Halloumi Tacos

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Savour the unique blend of salty halloumi cheese with colourful peppers and spicy taco seasoning in these mouthwatering halloumi tacos. Perfect for a vegetarian twist on taco night!

Halloumi cheese tacos are a perfect twist on classic tacos, whether you want to eat less meat or just fancy a change. 

You can serve them with all of your favourite taco flavours, additions, sides, dips and fillings, and the halloumi cheese is delicious and satisfying. 

halloumi, peppers and taco mix in frying pan. Taco boats, cheese, dip and salad to the sides.

Why I Love Halloumi Tacos

I love these halloumi tacos because:

  • I love halloumi! So, really, anything with Halloumi is brilliant. 
  • Fried Halloumi is the perfect meat substitute; it stays bulky, is filling and tastes great. These are easy vegetarian tacos. 
  • You can make them spicy or mild. 
  • Tacos are fun, making them perfect for eating with kids. 
  • You can add sides, but you don’t have to. Stuffed taco boats are a filling dinner on their own.
3 Soft taco boats filled with halloumi, peppers and salad. Dips in the background.

Ingredients For Halloumi Tacos

When I make this easy halloumi tacos recipe, I use:

Cooking Spray – Olive oil and other cooking oils are fine, too. 

Red Onion

Halloumi Cheese  – I use two packs. 

Red Pepper

Yellow Pepper – Red and yellow are our favourites, but you can use whatever you like.

Cumin

Chilli Powder

Paprika

Oregano

Ground Cinnamon 

Salt and Pepper

Soft Taco Boats – My kids find soft stand-and-fill style taco boats easier to fill and eat than crunchy shells or soft tortilla wraps, but this is just a preference. Without the kids, I’d probably have crunchy shells. 

How you serve your tacos is up to you. I add cheese and dips. You can get some ideas below. 

ingredients for halloumi tacos on table.

You’ll Also Need

You don’t need much to prepare this recipe for halloumi tacos. I use:

  • Sharp knife and chopping board.
  • Large, non-stick frying pan. Or any other flameproof cooking dish or pan. 
  • Spatula. 
  • Cheesegrater. 
  • Small bowl and spoon for the spice mix. 
halloumi, peppers and taco mix in frying pan.

How to Make Halloumi Tacos – Step-by-Step Instructions

Full, easy-to-follow instructions and quantities are available in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Step One

Mix the cumin, chilli, paprika, oregano, cinnamon, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Leave to one side until you need it. 

Step Two

Liberally mist a large, nonstick pan with cooking spray and warm over medium heat on the hob. 

Step Three

Add the onions and fry for 5 minutes, stirring often.

Step Four

Add the halloumi and fry for 5 minutes, stirring often. Your halloumi will soften, water will come out, and it might fall apart a little. This is all fine. 

halloumi and onions in frying pan.

Step Five

Stir in the peppers. I like my peppers to stay a little crunchy, so I move straight on. If you want them softer, cook for 5 minutes first. 

halloumi, peppers and onions in frying pan.

Step Six

Sprinkle over the prepared spice mix and stir well. I use all of the mix. If you want a milder flavour, use half. You can cover and keep the rest in a dark, dry cupboard. 

halloumi, peppers and onions topped with taco spices.

Step Seven

Pour in the water, stir and bring to a simmer. 

Step Eight

Reduce the heat if necessary and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. 

halloumi taco mix in frying pan.

Step Nine

Serve in taco boats with salad and dips of your choice and sprinkle with grated cheese.

close up of halloumi taco with grated cheese and salsa.

Pro Tips for Perfect Halloumi Tacos 

Halloumi tacos are so simple that there aren’t many tips!

It’s more about thinking about what you like. I go pretty spicy, with a strong flavour, but you can use a less spice mix. 

I like my peppers and onions quite chunky and crunchy, but you can go thin and soft. 

Then, just remember that while halloumi has a very high melting point, it softens and will stick to the pan if you leave it for too long. 

frying pan with taco mix, halloumi and peppers. 3 stuffed tacos to the side.

Serving Suggestions

You can serve halloumi tacos with sides like rice, corn, wedges and coleslaw and with dips and sauces of your choice. 

Salads and Dips

I serve my tacos with halloumi cheese with lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, soured cream, salsa and guacamole. 

Cheese

You might think that halloumi cheese tacos already have plenty of cheese, and you’d be right. But who doesn’t love more cheese?

I add a sprinkle of shredded cheddar. Mozzarella is good, too. 

Shells, wraps or Boats

Now, this is totally down to personal preference. The kids prefer boats, so I make them with boats. 

close up of halloumi taco with peppers, cheese and salad on white plate.

Pineapple Salsa

An easy Pineapple salsa is tasty and refreshing, and tacos with pineapple salsa are gorgeous. 

Pineapple Salsa Recipe

Ingredients:

  • 1 fresh pineapple – peeled, cored, and finely diced. You can use tinned too.
  • 1 red pepper – deseeded and finely chopped.
  • 1 small red onion – peeled and finely diced.
  • Juice of 1 lime.
  • 1 fresh red chilli – deseeded and finely chopped.
  • Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper – to taste.

Instructions:

  1. Combine the finely diced pineapple, red pepper, and red onion in a large bowl. Stir these together until they are well mixed.
  2. Squeeze the lime juice over the mixed ingredients. 
  3. Sprinkle the finely chopped red chilli into the bowl. Adjust the quantity to suit your preferred level of heat.
  4. Season with a pinch of sea salt and freshly ground black pepper. Mix well to ensure all the flavours are combined.
  5. Taste your salsa and adjust the seasoning if necessary. If you desire more heat, add a little more chilli or squeeze in a bit more lime juice for additional tanginess.
  6. Allow the salsa to sit for 10-15 minutes before serving to let the flavours meld together beautifully.

