Grilled Halloumi Cheese

A grilled halloumi cheese recipe, marinated in a spiced basil chili oil and finished off with maple syrup to give it an extra layer of flavour that makes that squeaky grilled cheese even more satisfying than before!

📝 Ingredients

• 1 block of halloumi cheese ((approx. 280g))
• 1 tablespoon crushed red chili flakes
• 1/3 cup oil
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice ((approximately half a lemon))
• 1 shallot ((or 1/4 small red onion))
• 1 clove garlic
• 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves ((Italian or Thai basil))
• 3/4 teaspoon cumin
• Leftover marinade ((approximately 1/2 cup to 3/4 cup))
• 1 tablespoon oil
• 1 tablespoon maple syrup

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1--- Preparation ---
2. 2Slice 1 block of halloumi cheese, 1 cm thick. Put it in a bowl and set aside.
3. 3--- Making the Marinade ---
4. 4Peel 1 shallot, and 1 clove garlic, and place them in a food processor.
5. 5Add 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves1 clove garlic3/4 teaspoon cumin, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 1/3 cup oil, and 1 tablespoon crushed red chili flakes into the food processor and blitz it.Alternatively, if you don't have a food processor, you can also finely chop the basil, and finely grate the garlic and shallots, and combine it with the rest of the ingredients.
6. 6Pour the marinade over the sliced cheese and gentle coat so they are all evenly coated.
7. 7Marinate the cheese for a minimum of 15 minutes.
8. 8--- Grilling It ---
9. 9Set the grill to 400F-450F and oil the grates well.
10. 10When the grill is hot, add the cheese onto the grates (make sure there isn't too much marinade on the cheese when you put it on the grill)
11. 11Grill them for approximately 2-4 minutes a side or until you see grill marks. (Use a metal spatula and scrape gently below the cheese to loosen it off the grill before flipping it)
12. 12Remove from grill when there are grill marks on both sides and the cheese is slightly melted
13. 13Set on serving plate
14. 14--- Making the Dipping Sauce ---
15. 15In a small sauce pan, add Leftover marinade, 1 tablespoon oil, and 1 tablespoon maple syrup (½ tablespoon of honey) and cook over low heat for 3-4 minutes until it is hot.
16. 16Pour into a small bowl and serve it with the grilled halloumi! Enjoy!