Cypriot Halloumopita Recipe (Savoury Cheese Cake)
This halloumopita recipe is a delicious Cypriot savoury cheese cake with fresh mint and aromatic spices. Perfect for breakfast or a snack!
Equipment
- 1 Loaf tin roughly 23 cm x 12 cm
Ingredients
Wet ingredients
- 5 Eggs
- 150 grams Light olive oil (¾ cup)
- 180 grams Milk (¾ cup)
Dry ingredients
- 300 grams Self-raising flour
- 1 teaspoon Baking powder
- ½ teaspoon Mastiha crushed
- ½ teaspoon Mahlepi
Filling and topping
- 200 grams Halloumi cheese grated
- 15 grams Fresh mint chopped
- 80 grams Sultanas raisins
- 1 tablespoon Self-raising flour for coating sultanas
- ½ tablespoon Sesame seeds for topping
Instructions
Prepare the batter
- In a large bowl, beat the eggs on high speed for about a minute until light and fluffy.
- Add the oil and milk, then mix on low speed until fully combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the self-raising flour, baking powder, mastiha, and mahlepi.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until a smooth batter forms.
Incorporate the fillings
- Fold in the grated halloumi and chopped mint using a spatula.
- In a small bowl, toss the sultanas with the flour until evenly coated. Fold them into the batter until well combined.
Bake and Serve
- Grease and lightly flour your loaf tin. Pour the batter into the tin, smooth the top, and gently tap the tin on the counter to release air bubbles. Sprinkle sesame seeds evenly over the surface.
- Loosely cover the tin with aluminium foil, ensuring it doesn’t touch the batter. Then bake for 1 hour with the foil on at 160°C (fan-forced).
- Remove the foil and continue baking for 15-25 minutes until golden brown and a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean.
- Let the halloumopita cool in the tin for 10-15 minutes, then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely. Slice and enjoy!
Notes
- Loaf Tin vs. Bundt Tin: Many people bake halloumopita in a bundt tin, but I prefer using a bread loaf tin as it makes slicing easier. This is especially useful since halloumopita is often enjoyed like bread, particularly for breakfast.
- Grating the Halloumi: For the best texture, use a fine grater. Let the grated halloumi sit uncovered in the fridge overnight, turning it occasionally to help it dry evenly.
Nutrition
Calories: 471kcalCarbohydrates: 38gProtein: 14gFat: 29gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 17gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 105mgSodium: 403mgPotassium: 128mgFiber: 2gSugar: 9gVitamin A: 265IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 339mgIron: 1mg
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