First foods database
🧀 Halloumi for babies: when and how to serve it
Can babies eat halloumi? Yes, but it is one of the saltiest cheeses, so it is best kept as an occasional food from about 9 months, in small amounts. Most UK halloumi is pasteurised, and its squeaky, firm texture holds its shape when cooked.
Good source of: Calcium, Protein, Vitamin A
How to serve halloumi by age
6 to 9 months
Halloumi is very salty, so it is easier to wait until nearer 9 months. If you offer it earlier, soak slices in cold water for 30 minutes, grill until soft, then grate a teaspoon into mashed vegetables.
9 to 12 months
Soak, then grill or dry-fry until golden and soft. Cut into thin strips the length of an adult finger to hold and gnaw, or small pieces once baby has a pincer grip. Two or three strips is plenty.
12 months and up
Offer thin cooked slices or small cubes in wraps, with roasted peppers and courgette, or threaded onto vegetable skewers (skewer removed before serving). Keep it as a once or twice a week food rather than a daily cheese.
Choking safety
Cooked halloumi is firm and rubbery, and a large chunk can be hard to break down. For younger babies serve long thin strips or grate it; for older babies cut small pieces. Serve it warm, as it firms up and becomes chewier as it cools.
Gagging is common and noisy while babies learn to eat. Choking is usually silent. Always stay with your baby while they eat, sitting upright. How to help a choking baby (NHS).
Good to know
- Halloumi is high in salt; under 12 months babies need less than 1g salt a day, so keep portions small and occasional.
- Check it is pasteurised. It contains milk, a common allergen.
Introducing it as an allergen
It contains milk, one of the 14 major allergens. How to introduce milk
Easy ideas
- Grilled halloumi strips with roasted red pepper
- Halloumi, courgette and pea fritters
- Small cubes of halloumi with watermelon for toddlers
Goes well with
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Questions parents ask
Can babies eat halloumi?
Can babies eat halloumi? Yes, but it is one of the saltiest cheeses, so it is best kept as an occasional food from about 9 months, in small amounts. Most UK halloumi is pasteurised, and its squeaky, firm texture holds its shape when cooked.
Why is halloumi not recommended as an everyday cheese for babies?
It is stored in brine, so it carries a lot of salt. A small strip now and then is fine; milder cheeses such as mozzarella or ricotta suit everyday meals better.
Does soaking halloumi reduce the salt?
Soaking thin slices in cold water for 30 minutes or so removes some salt from the surface, but not all, so still keep the amount small.
Sources
- NHS Start for Life: Weaning
- NHS: Foods to avoid giving babies and young children
- NHS: Food allergies in babies and young children
- NHS: How to stop a child from choking
OBubba gives general information based on UK guidance. It is not medical advice and does not diagnose anything. Every baby is different. If your baby has a known allergy, severe eczema or a medical condition, speak to your doctor or health visitor before starting solids. Learn baby first aid, and in an emergency call your local emergency number (999 in the UK).