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Labneh

Thick, strained yogurt often served with olive oil and za'atar.

1440 minutes
Serves 4
Breakfast/Dip

Instructions

  1. 1

    In a large mixing bowl, gently stir the kosher salt into the plain whole-milk yogurt until it is completely dissolved.

  2. 2

    Line a fine-mesh strainer or a colander with 3 to 4 layers of cheesecloth (or a clean, thin cotton kitchen towel). Place the strainer over a deep bowl to catch the whey.

  3. 3

    Pour the salted yogurt into the center of the cheesecloth. Gather the corners of the cloth and tie them into a tight knot.

  4. 4

    Place the bowl and strainer in the refrigerator and let it drain undisturbed for 12 hours for a soft dip consistency, or 24 hours for a thick, cream cheese-like consistency.

  5. 5

    Once the desired thickness is reached, unwrap the labneh and discard the collected whey (or save it for baking).

  6. 6

    Swoosh the labneh onto a serving plate using the back of a spoon to create deep swirls. Drizzle generously with the extra virgin olive oil, sprinkle with za'atar or dried mint, and serve with fresh vegetables and pita.

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