Vegan Haloumi Cheese: Everything You Need To Know

Haloumi cheese has risen in popularity around the world for its distinctive salty flavor and squeaky texture when bitten into. This Cypriot cheese has a high melting point thanks to its high protein content, allowing it to hold its shape when grilled or pan-fried to get a lovely crispy exterior. These properties make haloumi a versatile ingredient to add bold flavor to salads, sandwiches, skewers and more.

As demand grows for plant-based alternatives to dairy, vegan haloumi has emerged for those seeking the taste and texture of haloumi without the animal products. Recreating the properties of haloumi using plant-based ingredients poses some challenges, but new vegan haloumi products are getting closer than ever.

What Gives Haloumi Its Distinctive Properties

True haloumi cheese is made from sheep and goat’s milk, which gives it a high protein content. This protein is what allows haloumi to maintain its shape when cooked instead of melting into a gooey mess. Specifically, these properties define haloumi cheese:

• High melting point – Haloumi has a melting point of around 176°F (80°C) thanks to its high protein-to-fat ratio. This allows it to brown and crisp when grilled or pan-fried instead of melting.
• Squeaky texture – The cheese makes a distinctive squeaking sound when bitten into. This comes from the dense, rubbery texture the proteins give the cheese.
• Mild, salty flavor – Haloumi has a mild flavor on its own, absorbing flavors from other ingredients. A salty brine adds seasoning.
• Browning and crisping – When cooked, haloumi browns and crisps on the outside while staying intact inside. Grilling or pan frying achieves this effect.

Challenges of Replicating Haloumi with Plant-Based Ingredients

The unique properties of haloumi come from animal-based ingredients that are difficult to mimic with plant proteins and fats. Vegan cheese producers have to get creative to achieve the same effects using only plant products.

• Texture – Plant proteins like soy and pea protein don’t provide the same dense, squeaky texture as casein proteins in dairy cheese.
• Meltability – Plant-based fats like coconut and vegetable oils have lower melting points, making it tricky to get vegan haloumi that holds its shape when cooked.
• Flavor – Getting the right salty, briny flavor profile is hard without dairy. Non-dairy milks don’t lend the same savory notes.
• Browning – Plant-based haloumi needs to brown through maillard browning, not melting and separating when cooked at high heat. This takes precise ingredient ratios.

Best Bases for Vegan Haloumi

The foundation of vegan haloumi begins with a base that mimics the texture of the dairy version. Here are some of the most commonly used bases:

Tofu

Firm or extra-firm tofu can provide a dense, rubbery texture similar to traditional haloumi. Opt for a variety that is well pressed to remove excess moisture. This helps the tofu hold its shape better when cooked.

Cashews

Soaked raw cashews blended into a paste or cheese form a creamy base with protein for structure. Adding starch thickens the cashew base so it doesn’t melt when cooked.

Soy milk

Soy milk has protein that helps bind the other ingredients and adds stretchiness similar to the casein in dairy milk. Full fat soy milk works best to achieve the right texture.

Key Ingredients in Vegan Haloumi Recipes

In addition to the base, vegan haloumi relies on a precise blend of proteins, starches, emulsifiers, and flavorings to mimic the real thing. Here are some of the most important ingredients:

• Plant-based proteins – Soy protein, pea protein or rice protein provide structural protein without dairy.
• Starch – Tapioca starch, potato starch or corn starch help solidify the cheese to prevent melting.
• Vegetable gums/emulsifiers – Ingredients like xanthan gum, guar gum, and lecithin act as binders and emulsifiers.
• Nutritional yeast – Gives vegan cheese a savory, cheesy flavor.
• Salt – Essential for getting the salty flavor right.
• Vegetable broth – Provides moisture and savory flavoring.

Cooking Methods for Vegan Haloumi

One advantage of vegan haloumi is that it can be cooked just like the traditional cheese, with similar results. Here are some of the most popular cooking methods:

Grilling

Grilling vegan haloumi directly over a hot flame is the best way to get it nicely browned and crispy on the outside. Look for grill marks just like traditional haloumi.

