This post may contain affiliate links. Where I make a small commission on purchased items, at no extra cost to you. See my disclosure for details.
(This post has been updated from the original November 2015 version to provide a better experience for you)
These little Bacon Halloumi Bites are SO simple to make and very quick to disappear! They’re ridiculously moreish and are perfect for any party, BBQ or gathering. With that beautifully squeaky halloumi wrapped up in sultry salty bacon, little hints of black pepper and tangy chives, you’re not gonna go far wrong are you?! Team it up with this perfect homemade hummus recipe and seriously – best party food EVER!
What’s not to love about them? These Bacon Halloumi Bites are little bites of heaven! It’ll be the best magic show you’ll ever put on… put the plate down and they’ll miraculously disappear! I guarantee your guests will be asking you for more, or the recipe, or both!
These little beauties are perfect for ANY occasion. Such an easy, delicious party food. If it’s more of a centre piece you’re after, this stunning festive star pull apart bread is more what you might need.
Still looking for more party food inspiration? You might like these sticky teriyaki chipolata bites,pigs in blankets and bbq bacon pineapple bites!
Bacon Halloumi Bites – Step by Step Picture Recipe
Here is what you will need to make 24.
(For a printer friendly version, see the recipe card at the end of this post)
Preheat your oven to 200°C/Fan 180°C and line a baking sheet with tin foil.
Then cut the halloumi block into 24 pieces and set to one side.
Take each slice of streaky bacon and stretch them out using the back of a knife. (This is to thin it out, making less go a longer way and shortening the cooking time.) Cut each slice in half.
Sprinkle each piece of bacon with some chives & black pepper. Don’t add salt as the bacon is already very salty.
Place a piece of halloumi at the end of a strip and roll it up. Repeat until everything is used up thenplace them onto the prepared tin.
Bake in the preheated oven for 18 – 20 mins until the bacon is golden and crispy.
These are best served straight from the oven. Place them onto a serving plate with some co*cktail sticks and let your guests dig in. See! I TOLD you they were easy to make!!
What’s your all time favourite party food nibble? Let me know in the comments below!
Have you Made This Recipe?
I LOVE it when you share what you’ve made! You can get in touch by leaving a comment below, tagging me on social media or sending me an email. I don’t mind how, I justlovehearing from you!
Nutritional information on kitchenmason.com should only be used as a general guideline, I am not a certified nutritionist. Please always check labels for allergens where applicable.
Did you make this recipe?
I'd love to hear about it! Please leave a comment on the blog or tag me on Instagram.
Why do you soak halloumi before cooking? While completely optional, many swear by this step for a softer, more flavourful, and sweeter result that will set your halloumi apart from all others. The easiest method is to soak the whole block of cheese in cold water for at least two hours (or overnight if you have time).
Halloumi can become a little rubbery and tough if you don't know how to use it. There are a few things you can do to avoid this: – cut your slices of halloumi on the thicker side – very thin slices tend to become a little hard, rather than soft and squidgy, like thicker slices do.
Don't slice it too thin, otherwise it will fall apart and also be too dry. About 1cm/0.5 inch thick slices are best. We used a crinkle cutter for ours, give give those grill line effects. Two: Put the halloumi in a non-stick frying pan (no oil is needed).
Most notably, Halloumi has an incredibly high melting point which makes it perfect for grilling; giving you a crisp, melty, chewy, salty snack you can't get enough of.
Soak the halloumi in water for 30 minutes or up to 24 hours to remove the salty taste. I love the salty taste of halloumi, so I prefer not to soak it. However, if you find the kind you have to be too salty, the soak will help alleviate that. Allow the halloumi cheese to grill without touching it.
To remove excess saltiness, soak the halloumi in cold water for 2 hrs, or overnight. Cut the halloumi into 4 long pieces and thread onto metal skewers, or wooden ones that have been soaked for 10 mins.
This is because, unlike many cheeses, halloumi has a high pH, as no starter cultures are used in its production. It seems that when this dense casein network “rubs” against the enamel of the teeth, it produces a squeak. Other cheeses usually have a lower pH, which tends to make the casein more fragile.
What is halloumi? Originating from Cyprus, halloumi is a semi-hard, un-ripened, brined cheese that can be made from cow, sheep or goat's milk. It can be eaten raw but is truly delicious cooked, having a high melting point, makes it an excellent choice for grilling or frying.
Halloumi is made out of sheep's milk, which is more expensive than cow's or goat's milk due to the animal milking production—though nowadays you can also find Halloumi varieties with a mix of these kinds of milk, thus lowering the price of the product.
Stack in style and combine fried slices of halloumi with harissa, red peppers, aubergine and hummus. If you don't fancy quite such a beastly bap, treat fried halloumi as you would a meat patty and top with salad and sauce of your choice, grilled mushrooms, avocado or salsa. Maybe hold the processed cheese slice though.
If the cheese has become slimy or developed a mold, it's time to toss it out. Moreover, a strong sour smell or change in color can also indicate that the cheese is past its prime.
But do eat it cold as well. It will be fine if it's fried before hand. I wouldn't eat it straight out of the packet with frying it all though. it's probably lovely cold....
Many Halloumi-style cheeses are prepared by dairy and goat farmers in Canada and the United States. For legal proprietary reasons, these cheeses are usually called Halloumi-style or grillable cheeses. Sometimes they are called grilling cheese or frying cheese, or queso de freír in Spanish.
Halloumi could be eaten raw, but it typically isn't as its flavour and texture is enhanced when cooked. A big part of enjoying halloumi is the crisp, browned outside and soft inside when cooked, and this would be lost if eaten raw.
Coming from the Greek word “sagani” meaning “frying pan”, halloumi saganaki is essentially just halloumi cheese that has been fried. Here we're dressing it up a bit by breading it in egg and semolina for a bit more texture and crunch, and then pairing it with fresh figs, pomegranate seeds, arugula, and a honey drizzle.
Soaking, especially as here, with some lemon juice, leaches out halloumi's preserving salt, and also softens the cheese nicely. The result is that you'll taste and smell the farmy sweetness of the milk in the finished dish.
After soaking, remove the halloumi from the water and allow it to drain. It's important to note that while soaking halloumi can help reduce its sodium content to some extent, it won't eliminate it entirely.
Simply patting the haloumi dry with paper towel will remove some of the saltiness, but you can also place it in a bowl of cold water to remove more of the salt, if you prefer. Just soak for 5 minutes, then pat dry with paper towel – patting dry is important to ensure the lovely golden crispy edges!
Halloumi is stored in brine to preserve it without slime for an extended period, typically at least 60 days, while maintaining its texture and preventing spoilage. Influence of Salting Method on the Chemical and Texture Characteristics of Ovine Halloumi Cheese.
Hobby: Reading, Ice skating, Foraging, BASE jumping, Hiking, Skateboarding, Kayaking
Introduction: My name is Cheryll Lueilwitz, I am a sparkling, clean, super, lucky, joyous, outstanding, lucky person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
We notice you're using an ad blocker
Without advertising income, we can't keep making this site awesome for you.