Christmas Sides & Snacks

Golden Halloumi and Tomato Christmas Skewers

Crispy golden halloumi cubes paired with fresh cherry tomatoes and basil leaves on festive skewers. A simple yet impressive vegetarian appetiser that's perfect for Christmas gatherings.

By Ricky Robinson Updated December 16, 2025

These festive skewers are one of those party foods that look impressive but take very little effort to put together. The halloumi is fried in a little garlic oil until it develops a beautiful golden crust on the outside while staying soft and slightly squeaky on the inside. Paired with sweet cherry tomatoes and fresh basil, the combination is simple but really works.

Frying halloumi gives it a lovely golden colour and crispy texture, whilst keeping the inside perfectly soft and melty.

The key is cutting everything into even pieces so each skewer looks neat and uniform. You want about 20 cubes from a 250g block of halloumi, which works out nicely with 20 cherry tomatoes cut in half and 20 basil leaves. The assembly is straightforward: half a tomato, a basil leaf, a cube of golden halloumi, and top with the other tomato half. The red and green colours make these perfect for Christmas, and they can be assembled ahead of time and kept in the fridge until you are ready to serve.

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Golden Halloumi and Tomato Christmas Skewers

What makes these skewers particularly good for entertaining is that they can sit at room temperature for a while without losing their appeal. The halloumi does not need to be piping hot to taste good, and actually, letting it cool slightly after frying makes it easier to handle when threading onto the skewers. The chilli jam on the side adds a sweet heat that complements the salty cheese beautifully.

You will want to use a good quality halloumi for this recipe, as cheaper versions can be quite rubbery. These skewers work well as part of a larger spread of party food, or you can serve them as a starter before a main meal. They are vegetarian-friendly, which is always handy when you are catering for a crowd at Christmas. Drizzle with olive oil just before serving to keep them looking fresh and glossy.

Golden Halloumi and Tomato Christmas Skewers

Basil Halloumi Tomato
Total Time 20 min
Servings 20 skewers
Calories 65 cal
Protein 4g

Ingredients

Equipment Needed

  • Knife
  • Frying Pan
  • Chopping Board
  • Serving Platter

Instructions

  1. 1
    Cut the halloumi into 20 even cubes and the cherry tomatoes in half.
  2. 2
    Heat a little garlic olive oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat and fry the halloumi cubes for about 1 minute on each side until golden brown. Remove from the heat and set aside.
  3. 3
    To assemble each skewer, thread on half a cherry tomato, followed by a fresh basil leaf, a golden halloumi cube, and top with the other half of the cherry tomato.
  4. 4
    Repeat until all 20 skewers are assembled.
  5. 5
    Arrange the skewers on a serving platter and drizzle over olive oil.
  6. 6
    Serve with chilli jam on the side.

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Ricky Robinson - Recipe Author
Ricky Robinson

Home cook sharing delicious recipes with a focus on flavour and simplicity.

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Serving Suggestions

Serve these skewers on a large platter with the chilli jam in a small bowl for dipping. They pair beautifully with a crisp white wine or festive cocktails at Christmas parties.

Variations

For a different flavour profile, try drizzling the assembled skewers with balsamic glaze instead of olive oil. You can also add a slice of cucumber between the halloumi and tomato for extra freshness, or swap the basil for fresh mint leaves.

Golden Halloumi and Tomato Christmas Skewers

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