Pan-frying

Frying in a hot pan with just a little oil also crisps up the exterior nicely. Make sure to use high heat to brown the cheese.

Raw

You can enjoy vegan haloumi raw and uncooked in salads, sandwiches, and appetizer platters for a firm, salty addition.

Skewers

Thread cubes of vegan haloumi onto skewers along with veggies, fruits like figs, and olives, then grill for a Mediterranean-inspired dish.

Sandwiches

Grilled or pan-fried vegan haloumi makes an excellent addition to sandwiches and burgers to mimic meat patties.

Storing and Serving Vegan Haloumi

Like traditional haloumi, vegan versions also require proper storage to retain the best flavor and texture. Here are some storage and serving tips:

• Store refrigerated in brine or airtight packaging.
• Keeps 1-2 weeks refrigerated; longer if vacuum sealed.
• Can be frozen for longer storage; thaw before serving.
• Enjoy grilled in salads, on skewers, in sandwiches, or however you would use dairy haloumi!

Australian Options For Vegan Haloumi Cheese

The vegan food movement continues to grow in Australia, leading to more local options for plant-based haloumi cheese. Australian brands are creating innovative haloumi alternatives using ingredients like macadamia nuts, coconut, and cashews. Here are some top Australian made vegan haloumi cheeses to look out for:

Hello Friend Haloumi

Made in Melbourne, Hello Friend Haloumi uses coconut oil and plant starches to create a firm, grillable vegan haloumi cheese.

Pros:

• Uses coconut oil for good browning
• Firm texture holds up when grilling

Cons:

• Contains coconut so not nut-free
• Only currently available in Victoria

My Life Bio Cheese: Halloumi

My Life Bio Cheese uses a blend of konjac, plant starches and oils to create a vegan halloumi alternative. It can be baked, fried or grilled.

Pros: Nut free and soy free. Squeaky texture when cooked.

Cons: Contains added sugars. Only available in certain regions.

Summary

With local companies innovating, Australian vegan haloumi is on the rise. Supporting these brands helps the plant-based movement while enjoying ethical versions of this iconic cheese.

Best International Brands of Vegan Haloumi

Several brands now offer pre-made vegan haloumi that mimics the real thing. Here are some of the most recommended store-bought options:

Green Vie Vegan Haloumi (available in Australia)

This brand from Greece offers a coconut-based vegan haloumi. Its firm texture holds up well to high heat cooking.

Pros: Easy to slice and grill.

Cons: Coconut flavor isn’t as neutral as dairy haloumi.

Violife

Violife makes a vegan haloumi with coconut oil that gives an authentic crispy texture when cooked. It’s one of the most widely available brands.

Pros – Browning and texture very close to dairy haloumi. Easy to find.

Cons – Contains coconut so not suitable for nut allergies.

Noble Cheeses

This UK brand uses a soy protein base for a firm, salty vegan haloumi that grills beautifully. It’s more available in Europe.

Pros – Great grilled flavor and texture. Soy-based.

Cons – Contains soy; only available in certain regions.

Tofutti

Tofutti offers a creamy vegan haloumi made from a blend of tofu and vegetable oils that slices and grills well.

Pros – Nice creamy flavor. Doesn’t contain nuts or soy.

Cons – Texture is softer than traditional haloumi when cooked.

Conclusion

Recreating the unique properties of haloumi cheese with plant-based ingredients presents challenges but new vegan haloumi products are getting extremely close to the real thing. Choosing a base of firm tofu, blended cashews, or soy milk combined with proteins, starches, and emulsifiers allows vegan haloumi to achieve a similar dense, rubbery texture that browns when cooked. Brands like Violife, Noble Cheeses, and Tofutti offer ready-made vegan haloumi with different pros and cons to suit various diets and needs. With the impressive plant-based options now available, vegans, vegetarians, and dairy-free eaters can all enjoy the distinctive salty, crispy magic of haloumi. The future looks bright for more diverse and widely available vegan haloumi cheese.