Potato Halloumi Pancakes

I’ve always enjoyed making savory vegetable pancakes. Thankfully my husband enjoys eating them, often right off the plate as I cook them.

My typical potato pancakes involve potatoes and very little flour. These are not pancakes with a little bit of potato. These are raw, grated potatoes with just enough flour to hold them together.

The other day I was shopping out-of-town and I happened upon goat Halloumi. So I had the idea to grate the Halloumi along with potatoes and make potato pancakes. I figured the Halloumi wouldn’t melt easily so the pancakes would have that lovely salty cheese flavor, but without the mess.

Here’s what I did.

Potato Halloumi Pancakes
Makes about 14 – 3 1/2″ pancakes

2 eggs
1/2 cup milk or milk substitute
3 medium-sized white potatoes, scrubbed
6 ounces goat Halloumi
3 shallots, finely chopped
1/3 cup loosely packed chopped parsley
1 teaspoon black pepper
Flour, white or whole-wheat, about 3/4 cup
Butter, for frying

First place the eggs and milk in a large bowl. Whisk them together and set aside.

Grate the potatoes and add to the egg-milk mixture.

Grate the Halloumi and add to the potatoes.

Add the shallots, parsley, and black pepper, and stir well.

Add just enough flour to bind the ingredients. You are not making a dough, although it will not feel like traditional pancake batter either. Mostly it should not be runny.

Heat a large skillet or flat griddle over medium-high heat. Add a couple tabs of butter and let it melt. A little browning is good also.

Add a blob of the pancake batter to the skillet and spread it out slightly. It won’t be thin, but it can’t be too thick either. Continue with however many pancakes will cook in your skillet.

After about a minute or two, turn over the pancakes, and reduce the heat. This will allow the pancakes to brown on the other side as well, but also allow time to cook through. The total cooking time is about 6-7 minutes.

You must be patient; the potatoes can’t be served raw.

Continue cooking in batches.

Because I don’t require meat at a meal, I served the pancakes with a simple cherry tomato salad.

But of course, these would be fabulous with sausages!

The experiment with using Halloumi worked well. The slight melting of the cheese in the skillet was not problematic, and as a result it didn’t burn, which was my hope.

You could definitely taste the goatiness!

Potato pancakes like this are definitely best crispy on the outside, just out of the skillet. But it’s also fun to cook a big batch like this and reheat as needed.

By Published On: November 13th, 201748 Comments on Potato Halloumi Pancakes

About the Author: Chef Mimi

As a self-taught home cook, with many years in the culinary profession, I am passionate about all things food-related. Especially eating!

48 Comments

  1. Shanna Koenigsdorf Ward November 13, 2017 at 7:19 AM - Reply

    I like it a latke! :-)

  2. Travel Gourmet November 13, 2017 at 8:37 AM - Reply

    These look and sound delicious, Mimi. Something to remember for my vegetarian daughter-in-law :)

  3. Fran @ G'day Souffle' November 13, 2017 at 8:47 AM - Reply

    I’m not a big fan of Haloumi since it is rather salty for me. But when added to potatoes, sounds like a winner!

    • chef mimi November 13, 2017 at 12:13 PM - Reply

      I know what you mean. Almost overwhelmingly salty. But these pancakes were great.

  4. Gerlinde @ Sunnycovechef November 13, 2017 at 9:12 AM - Reply

    I love pancakes but have never made them with cheese. What a great idea, they would be good with lox and sour cream.

  5. Darya November 13, 2017 at 9:13 AM - Reply

    I love squeaky Halloumi, and how sturdy it remains when cooked. I would never have thought of grating it. Sounds really delicious!

    • chef mimi November 13, 2017 at 12:12 PM - Reply

      I saw it grated in a pasta recipe online, which is what gave me the idea! It worked great!

  6. anotherfoodieblogger November 13, 2017 at 10:15 AM - Reply

    What a novel idea to grate the Halloumi and add to the potato pancakes! I would eat these any time of day!

  7. Loretta November 13, 2017 at 12:49 PM - Reply

    Salivating here Mimi as I read the ingredients in those potato pancakes. What a great lunch time or even dinner serving and a great vegetarian option too.

    • chef mimi November 13, 2017 at 12:50 PM - Reply

      Absolutely! I’m not a huge meat eater anyway, so I ate the pancakes with the tomato salad! It was wonderful, if I might say so myself!

  8. Lisa @ cheergerm November 13, 2017 at 2:42 PM - Reply

    Delish Mimi! Where are you are on your travels now?

    • chef mimi November 13, 2017 at 10:45 PM - Reply

      We have been touring New Zealand. Beautiful countryside! Just got to Queenstown this morning.

