Is Halloumi Gluten Free?

Is halloumi gluten free? This rubbery cheese is popular during BBQ season but if you’re new to a gluten free diet or have coeliac disease, you might be wondering if it’s safe to eat.

I absolutely adore halloumi and if you haven’t tried it yet, then prepare to have your mind blown.

If you’re new to a gluten free diet you might be confused about what products you can and cannot eat. And you’re wondering whether halloumi is safe for people with coeliac disease.

Here I’ve got the lowdown on gluten and halloumi cheese, as well as some gluten free halloumi recipes to inspire you in the kitchen.

What is halloumi?

Halloumi is a brined, rubbery cheese, often grilled and eaten on the BBQ. Halloumi has become super popular in recent years. You can cook it in everything from pasta to curries.

This delicious cheese originates from Cyprus and it has a high melting point – hence why it’s often eaten grilled.

Halloumi has a lovely salty flavour which goes really well in savoury dishes but also works super well with a touch of sweetness like honey or sweet chilli sauce.

Is halloumi cheese gluten free?

Yes, Halloumi cheese is gluten free! Halloumi cheese is made from sheep or goat milk. This means it doesn’t use any gluten-containing grains.

It can be difficult when starting a gluten free diet (or catering for a coeliac relative) to know what foods are safe, and which ones are not.

Generally most cheeses do not contain gluten. It is always best to double check for gluten and ‘may contain’ warnings if you are unsure.

If you’re new to a gluten free diet, make sure you check out my gluten free diet FAQs and guide to starting a gluten free diet.

Are halloumi fries gluten free?

You might assume that because halloumi is gluten free, that halloumi fries would be gluten free too. But that is not always the case.

A lot of halloumi fries in restaurants are made without any gluten. But if they are fried in oil used for gluten-containing products they will not be safe for a gluten free diet.

This is especially true if you have coeliac disease.

Some food places may also add seasonings or coatings to halloumi fries which contain wheat flour, so always be sure to ask about this and the cooking methods.

Is halloumi cheese dairy free?

Halloumi cheese is not dairy free, as it is made from goat or sheep’s milk.

If you have an intolerance or allergy to cow’s milk then some, authentic brands may be safe if it’s only made from sheet milk or goat milk.

You can also find some vegan alternatives to halloumi, often called vegan ‘grilling cheese’ – but I have not tried them myself.

Can you eat halloumi cheese raw?

Halloumi cheese is definitely best eaten when cooked. You can roast halloumi, BBQ it, grill it, fry it or even air fry it. You can even grate it into fritters.

Halloumi can be eaten raw but it’s very hard and brittle. Once grilled it transforms completely into a rubbery cheese.

So while it won’t do you any harm to eat halloumi raw, it’s definitely better once cooked.

Gluten Free Halloumi Recipes

Want to experiment cooking with halloumi? Here are some of my favourite gluten free halloumi recipes for you to try…