I like to keep a few batches of my keto cheese sticks ready to go in the freezer for whenever I have a craving for cheesy, salty, fried goodness, but sometimes I run out and am not in the mood to prep more from scratch. If I have halloumi on hand, though, it barely counts as an inconvenience. Halloumi fries up into a similar crisp on the outside, cheesy on the inside dish without the need to bother with egg washes or low carb breadings.

It doesn’t have the same melty, stringiness of a traditional mozzarella stick, but the distinct texture of halloumi has its own special appeal. Plus you can make these in literally five minutes; even quicker than popping those low carb cheese sticks out of the freezer and into the frying pan! I like to up the flavor profile even more by sprinkling these keto fried halloumi sticks with oregano and red pepper before serving.

Notes:

• These are best served fresh, immediately after cooking. They are still tasty when reheated, but the texture is a bit tougher.
• A squeeze of fresh lemon juice and/or a dash of fresh ground black pepper are also great flavor additions.
• If you can’t find halloumi (a common problem at my local stores), some types of queso blanco (specifically queso de freier, if you can find it) will work as a replacement.