Halloumi Rice Bowls

Jump To Recipe by Liz Thomson February 21, 2022 This post may contain affiliate links.

This post is sponsored by Success Rice. All opinions are my own.

These Halloumi Rice Bowls are filled with a rainbow of vegetables and topped with crispy cheese for a delicious and flavorful main dish.

If you haven’t had halloumi cheese, you’re in for a treat! This salty, savory cheese is unique because instead of melting, it gets crispy. The flavor reminds me of a cross between salty feta and creamy mozzarella cheese. It can be a little hard to find but you can usually get it near the specialty cheeses at major grocery stores. It’s often sold near the fresh mozzarella and feta cheeses.

I love these halloumi rice bowls because they’re a great way to enjoy a variety of vegetables, and the rice and cheese create a really satisfying meal. I used Success Jasmine Rice as the base of these bowls. Ready in just 10 minutes, this fluffy, sticky rice from Success Rice is a great no-measure option. Simply bring the bag of rice to a boil and simmer for 8-10 minutes until it’s perfectly fluffy. I love how their rice is foolproof! It helps this meal come together quickly and easily.

To take these rice bowls to the next level, I also whipped up a delicious cilantro sauce. It’s made with fresh cilantro, olive oil, cumin, red pepper flakes, and salt. It’s quite simple but it adds a delicious flavor to the dish.

Halloumi Rice Bowl Ingredients

Success Jasmine Rice– You can make sweet, aromatic Jasmine rice in just 10 minutes. It cooks up soft and fluffy every time.
Halloumi– This uniquely firm cheese gets delicious crispy and it makes these bowls extra filling and satisfying.
Broccoli– I love the flavor of roasted broccoli and it’s a great way to add greens to this meal!
Bell peppers– I used a mixture of red, yellow, and orange bell peppers but you can use any color you have. You can also substitute with sweet mini peppers.
Red onion– I love the way red onion gets sweet when roasted.
Cilantro sauce– This homemade sauce is just 5 ingredients and comes together easily. It’s a great way to boost the flavor of this rice bowl. For a creamy twist, try my easy cilantro sauce!

How to Cook Halloumi

I recommend pan-frying it in a non-stick skillet. First, slice the cheese into ¼ inch slices. Spray the pan with olive oil or non-stick spray and then lay the cheese in a single layer. Cook over medium-high heat until golden brown, about 2-3 minutes, then flip and continue to cook until both sides are golden brown and crispy. Alternatively, you can make halloumi in an air fryer, if you have one.

How to Make Cilantro Sauce

In a small food processor, combine the remaining olive oil, cilantro, cumin, red pepper flakes, and salt. Blend until just slightly chunky. If you don’t have a small food processor, you can whisk the olive oil with the seasonings and then stir in finely chopped cilantro. It’s ok if the sauce is a little chunky.

Tips & Tricks

Try to cut the vegetables into uniform pieces so they cook at the same rate. Larger florets of broccoli will take longer to cook, so I recommend chopping them into small, 1” pieces. The pepper and onion pieces should also be about 1” in size.
You can make the cilantro sauce up to 3 days in advance. Store in the fridge in an airtight container.
If you can’t find halloumi cheese, try this rice bowl with cubed feta cheese instead. Do not cook the feta, simply serve it cold.

Substitution Ideas

You can easily swap out the vegetables listed for vegetables you have in your fridge, just make sure they’ll cook at a similar rate. For example, if you’re using a more tender vegetable like asparagus, it’ll cook faster than broccoli, so you may need to remove it from the oven sooner. You could also substitute with green beans, zucchini, cauliflower, and/or brussels sprouts.