.
One of the most well-known foods served in this Eurasian island country is halloumi, a classic Cypriot cheese that is also well known in Greece and in the Middle East. Made out of a mixture of unpasteurized sheep and goat’s milk, the cheese is set with rennet. The cheese is quite unusual considering that no acid or acid-producing bacteria are utilized in its making.
Regarded as a protected Cypriot product, the cheese has a white color and has a characteristic layered texture similar to mozzarella cheese. It has a salty flavor and is usually stored in salt water. If it is frozen below -18 degrees Celsius, it can be preserved for up to a year. Most cheese lovers prefer halloumi that has been aged and kept in its own brine because it has a stronger, saltier taste. Producers of halloumi usually flavor their cheeses with bits of snipped mint leaves to enhance the taste.
Halloumi’s fat content is around 25% of the cheese’s wet weight, 47% dry weight with around 17% protein. When cooked, it produces a firm texture, making squeaking sounds as it is eaten.
Another defining characteristic of halloumi cheese is that it can be used in cooking. Most cheeses melt when heated, but halloumi has a higher-than-normal melting point, making it a perfect cheese for grilling and frying. Cypriots are fond of eating halloumi with watermelon during summer. Halloumi is also a main ingredient in halloumi and lountza, a dish that combines the cheese with a slice of smoked pork or lamb sausage.
When you are planning to have your cheap holidays abroad, make sure you order some halloumi cheese to go with your meals. Reserve your tour through Travel Republic.
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