Grilled Halloumi Kebabs with Mint Yogurt Sauce
Grilled Halloumi Kebabs with Mint Yogurt Sauce- summer vegetables and salty halloumi cheese served with a refreshing mint yogurt sauce. The perfect quick and delicious summertime meal! (gluten-free & grain-free)
More kebabs? More kebabs!
Because who wants to spend all day in their kitchen? Or better yet, who wants to turn on their oven?
Not this girl. I want to be outside soaking up all of that beautiful summer sunshine!
Whilst eating juicy veggie kebabs and drinking a cold glass of white wine. :)
Why did I just use the word whilst? That was weird.
Anyways, now that we’re all feeling intellectually stimulated by my sophisticated writing, let’s move on to cheese.
What do you guys know about halloumi?
The first time I tried it was three or four years ago back in College Station. We were out to eat at one of our favorite restaurants (Café Eccel which is now closed…boo!) and they brought it out flaming on a cast iron skillet. I had no clue what it was or how to pronounce it but I can tell you one thing, if you bring me flaming cheese, Ima eat it.
Come to find out, it’s actually made from sheep’s milk from the Greek island of Cyprus. And it’s particularly known for how well it holds up on the grill which is why it’s called “the grilling cheese of Cyprus”.
It’s also typically made without animal rennet, making it suitable for vegetarians. Woo hoo!
That settles it. I’m moving to Greece!
I’m kidding, obviously. But if I can’t go to Greece, I bring Greece to me.
Where were we? Oh right, halloumi.
What inspired to me make these kebabs was actually a veggie burger recipe from Green Kitchen Travels. Rather than grill it, they chose to shred the cheese along with zucchini, carrot, and fresh mint, then press it all into a patty and pan fry it.
Well, let me just tell you, the flavor of fresh mint with halloumi is to-die-for! It’s refreshing, yet savory so you feel satisfied but not weighed down.
The only problem was that I couldn’t get the burgers to hold together very well. I think using a few paper towels to absorb the liquid from the zucchini might have helped but for the sake of patience, I decided to recreate a kebab version and serve it with a mint yogurt sauce.
The whole thing comes together really fast and the grilled veggies and cheese taste great rolled up in a big leaf of romaine with the yogurt sauce on top. They really are the perfect summer meal!
Grilled Halloumi Kebabs with Mint Yogurt Sauce
Yield: 4 kebabs
Prep Time: 15
Cook Time: 10
Total Time: 25
Ingredients:
- 8 ounces halloumi cheese
- 2 medium size zucchini
- 1 bell pepper
- 1 small red onion
- 12 cherry tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- salt & pepper
- serving suggestions: romaine lettuce leaves or whole wheat pita
Mint Yogurt Sauce
- 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
- juice of 1 lime
- 1 tablespoon tahini
- 1/4 cup fresh mint leaves (about 12 leaves)
- salt to taste
Directions:
- Start by dicing the cheese and vegetables into 1” squares. Cut each zucchini in half and then cut them lengthwise into 1” pieces. Arrange the vegetables and cheese on the skewers and set aside.
- Next make the yogurt sauce by combining all ingredients in a food processor and blending for 15-20 seconds. Alternatively, you can chop the mint by hand and stir everything together in a small bowl. Refrigerate while you cook the kebabs.
- To cook the kebabs, brush with olive oil, sprinkle with salt & pepper and cook on the preheated grill for 4-5 minutes, turning in between.
- Serve warm with romaine lettuce and yogurt sauce and enjoy!
Nutrition Facts are for two kebabs with yogurt sauce
Did you try this recipe? Please let me know how it turned out by leaving a comment below or sharing a picture on Instagram with the hashtag #makingthymeforhealth. I love hearing your feedback! 
I just discovered halloumi cheese last year and was obsessed with grilling it last summer! Love the idea for putting them on kebabs…and eating them with a glass of wine :) Soon enough I’ll be able to!
There is a cheese you can grill?! How did I not know about this?!
Yum! Will definitely make these. I’m a huge Halloumi fan. I found a good brand at Trader Joes…tasty and half the price of the gourmet markets.
FINALLY the halloumi mystery is solved! I’ve seen many recipes involving halloumi, and I’ve always thought it was a fancy word for tofu, haha! Now that I know it’s basically cheese I’m gonna go to town on the stuff! Love these grilled cheese kebabs! I want to eat these whilst drinking a glass of wine and watching back-to-back episodes of 30Rock on Netflix ;)
Haha, it does kind of look like tofu in pictures! :)
You’ve convinced me! I must try halloumi now. And/or move to Greece :D Perhaps both?
Definitely BOTH! ;)
there’s no better reason than cheese to move to Greece! Well, that and I had the best spaghetti of my life there. These kabobs sound like my perfect summer meal. Obviously eaten whilst enjoying a glass of wine ;-)
As if the halloumi isn’t enough reason to move there! Now I have to go for the spaghetti! ;)
More kebabs! Love it! Been wanting to try grilling halloumi..
If vegetarians eat dairy, I”m still a little confused why they wouldn’t eat rennet? I researched a bit, but still don’t quite understand… :)
There are different kinds of rennet but animal rennet is sourced from the stomach lining of baby cows (after slaughtering them). Vegetarians don’t eat anything that requires the animal to be killed.
If you look at the 365 brand of cheese sold at Whole Foods, you’ll notice it’s labeled vegetarian because they don’t make it with animal rennet.
Halloumi is made with microbial rennet which is sourced from mushrooms…or something like that. ;)
You had me at “mint yogurt sauce.” I’m a sucker for all sauces, and I looove anything in the Greek family. Also, I’ve actually BEEN to Cyprus (as a kid when we lived in England). It’s magical. Your kebabs belong there. ;)
Oh, I’m so jealous! I’ll gladly take my kebabs there! :)
Grilled cheese? Okay, I had never heard of halloumi and you have me dying to try it! I’d also like to eat it whilst drinking white wine. :) With you! hahahh!
haha Sarah you are making me laugh reading this :) I especially loved the “if you bring me flaming cheese, Ima eat it” line – yup, I would definitely eat it too!
I’ve been wanting to try halloumi for awhile now – seems like summer is the perfect time! Love these kebabs!
Beautiful recipe, Sarah! Grilled Halloumi is the best. I love the sound of that sauce too – anything minty is heaven in my eyes!!! This is such a great summer dish, sooo tasty!!!
This is so creative! I have not tried halloumi, but I’ve never met a cheese I haven’t liked!! Can’t wait to try it, and I’m all about kebabs!!
That minty sauce sounds to die for and this takes grilled cheese to a new meaning :) Pinning!
Loveeeeeee halloumi! Like love love love. And I adore the idea of nestling them prettily into a lettuce cup!
This recipe reminds me of my vacation in Greece, colorful – grilled vegetables and halloumi cheese… tasty
I adore halloumi!
I had it a few times at restaurants when I was in England last summer – but yet I never seem to see it in restaurants here! I hope the trend picks up in Canada because it is seriously so good!
Good news: cafe eccel opened back up about 10 months or so ago! Yay! I was missing strawberry tarts and margherita pizza like you wouldn’t believe!!
YESSSSSSSSSS.
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