No BBQ or summer party should be complete without some kind of halloumi dish and these Vegetable and Halloumi Kebabs are our favourite way to serve them. Coated in a flavour bursting Greek marinade, these vegetable skewers can be prepared in advance and will wow even your meat eating guests. It's time we started showing more love for this delicious salty cheese!
We can't get enough of these Halloumi Kebabs, and they aren't just for summer as we even make them in the colder months to bring a bit of sunshine in to our life.
It's a great way to use this delicious "squeaky cheese" and a must at any BBQ you are hosting. Don't just give vegetarian guests a dull veggie burger - wow them with these.
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Why you will love them
- A delicious way to eat halloumi
- Perfect for a BBQ
- A great way to eat more vegetables
- Easy to adapt
- Can be made in advance
Ingredients needed
- Halloumi - this really is the star of the skewers. However, if you didn't have halloumi then you could use paneer instead.
- Courgette - we cut these in to ribbons, as they look nicer on the skewers, but you can cut them in to chunks instead. They need to be big enough to stay on the skewers, but small enough so they cook through.
- Bell Pepper - we used red pepper, as it's nice and sweet. However, you could use any colour pepper.
- Cherry Tomatoes - they add a burst of flavour to these halloumi skewers.
- Olive oil - you could swap this for sunflower or vegetable oil.
- Red wine vinegar
- Lemon juice
- Oregano - a mixture of oregano, thyme and marjoram work well.
- Garlic - this adds lots of flavour. If you don't have fresh garlic then you could use dried garlic granules.
A full ingredients list with measurements is in the recipe card below.
Step by step
One: Slice the courgettes into ribbons and dice the red pepper. Keep the cherry tomatoes whole.
Two: Cut the halloumi into cubes of about 2cm.
Three: Put everything in to a bowl and mix well.
Four: Thread on to 8 skewers. If you are using wooden skewers, make sure soak them for at least 30 minutes first, so they don't burn when cooking.
Four: Put the skewers under the grill for 5-6 minutes, turning every minute.
What is halloumi?
If you haven't had halloumi before, then you are seriously missing out. The semi-hard cheese originated from Cyprus and although it doesn't taste like much straight from the packet, it tastes amazing once cooked and has a whole different texture.
It can be made from cow, sheep or goat’s cheese, and has quite a salty flavour - which is what we love about it. Because of its high melting point, it's great for grilling and frying and makes it perfect for these skewers, as it won't melt off them.
Is halloumi healthy?
Halloumi is high in protein and calcium, but it is also high in fat and salt, so keep and eye on portion size. That's why we like to add cubes to skewers, because you get all the flavour without having to use too much of it.
Ways to cook halloumi kebabs
There are a few different ways that you can cook these halloumi skewers. You can throw them in the oven and everything will get cooked, but you won't get the crispiness on the halloumi. Want that crispy halloumi? Pop them under the grill, turning them every couple of minutes.
If you have the weather for it, then my favourite way to cook these is on the BBQ. Make sure the grill is oiled first, so that the cheese doesn't stick. But they will go down very well with you BBQ guests who will be fighting over them. A great option for vegetarians too.
Greek marinade
These skewers are taken to another level with the marinade. Not only is it bursting with flavour, but it's so easy to make and made with ingredients that you probably already have in your kitchen.
A really good quality olive oil is the base, and then some red wine vinegar, lemon juice, garlic, salt, pepper, thyme and oregano. Simple and delicious!
What to serve with these skewers
To be honest, I could eat about 8 of these in row without anything else, but there are lots of other ways to serve them too. These skewers would be great served with some homemade tzatziki or hummus.
We also make a big batch of Easy Homemade Flatbreads and then stuff the vegetables in them with some hummus and tzatziki for an epic sandwich alternative.
Can these be made in Advance?
Yes, and they taste even better when prepared in advance. You can put the halloumi and vegetables in to a bowl with the oil and seasoning, mix well and then leave in the fridge for up to 24 hours. This allows the flavours to really come together. You then just need to thread everything on to skewers when you are ready to cook them.
FAQ
Halloumi isn't low in calories by any means, but once it is cooked it has so much flavour which means a little goes a long way. You don't need it use much of it to make an epic sandwich. 50g of halloumi has about 160 calories, but you can get lighter halloumi that is about 120 calories for a 50g serving.
You can eat raw halloumi, however we wouldn't recommend it. Cooking halloumi vastly improves the taste and texture, and it is less salty after cooking.
Halloumi is known as the squeaky cheese, but do you know why it makes that noise? The protein clumps created by the rennet in Halloumi are what give it its famous squeak. The sound comes from the long protein strands rubbing against the enamel of your teeth.
When put under the grill or on the BBQ, the vegetable skewers get nice and crispy, which really changes the flavour. You can get creative and use a variety of different vegetable like some baby corn, red onion or aubergine.
