Best Labneh Recipes

LABNEH (LEBANESE CREAM CHEESE)

Steps:

• Line a large colander with a cheesecloth. Stir salt into the yogurt, and pour the yogurt into the cheesecloth. Set the colander in the sink or bowl to catch the liquid that drains off. Leave to drain for 24 hours.
• After draining for the 24 hours, transfer the resulting cheese to a bowl. Stir in the olive oil. Store in a covered container in the refrigerator.

LABNEH (LEBANESE YOGURT)

Steps:

• Mix Greek yogurt, olive oil, mint, dill, and kosher salt together in a bowl. Cover and refrigerate up to 12 hours.

BEET DIP WITH LABNEH

Steps:

• Put the beets, whole walnuts, lemon juice, pomegranate molasses, chile flakes, garlic and salt into a food processor or blender. Purée on high until beets and nuts are finely chopped. Scrape down the sides, and blend again, until the mixture gets slightly smoother. Add the olive oil, and blend again, scraping down the sides, until mixture forms a coarse purée. Taste, and adjust seasoning with salt, pepper and additional lemon juice, if desired.
• Spoon labneh into a bowl, smoothing it, then heap the beet dip on top. Top with a generous drizzle of olive oil and chopped walnuts; grate some lemon zest on top. Serve with pita and cucumbers for dipping.

LEMON-LABNEH POSSETS WITH MERINGUE AND BURNT LEMON POWDER

Steps:

• Make the labneh: Add yogurt and salt to a bowl and mix well to combine. Line a medium sieve with a piece of cheesecloth or a clean tea towel with plenty of overhang. Add yogurt, and pull the overhang up and over the yogurt to encase it. Set the sieve over a bowl and place a weight on top. (A couple of cans - or tins - will do.) Refrigerate for 24 to 48 hours. When ready, discard the liquid collected and store the labneh in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. (You should have about 9 ounces/250 grams of labneh.) If using store-bought labneh, skip this step.
• Measure out a scant 1/2 cup (about 7 ounces/200 grams) of labneh for the possets, and reserve the rest for breakfast or to spread onto toast.
• Prepare the possets: Combine lemon zest, juice and sugar in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally to dissolve sugar. Set aside once the sugar has dissolved. In a separate medium saucepan, heat heavy cream (double cream) over medium until it just gently starts to bubble, 7 to 10 minutes. Off the heat, pour all the cream into the lemon mixture and whisk until combined, then whisk in labneh until smooth. Strain mixture through a fine-mesh sieve set over a jug with a spout. Divide mixture across 8 glasses. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or overnight if you're getting ahead.
• Prepare the meringue: Heat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit/180 degrees Celsius. Spread sugar onto a baking sheet (baking tray) and heat for 10 minutes, until very hot but not melted at all. A couple of minutes before it's ready, add egg whites and cream of tartar to a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment (or alternatively, use an electric hand mixer), and beat on medium until frothy, about 1 minute. Remove sugar from oven and turn down the temperature to 250 degrees Fahrenheit/120 degrees Celsius. Turn mixer speed to low and slowly stream in the warm sugar until it's all incorporated. Turn the speed back up to high, and beat until glossy and stiff peaks form, another 5 to 6 minutes. Line a large (roughly 16-by-12-inch/40-by-30-centimeter) baking sheet (baking tray) with parchment paper and use a spatula to thinly spread the mixture onto the lined tray, so it's about 14 by 10 inches/35 by 25 centimeters. Bake for 80 to 90 minutes, until completely dried out. Set aside to cool, about 30 minutes, then roughly break apart into random shards.
• Prepare the burnt lemon powder: Turn oven up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit/240 degrees Celsius. Use a small, sharp knife to cut the peel off the lemons in long strips. (Don't worry if you get some of the pith.) You want about 1 ounce/30 grams in total. Transfer strips to a small, parchment-lined baking sheet (baking tray). Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, until completely dry and almost burned. (They'll shrivel significantly.) Transfer to a pestle and mortar to finely grind, then pass through a sieve, to catch any large pieces. (Discard these.) You should be left with about 1 1/2 teaspoons.
• Segment the lemons: Using the small, sharp knife, trim off any excess peel, then cut between the membranes to release the segments. Roughly chop each segment into 2 to 3 pieces. (Use them all if you like things a little sharp, or keep any extra in the fridge for a vinaigrette or salsa verde.)
• To serve, top possets with lemon segments, a sprinkling of burnt lemon powder and a few meringue shards, serving any extra meringue to dip alongside.

