How healthy is halloumi? That’s a bit of a tongue twister to start with! We know halloumi is tasty, and it’s certainly one of those cheeses that you can’t stop eating once you’ve started. But let’s get down to halloumi cheese nutrition – how healthy is it? We examine the nutritional profile of halloumi, so that you can understand whether it should be a regular part of your diet. Be sure to also grab our ultimate halloumi cheese guide!
How is halloumi made and why might that make a difference?
Originating from Cyprus, halloumi is a semi-hard, brined cheese that is often made from either cow, sheep or goat milk. The brining produces quite a salty flavour. Halloumi can be eaten raw, or you can grill, fry or bake it without it melting easily.
Traditionally halloumi should be made with milk, salt, cultures and very little else. If you are conscious of reducing artificial additives in your diet, then check your prospective halloumi. Look at the ingredients on the back of the packet to make sure it contains no preservatives or other additives.
Here at Olympus, our halloumi is made on fresh pasteurised cow’s milk, and we do a buffalo milk version as well. We do not use any preservatives or other nasty additives when making our halloumi, and we use a non-animal rennet. This means the product is perfect for vegetarians as a source of protein as well as those who prefer to not include preservatives in their diet.
Halloumi cheese nutrition profiled
Let’s look at the nutritional profile of halloumi compared with regular cheddar cheese. The nutritional value of halloumi will change from brand to brand, depending on the salt content and type of milk used. Let’s take a 50g serving of Olympus Halloumi as an example. In this you’ll find:
- Calories – approx. 192
- Fat – approx. 15.2 g – 10.4 g of that is saturated fat
- Carbohydrates – approx. 1.75 g
- Sodium – approx. 265 mg (Olympus is a reduced-salt halloumi)
- Sugar – approx 0.6 mg of sugar
- Protein – approx. 12.3 g
As a comparison, Calorie King states that the average nutritional profile of 50 g serve of regular cheddar cheese is:
- Calories – approx. 199
- Fat – approx. 12 g – 11 g of that is saturated fat
- Carbohydrates – less than 1 g
- Sodium – approx. 343 mg
- Protein – approx. 12 g
As you can see, these cheeses have fairly similar profiles. So getting your halloumi fix should not leave you feeling guilty!
The nutritional panel tells the real story
While this is a good average guide, it is a great idea to check the nutritional panel for the products you buy, to see if your chosen product suits your needs. Whether your chosen brand of cheddar or halloumi comes out on top may depend on whether you are looking for a low carb, high protein, or low fat higher carb product, as well as those with higher or lower salt contents.
Check the salt content
A word of warning if you need to watch your salt intake. You may find some halloumi brands have significantly more salt. Calorie King also say the average 50 g serve of halloumi has 1450 mg of salt per serve.
And sugar
As well, both cheeses could also be made with reduced fat milk, which decreases the fat content, but may increase the carbohydrate or sugar content of the cheese.
What important minerals does all cheese contain?
According to Nutrition Australia, cheese is packed with key nutrients.
Cheese naturally contains many important nutrients such as protein, vitamin A, vitamin B12, riboflavin, phosphorus and zinc. In fact, cheese is the second largest source of calcium in the Australian diet, which is important given that one in two Australians are not getting enough calcium in their diet each day. Calcium is an important nutrient for health, particularly bone and dental health.
Read a bit more about how cheese and dairy fits into a healthy diet.
How can halloumi help to keep you fuller for longer?
One of the main components of dieting is cutting down on excess calories, however this often means you cut down on those punchy tastes which really bring a meal to life. As well, it can sometimes leave you feeling a little empty.
A benefit to eating cheese, and particularly halloumi cheese is that you only need to use a small amount to bring a big flavour hit to a meal. Halloumi also has a richness of flavour which helps you feel fuller for longer, especially when you use a full-fat halloumi.
Halloumi’s full texture and ability to be cooked means it is an easy way to increase protein in your diet while either complementing or replacing meat products. This means, it might be a great option for increasing protein or even for low carb or keto meals.
Enjoy experimenting with adding halloumi to your meals and remember that a little bit adds a big flavour hit!
Why not add some healthy halloumi recipes to your table? People use halloumi across all meals including dessert! Try this roasted tomato, halloumi and quinoa salad. For those who love meat with their meals, this chicken, halloumi and avocado salad probably won’t break the bank calorie wise.
Or you can also grab some of our most asked-for halloumi recipes below, to download and keep.
Get some healthy halloumi recipes...and a few treats too!
Please note: the information provided in this article is intended to be used as a guide only. Olympus Cheese recommends that all persons seek independent medical advice and, where appropriate, advice from a qualified dietitian, before making changes to their dietary intake. Whilst all reasonable steps have been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information contained above, to the fullest extent permitted by Australian law Olympus Cheese disclaims all liability for any inadvertent errors and for any losses or damages stemming from reliance upon the content.