The Meatwave

Grilled Kefalotyri Cheese

Grilled Kefalotyri Cheese View Recipe

It's a glorious time here in Durham—the rain has stopped, the mosquitos are gone, and I'm back to grilling in this beautiful weather. I made up for lost time this weekend and did some outdoor cooking on both days. On Saturday the locale was a co-worker's cookout, and while I wanted to add to the menu, I had to also carefully consider what I could bring that wouldn't interfere too much with the host's own grilling. This meant choosing items that could be done quickly and not take up too much space. I ultimately opted for a couple sets of skewers—Asian beef skewers and Thai beef rolls—but it got me thinking about other items that might fit the bill. In terms of ease of prep, time required to cook, and impressibility, this simple grilled kefalotyri would do outstandingly well.

Kefalotyri

Longtime readers know my unequivocal love for halloumi—a semi-hard goat and sheep milk cheese from Cyprus that's made for grilling or pan frying. Well, kefalotyri is fairly similar, being made from sheep or goat milk, but it's a step up in both hardness and saltiness, with a bit less tang. Without a Greek specialty store, it could be a tad more difficult to locate than halloumi, which I'm finding is gaining prevalence since multiple local groceries all carry it down here in Durham.

Kefalotyri

Like halloumi, kefalotyri has a very high melting point, which allows it to be browned on the grill without turning into a gooey mess. After buying a wedge of it, I decided the best way to prep it up for cooking was to cut it into slices just over an inch thick.

Kefalotyri

Besides how dead simply this dish is, a big reason I'd want to bring it to gatherings is the wow factor. Cheese over a hot fire isn't something you see everyday, and it defies the perceived conception that it should melt and seep through the grates.

Kefalotyri

When in fact, kefalotyri develops a beautiful crispy exterior that's one reason it's so great when grilled.

Kefalotyri

Once cooked, its texture is creamier than that of squeaky halloumi, but it still delivers a nice chew. It has a strong salty character that ensures that no bite will be flavorless. It's pretty good on its own, but I personally think it's best when served in traditional saganaki style—as an appetizer with a splash of fresh lemon juice and a sprinkle of black pepper. It's a simple preparation, but one that perfectly showcases its full potential. You can't get a dish much easier than this, and for what little effort and time that's required, the reward is big.

Print Recipe

Grilled Kefalotyri Cheese

  • Yield 4 servings
  • Cook 4 Minutes
  • Total 4 Minutes

Ingredients

  • 1/2 pound kefalotyri cheese, cut into 1/2-inch slices or wedges
  • 1 lemon, halved
  • Freshly ground black pepper

Procedure

  1. Light one chimney full of charcoal. When all charcoal is lit and covered with gray ash, pour out and spread the coals evenly over entire surface of coal grate. Set cooking grate in place, cover grill and allow to preheat for 5 minutes. Clean and oil the grilling grate. Grill cheese until well browned on both sides, 1-2 minutes per side. Transfer to a serving platter, squeeze on lemon juice, and season with black pepper. Serve immediately.

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