Levantine Labneh Cheese (Printable)

Creamy, tangy Middle Eastern dairy spread made by straining yogurt, served chilled with olive oil and spices.

# What You'll Need:

→ Dairy

01 - 4 cups full-fat plain yogurt (preferably Greek or strained)
02 - ½ teaspoon fine sea salt

→ Garnish

03 - 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
04 - 1 teaspoon dried mint or zaatar (optional)
05 - Pinch of Aleppo pepper or sumac (optional)

# Directions:

01 - In a medium bowl, stir the salt into the yogurt until thoroughly combined.
02 - Line a large sieve or colander with a double layer of cheesecloth or a clean thin kitchen towel. Position the sieve over a deep bowl to collect the whey.
03 - Spoon the salted yogurt into the lined sieve, then gather the cloth edges to cover the yogurt completely.
04 - Refrigerate and allow the yogurt to drain for 12 to 24 hours; strain for 12 hours for a soft, spreadable texture or up to 24 hours for a firmer consistency.
05 - Transfer the thickened labneh to a serving dish. Drizzle with olive oil and optionally sprinkle with dried mint, zaatar, or sumac.
06 - Serve chilled alongside warm pita bread, fresh vegetables, or as part of a mezze assortment.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It transforms ordinary yogurt into something that feels like a gift from a Damascus kitchen.
  • The hands-on time is barely ten minutes, then patience does the rest.
  • You can shape it, flavor it, drown it in olive oil and herbs, or keep it plain and perfect.
02 -
  • If your cheesecloth is too thin, the yogurt will seep through, double it up or use a flour sack towel instead.
  • Don't toss the whey, it's tangy and wonderful in smoothies, soups, or even as a brine for chicken.
  • If you want to roll labneh into balls, wait until it's very firm, then wet your hands lightly with olive oil so it doesn't stick.
03 -
  • The longer you strain, the thicker it gets, so taste and check texture around the 12-hour mark to decide if you want to keep going.
  • Use the best yogurt you can find, labneh is only as good as what you start with.
  • If you're in a hurry, a nut milk bag works faster than cheesecloth and you can hang it from a cabinet handle over a bowl.
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