So I grilled cheese. Not a sandwich, I grilled cheese.

[GrillinFool]

So, I was at this gourmet market over the holidays looking for some wine and cheese for dinner. I saw that they had Haloumi cheese which is touted as the cheese you can grill. I did it. Didn't like it. It was chalky and bitter. I hear that if I marinate it next time in some flavored olive oil it will be better, but haven't gotten back to it yet.

Well, I mention this to the cheese monger and she recommended I try Brun-Uusto cheese and she rushes off to go grill some up for me. I didn't want to stick around that long, but she was going through the trouble, so I did. So glad I did. It was fantastic. She said she fried it up in a pan with a little oil, but it can go on the grill. Well, it just so happened that I was smoking some pork tenderloin for a coworker who was having his folks in over New Years, so I bought a block. It was even better grilled as it picked up the smoky flavor as well. It was also a learning experience. I cut the block in half. The first half I did I cooked at too high a heat. I came within a biscuit of melting it through the grates and into the coals. The second time was perfect. I documented both sessions in this post. I'm not perfect. I screw up on the grill all the time...

So, here's the step by step on what I did and here are the pictures that hopefully make you hungry:

 

[velobran]

This is very common in northeastern Brazil. They make it for breakfast and sell it as a snack on the beach. Its a white cheese ... they call it .. white cheese (the translated name). They also do it with a "butter cheese". Neither are chalky and bitter, just a little rubbery.

 

[edinatlanta]

Originally Posted by velobran

This is very common in northeastern Brazil. They make it for breakfast and sell it as a snack on the beach. Its a white cheese ... they call it .. white cheese (the translated name). They also do it with a "butter cheese". Neither are chalky and bitter, just a little rubbery.
The portable grill with lit coals is kind of awesome.

Edit: pic was at Copacabana.

 

[celery]

Not sure how you prepared the haloumi, but it sounds like it didn't actually cook through.

I would slice it, brush it with a little butter, then serve it with lightly drizzled honey on top (becuse haloumi is salty and if you aren't used to it, you might want to balance it out).

 

[GrillinFool]

Originally Posted by celery

Not sure how you prepared the haloumi, but it sounds like it didn't actually cook through.

I would slice it, brush it with a little butter, then serve it with lightly drizzled honey on top (becuse haloumi is salty and if you aren't used to it, you might want to balance it out).

I'm getting a lot of grief for not liking the Haloumi. So much so, I'm starting to think I started off with a low grade Haloumi. Start with ****** ingredients and end up with ****.

Looks like I need to revisit this. The gourmet market next door has it. They only carry high quality stuff. I'll give it another go...

 

[celery]

Didn't mean to come off in an abrasive way, if so I apologize.

I'm just partial to haloumi as I'm Greek and have been eating it all my life.

 

[sho'nuff]

mmm. this is so delicious looking.

 

[aphextwin07]

i didn't read any part of your post but i found the title and pics to be quite hilarious

 

[GrillinFool]

Originally Posted by aphextwin07

i didn't read any part of your post but i found the title and pics to be quite hilarious

It's a little hard to explain. I typed it out like five times and wasn't sure it made sense...

 

[GrillinFool]

Originally Posted by celery

Didn't mean to come off in an abrasive way, if so I apologize.

I'm just partial to haloumi as I'm Greek and have been eating it all my life.

Not at all. Didn't say you were abrasive. Just that quite a few people have said how much they liked Haloumi and I thought it was absolutely terrible. Makes me think it was me, or I had some subpar Haloumi. Gonna have to give it another go and see if it's just one of those things I don't like, or if I am missing out on something...

 

[gdl203]

wow this looks amazing !

 

[mordecai]

Originally Posted by edinatlanta

where to kop

 

[LawrenceMD]

there's that Greek/middle eastern fried cheese right? they pop it into a skillet then broil it up. it tastes ******* awesome, but when they bring it to your table on a hot iron plate it actually gives off a smelly feet aroma to the dismay (or delight?/jealousy) of those around you. i think its called Saganaki.

if i remember this right sometimes the smelly feet smell will stick to your clothes too, but again it tastes very very good.

 

[hboogz]

Dominicans do this with regularity. I know someone mentioned Haloumi + honey (******* amazing) as well....love both. Any white cheese grilled is good by me.

 

[impolyt_one]

I like grilled haloumi, a bit of harissa, some sort of bread.