Let me start by saying that I hope I’m not the only one craving fried cheese or grilled cheese sandwiches late at night (or really, at any time of day). This Oven Baked Halloumi with Hot Honey recipe has everything that you’d want to snack on the next game day. They’re crispy, chewy and definitely addictive! Serve them with a sweet and spicy sauce, a creamy garlic sour cream dip and some fresh basil for an out of the ordinary and easy appetiser. Of course, you could also throw them in a salad and call it a day.
Ingredients used for crispy Oven Baked Halloumi
When you oven fry cheese, the breading is the most important aspect of the dish. It needs flavour and some kind of oil to help it turn perfectly crispy and golden-brown.
- Halloumi Cheese: This type of cheese is the best option for frying or grilling. It has a high melting point, so it turns out chewy and just slightly melty. Also, be aware that it’s a salty cheese, so don’t add any extra in the breading.
- Eggs: To help the breading stick to the cubed halloumi.
- Panko Bread Crumbs: They make them extra crispy!
- Parmesan Cheese: What’s not to like about Parmesan cheese? Double the cheese, double the fun.
- Smoked Paprika: It adds a subtle smokiness.
- Garlic Powder: A little bit of sweetness and a little bit of garlicky taste.
- Olive Oil: To help the cheese bites brown and become crispy.
I would also add some dried herbs next time I make these baked halloumi bites. I’m confident that oregano, thyme and basil would be great additions.
Step by step instructions for perfect halloumi bites
You can always find me nibbling on some kind of cheese and these oven baked halloumi bites are perfect for that! They come together in 5 minutes and they’re ready to eat in 20. They’re crunchy, chewy and delicious. Also, they add bonus points for the fact that they’re baked and not fried.
- Preheat the oven and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper (so the slightly melted cheese doesn’t stick).
- Beat the eggs in a medium bowl and mix the breading ingredients – the Panko, Parmesan cheese, smoked paprika, garlic powder and freshly ground black pepper.
- Cube your halloumi, coat them in beaten eggs and then toss them into the Panko mix, pressing gently to help the breading stick.
- Arrange on the prepared baking sheet. Don’t overcrowd the pan.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes, flip them over and continue baking for another 10 minutes or until golden-brown and crispy all the way around.
Serving options
I’m a huge fan of sauces, I love a good variety when it comes to dipping crispy food in something creamy and delicious. Halloumi cheese is quite salty, so I like to drizzle it with hot, spicy honey – a 2 ingredient sauce that takes the taste to another level, you’ll need honey and piri piri or red pepper flakes. To balance out the spiciness, a sour cream or yoghurt based sauce is always an incredible idea. Add to it some minced garlic, a pinch of salt and some olive oil and you’ve got yourself a creamy, rich sauce. Ketchup or marinara sauce are amazing options. Also, to add some freshness to the crispy oven baked halloumi I like to garnish it with a couple of fresh basil leaves.
Oven Baked Halloumi with Hot Honey
Ingredients
For the baked halloumi
- 2 (8 oz) halloumi cheese blocks cubed
- 2 large eggs beaten
- 1 cup Panko bread crumbs
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese grated
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp black pepper freshly ground
- 2-3 tbsp olive oil extra virgin
- fresh basil for serving
For the hot honey
- ⅓ cup honey
- 1-2 tsp piri piri or red pepper flakes
For the garlic sour cream
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 garlic clove minced
- 1 tbsp olive oil extra virgin
- 1 pinch salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl whisk the eggs. In another bowl, combine panko, grated Parmesan cheese, smoked paprika, garlic powder and freshly ground black pepper.
- Take each cube of halloumi cheese and coat in the eggs, then toss to coat in the crumbs, pressing gently to secure the panko mixture on the cheese. Arrange on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with all the halloumi cubes.
- Drizzle halloumi pieces with olive oil and bake for 20-22 minutes, or until golden-brown and crispy, turning them once halfway through.
- In a small bowl mix honey with piri piri or red pepper flakes. Set aside.
- Combine sour cream, minced garlic clove and a pinch of salt until in a medium bowl. Top with olive oil.
- Let halloumi cool for 5 minutes then serve with hot honey, garlic sour cream and a couple of fresh basil leaves.