You don't really want to use a root vegetable, as that would take longer to cook, so stick with softer vegetables.
Extra tips
• If you are using wooden skewers, make sure soak them for at least 30 minutes first, so they don't burn when cooking.
• These skewers would be great served with some homemade tzatziki.
• If you are cooking for someone that can't have a meal without meat, then you can thread some chicken on to them. But cooking times will vary.
• You can cook these halloumi skewers under the grill, in the oven or on the BBQ.
More BBQ recipes
If you’ve tried these Halloumi Skewers, let us know how you got on in the comments below.
Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - Use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.
Recipe
Vegetable and Halloumi Kebabs
Ingredients
- 250 g (9 oz) Halloumi - cut in to 16 cubes
- 24 Cherry tomatoes
- 1 Red bell pepper - cut in to squares
- 1 Courgette (zucchini) - cut in to ribbons
- 2 tablespoon Olive oil
- 1 tablespoon Red wine vinegar
- 1 Lemon - juice only
- 2 Garlic clove - crushed
- 2 tablespoon Dried oregano
- 1 tablespoon Dried thyme
- 1 pinch Sea salt and ground black pepper
Instructions
- Slice 1 Courgette (zucchini) into ribbons and dice 1 Red bell pepper. Keep the 24 Cherry tomatoes whole.
- Cut 250 g Halloumi into cubes of about 2cm.
- Put into a bowl with 2 tablespoon Olive oil, 1 tablespoon Red wine vinegar, juice of 1 Lemon, 2 Garlic clove, 2 tablespoon Dried oregano, 1 tablespoon Dried thyme and 1 pinch Sea salt and ground black pepper and mix well.
- Thread on to 8 skewers. If you are using wooden skewers, make sure soak them for at least 30 minutes first, so they don't burn when cooking.
- Put the skewers under the grill for 5-6 minutes, turning every minute.
Recipe Tips
- If you are using wooden skewers, make sure soak them for at least 30 minutes first, so they don't burn when cooking.
- These skewers would be great served with some homemade tzatziki.
- If you are cooking for someone that can't have a meal without meat, then you can thread some chicken on to them. But cooking times will vary.
- You can cook these halloumi skewers under the grill, in the oven or on the BBQ.
Nutritional Information
The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.
As all appliances vary, cooking times are a guide. Please note that by changing the serving size, the cooking time may also need to be altered.
Mel says
Your cats are adorable Dannii. Ours don't get along, but they stay out of each other's way.
Yummy looking skewers too.
kellie@foodtoglow says
We've had a few barbecues - mainly me testing recipes in the cold wind, huddled up in a jumper! These look fab, Dannii. Enjoy eating more meat-free meals - they really bring out the creative juices. :-)
Becca @ Amuse Your Bouche says
I adore halloumi!! Especially on the BBQ - no BBQ is complete without it ;)
Ciara (My Fussy Eater) says
LOVE LOVE LOVE halloumi skewers on the bbq! They beat a burnt sausage any day!!
Sarah Fawcett says
These look amazing and we love Halloumi. We got a new BBQ this year and set our intention to get it out every time it was warm enough to eat outside, so we have had 4 BBQs so far this summer.
marcie says
Dannii, these look amazing, and I totally have a thing for eating skewers! These are so fun.
Emma @ Supper in the Suburbs says
Yum! These look delicious. I always recommend halloumi to meat eater looking to cut back on animal products. I'm I tried by the way you did the courgette! That seems much better than cutting it into rounds like I normally do! Great idea!!!
I am a little jealous you are a Monday person. I was once but not any more...maybe when I retire hahaha!
Helen @ Scrummy Lane says
I made something similar to this recently, Dannii, and absolutely loved them! I really like the dressing you've added to yours!
Anu-My Ginger Garlic Kitchen says
What an astounding recipe! Halloumi skewers looks damn delicious! Your had an awesome weekend I must say! Fabulous share! :)
Rach @ This Italian Family says
I've never even heard of halloumi before, but now I'm curious! I need to try it! Those skewers look delicious!
Izzy says
So, I am a huge cheese lover but I have never had halloumi before!! I'm not sure if I've even ever seen it at the grocery store. I see it all over the internet though and it makes me want some so bad! That is also amazing that you can grill it and it keeps its shape! I gotta find some :)
Jess says
We just had these for dinner and they were really really good. Very quick and easy and my 5 year old loved them too (after I took everything off the share skewer of course). Thanks for sharing xx
Harriet Emily says
What a beautiful recipe! Halloumi skewers are definitely my favourite thing to make for dinner in the summer. I love how quick they are to prepare and they're always so delicious. Thank you so much for sharing this!
Kari @ bite-sized thoughts says
I love skewers :) I like your thin curly zucchini strips on them too!
Manali @ CookWithManali says
i love all those veggies, looks fantastic!