halloumi
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of halloumi
From Egyptian Arabic, from Arabic ḥalūm, probably from ḥaluma “to be mild”
Explanation
Halloumi is a kind of cheese made in Cyprus from a mixture of sheep's and goat's milk. Unlike many cheeses, halloumi keeps its shape when you cook it on a grill. People describe halloumi as a "squeaky" cheese, because its texture is a bit spongy, not quite hard or soft, and it makes a little squeak between your teeth when you bite into it. Its firmness helps it hold up to heat, and halloumi is delicious after it's grilled. Cheese can only be called halloumi if it's produced in Cyprus. Halloumi comes from the Modern Greek khalloúmi and the Cypriot Arabic xallúm.
Vocabulary lists containing halloumi
Cheesy Goodness
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5th Grade World Cuisine, List 1
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Like Halloumi or paneer, it's a cheese that you can griddle without melting.
From Salon • Feb. 7, 2022
Halloumi and its squeaky cousins are reluctant to melt, so this process draws moisture out, encouraging additional squeakiness while giving the edges a bit of crunch and caramelized flavor.
From Washington Post • Aug. 12, 2021
Halloumi has a solid consistency and high melting point, making it perfect for grilling.
From Salon • Jul. 18, 2021
Dinner for two — try the warm Halloumi cheese salad, spicy Fernet-roasted nuts and grilled lingcod — including choice British Columbian wines, costs about 131 dollars.
From New York Times • Apr. 12, 2018
Halloumi cone - disappointingly not built from halloumi but just a cone with some in it.
From The Guardian • Jun. 27, 2015
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