Mango Salsa

A Mango salsa is a great topping or addition to your halloumi tacos. 

Mango Salsa Recipe

Ingredients:

  • 1 ripe mango – peeled, stoned, and finely diced.
  • ½ medium red onion – peeled and finely chopped.
  • ½ cucumber, finely diced (optional for added crunch).
  • Juice from 1 lime.
  • 1 small red chilli deseeded and finely chopped (adjust to taste).
  • Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste.

Instructions:

  1. In a mixing bowl, combine the diced mango, red onion, and cucumber (if using). Gently mix these ingredients until well combined.
  2. Add the finely chopped red chilli to the bowl. The amount of chilli can be adjusted depending on how spicy you like your salsa.
  3. Squeeze the juice of one lime over the ingredients in the bowl. The lime juice will not only add flavour but will also help to marinate and bring out the vibrant flavours of the salsa.
  4. Season with a pinch of sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Be cautious with the salt, as you want to enhance the flavours without overpowering the delicate sweetness of the mango.
  5. Give everything a good stir, ensuring the ingredients are evenly distributed throughout the salsa.
  6. Taste and adjust the seasoning if necessary. If you prefer more heat, add more chilli or lime juice for extra zing.
  7. Allow the salsa to sit for about 10 minutes to let the flavours meld together before serving.
Close up of taco with halloumi, salad and pepper in hand.

Variations

Make Grilled Halloumi Tacos

I like my halloumi soft in tacos.

I grill or air fry it for things like wraps so it’s crispy. But for things like pasta bake, or tacos, I fry it, so that it’s soft. 

It’s just preference. If you like crispy Halloumi tacos, grill or air fry it before adding it to your peppers. 

crispy halloumi slices on patterned plate.

Add Lime Juice

A squeeze of lime juice adds a lovely fresh flavour that works really well with tacos. You can also serve it with fresh lime wedges. 

Add Beans

I often add kidney beans to my tacos, whether with chicken, lamb, beef or halloumi. They add texture, colour and nutrition and are great for bulking a meal out. Any black beans, or even something like butter beans are great.

I’d swap half of the halloumi for a tin of kidney beans for healthier halloumi tacos. 

Leftovers

Any leftover spice mix can be kept and used in tacos or pasta another time. 

You can also reheat leftover halloumi taco mix in the pan with a splash of water or in the microwave. How long it will take depends on how much there is left. 

3 stuffed tacos on white plate.

Storage 

Store the leftover spice mix in a clean bowl or jar, covered, in a cupboard with the rest of your spices.

Remove leftover halloumi and veggies from the pan and cool in a clean tub or bowl. Cover and store in the fridge for up to 2 days when cool. 

FAQ

Are halloumi tacos vegetarian?

Yes, halloumi tacos are vegetarian.

Can you freeze halloumi tacos?

You can freeze the taco boats and filling, but I’d do it separately.

Other Halloumi Cheese Recipes 

If you love halloumi as much as I do, you might also want to try these halloumi recipes:

Recipe Card

close up of halloumi taco with peppers, cheese and salad on white plate.

Halloumi Tacos

Author NameDonna
Indulge in the delightful combination of savoury halloumi cheese paired with vibrant peppers and a kick of taco spices in these irresistible halloumi tacos. An ideal vegetarian option for spicing up your taco night!
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Course Dinner
Cuisine British, Mexican
Servings 4 Servings
Calories 854 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • Cooking Spray
  • 1 Red Onion – Sliced
  • 450 g Halloumi Cheese – Cut into slices.
  • 1 Red Pepper – Deseeded and sliced.
  • 1 Yellow Pepper – Deseeded and sliced.
  • 1 Tablespoon Cumin
  • 2 Tablespoons Chilli Powder
  • 1 Tablespoon Paprika
  • 1 Teaspoon Oregano
  • Pinch Cinnamon
  • Pinch Salt and pepper
  • 100 ml Water
  • 8 Taco Boats – Or shells.
  • 100 g Cheddar Cheese – Grated (Optional)
  • Dips and Salad – to serve (optional)

Instructions
 

  • Mix the cumin, chilli, paprika, oregano, cinnamon, salt and pepper in a small bowl.
  • Set to one side.
  • Mist a large, nonstick pan with cooking spray and warm over medium heat on the hob.
  • Add the onions and fry for 5 minutes, stirring often.
  • Add the halloumi and fry for 5 minutes, stirring often.
  • Stir in the peppers.
  • Sprinkle over the prepared spice mix and stir well.
  • Pour in the water, stir and bring to a simmer.
  • Reduce the heat if necessary and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • Serve in taco boats with salad and dips of your choice and sprinkle with grated cheese.

Notes

  • For a milder flavour, use less of your spice mix.
  • I use taco boats, but shells or soft flour tortillas are good, too.
  • Read the post above for more tips and advice.

Any nutritional information is given as a general guide only and may not be accurate. The information is provided using an online calculator and is specific to my ingredients. Please make your own calculations if you want precise information.

Keyword easy halloumi recipes, Mexican food, midweek meal recipes, vegetarian recipes

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Donna Dundas
Donna Dundas is an experienced family food blogger who has been creating easy and wholesome recipes for over 10 years. Her blog is a must-read for anyone looking for filling and delicious recipe ideas, that reduce waste and minimise stress.

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