Labneh (Middle Eastern Yogurt Cheese)
Labneh is a rich, creamy cheese from the Middle East, made by straining yogurt until it's thick and tangy. Serve this lebneh recipe as a dip with baked pita chips or roll in zaatar and store in olive oil to extend its shelf life!
Servings: 6 Servings
Calories: 121kcal
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 cups Greek yogurt (plain, full-fat)
- 1 teaspoon za'atar spice
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Labneh Balls
- ¼ cup za'atar spice
- ½ cup olive oil
Optional Add-Ins
- 1 tablespoon chives (chopped)
- 2 teaspoon dried basil (2 tablespoon fresh)
- 2 cloves garlic (crushed)
- 1 medium serrano pepper (minced)
Instructions
- Place a white dish towel into a strainer and spoon yogurt into it. Tie the corners to make a bundle and hang from a faucet so the whey can drain. Or put the bundle in a strainer with a heavy object on top of it (over a deep bowl to catch the whey). This process can take a few hours, so I like to leave it overnight.
- Once the yogurt reaches your desired consistency, transfer to a container and add optional ingredients or leave it as is. Another option is to form the labneh into balls, then roll them in zaatar seasoning and store in a jar of olive oil to extend the shelf life.
Mix-Ins
- Add chopped chives, crushed garlic, and your favorite dried or fresh herbs. If you can handle the heat, add 1 serrano, and stir ingredients to combine. Season with salt, if needed.
Notes
- Nutrition information is for labneh drizzled with 1 tablespoon olive oil.
- Want labneh thick enough to roll into balls? Let it strain longer in the fridge, up to 48 hours.
- Double-layer the cheesecloth. This helps catch all the fine curds and keeps the yogurt from leaking.
- Save the whey! It's packed with protein and can be used in smoothies, bread baking, or even soups. You can even give it to your chickens; they love it!
- Another way to enjoy labneh balls is to leave them plain and drizzle them with honey.
Nutrition
Serving: 1Serving | Calories: 121kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 21mg | Sodium: 75mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 8g