      • Lisa @ cheergerm November 14, 2017 at 4:01 AM

        Say hi to my homeland for me! I was born about an hours drive away from Queenstown. Enjoy!

  9. Kiki November 13, 2017 at 2:46 PM - Reply

    I love Halloumi but have never seen goat Halloumi hear. Need to keep an eye out for it because your pancakes look and sound delicious.

    • chef mimi November 13, 2017 at 10:44 PM - Reply

      I was so shocked I found it in a nearby city! We don’t have cheese shops anywhere that I know of in all of Oklahoma. My grocery store tries, but usually I have to return them because they’re bad.

  10. chefkreso November 13, 2017 at 2:51 PM - Reply

    These pancakes look really flavourful, with a tasty dip they’d be perfect! :)

  11. Laura @ Feast Wisely November 13, 2017 at 3:30 PM - Reply

    Love that you use goats cheese in this recipe Chef Mimi – oh and I hope Lizard Island was fun!

    • chef mimi November 13, 2017 at 10:42 PM - Reply

      OMG it was! We just got to Queenstown now and then back home in a few days. It was a great few weeks!

  12. Anshu Agarwal November 13, 2017 at 4:20 PM - Reply

    These are looking so delicious..Awesome share !!

  13. cookingwithauntjuju.com November 13, 2017 at 4:40 PM - Reply

    I love potato pancakes/latkes and only added cheese as an option in one of my recipes. Halloumi cheese sounds wonderful and I could eat them alone with a salad :)

  14. marymtf November 13, 2017 at 6:36 PM - Reply

    Mimi, when I grate potatoes, I have to squeeze all the excess liquid out or pancakes fall apart. Do you do that too?

    • chef mimi November 13, 2017 at 10:41 PM - Reply

      No, I don’t. Even when I make hash browns they don’t fall apart. Do you use Russet?

      • marymtf November 13, 2017 at 11:53 PM

        I use whatever is available, Mimi.

  15. dishinwithdidi November 14, 2017 at 4:35 AM - Reply

    I like you Mimi do not require meat at every meal. These look and sound above delicious! Mind you, you had me at Halloumi and potatoes…

    • chef mimi November 14, 2017 at 12:45 PM - Reply

      They turned out so good! Definitely my kind of meal!

  16. sallybr November 14, 2017 at 10:44 AM - Reply

    I just wish Halloumi was not so expensive! I love it, love it, love it, but…. wow, it’s really pricey

    • chef mimi November 14, 2017 at 12:45 PM - Reply

      True. But I really don’t look at prices when I buy cheese. Priorities.

  17. Linda Duffin November 14, 2017 at 12:13 PM - Reply

    I’d eat those straight out of the pan, too! Delicious, and now I’m feeling hungry …

    • chef mimi November 14, 2017 at 12:42 PM - Reply

      After they cool down a bit, of course!

  18. Cocoa & Lavender November 17, 2017 at 3:44 AM - Reply

    Where did you find the goat halloumi? These look fantastic, Mimi.

    • chef mimi November 17, 2017 at 6:49 PM - Reply

      At a store called Uptown Grocer – there at least 2 in Oklahoma.

  19. Elaine @ foodbod November 17, 2017 at 11:31 AM - Reply

    They look fab! And goat halloumi sounds good!

    • chef mimi November 17, 2017 at 6:48 PM - Reply

      It was just like you’d expect it – fabulous!

  20. Jeff the Chef November 23, 2017 at 6:28 AM - Reply

    I love potato pancakes. My grandmother used to make them. After seeing your delicious-looking pictures, I immediately thought, “Pass me the sour cream!” But with cheese already in them, maybe not?

    • chef mimi November 23, 2017 at 2:20 PM - Reply

      Nah, sour cream is great with all varieties of potato pancakes!

  21. Kay November 23, 2017 at 12:03 PM - Reply

    I love to make very potato-y potato pancakes! I love the idea of goat houlemi as well. I’m not really sure where I could actually buy it- but I’d love to make this if I could find it!

    • chef mimi November 23, 2017 at 2:19 PM - Reply

      You could use regular Halloumi, but I do love the goatiness!

  22. chezlerevefrancais December 3, 2017 at 8:32 AM - Reply

    Halloumi is one of my favourites but it’s elusive here in the country. I always get guests to bring it out and this dish sounds delicious!

    • chef mimi December 3, 2017 at 10:49 AM - Reply

      Oh that’s too bad! It definitely has a place in the world of cheeses!

  23. CakePants December 13, 2017 at 8:44 AM - Reply

    What a great idea to include halloumi in potato pancakes! I bet it adds tons of flavor. Potatoes + cheese = pretty much my favorite thing ever :)

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