BRUSSELS SPROUTS WITH PICKLED SHALLOTS AND LABNEH

Steps:

• Make the pickled shallots: In a small jar or bowl, mix the vinegar, sugar, black pepper and salt. Stir until the sugar and salt are completely dissolved. Add the shallots and cover the jar with a lid or plastic wrap. Let sit for 30 minutes at room temperature.
• Prepare the brussels sprouts: Heat the oven to 400 degrees. Trim the brussels sprouts, discarding any stalks or damaged leaves. Halve the sprouts lengthwise, and toss with 2 tablespoons oil. Season with salt to taste and 1 teaspoon black pepper. Spread them out in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet or roasting pan. Roast for 22 to 30 minutes, until golden brown, slightly charred in some spots and a little crispy.
• As brussels sprouts cook, prepare the labneh: In a medium bowl, mix the labneh with the garlic and black pepper, then taste and season with salt.
• Spread the labneh on a serving dish or plate, and spoon the sprouts over. Drain and discard the liquid from the pickled shallots, and place them on top of the sprouts. Drizzle with the date syrup and 1 to 2 tablespoons olive oil. Serve immediately.

ROASTED NECTARINES WITH LABNEH, HERBS, AND HONEY

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425°. Line a large baking tray with baking paper.
• Place the nectarine halves cut side up on the prepared tray, then drizzle each with a little olive oil and season generously with pepper. Bake for 25-30 minutes until the edges of the fruit are browned and the flesh is cooked through and tender. Remove from the oven and leave to cool.
• Select a large platter and spread the labneh or strained Greek yogurt all over the surface, then arrange the roasted nectarines on top. Drizzle with a little olive oil, season with a little salt and sprinkle over the toasted flaked almonds, followed by the oregano and pul biber. Drizzle all over with the honey and, finally, scatter over the mint ribbons. Take to the table to serve.

CREAMY COLD CUCUMBER SOUP WITH LABNEH

Steps:

• Combine cucumber, almond milk, almonds, 1/2 cup mint leaves, garlic, salt, and pepper in a blender. Blend until smooth.
• Divide soup among 3 bowls. Add 1 tablespoon labneh to the middle. Garnish each bowl with 1 tablespoon olive oil and a few mint leaves.

GREEK YOGURT LABNEH

Steps:

• Line a large sieve with cheesecloth; set over a medium deep bowl. Place yogurt in sieve. Gather edges of cheesecloth to cover yogurt. Place in refrigerator and let drain for 2-3 days.
• Gently squeeze out any excess liquid; discard liquid in bowl (yogurt will be very thick and resemble soft goat cheese). Roll yogurt into 3/4" balls. Place in an 8-ounce glass jar.
• Whisk oil, herbs, and lemon zest in a small bowl to combine. Season with salt and pepper. Pour over yogurt in jar. Cover; place in refrigerator and let marinate for at least 8 hours and up to 2 weeks.

LABNEH CHEESE

Steps:

• For the labneh: stir the salt into the yogurt, then transfer the mixture to a cheesecloth-lined strainer set over a bowl. Gather the ends of the cheesecloth to shape the yogurt into a ball and give it a gentle squeeze. Tie the ends of the cheesecloth into a knot. Tie a few inches of twine to the cheesecloth and suspend it from a small rod or chopstick set over a tall container (make sure the cheesecloth pouch is a few inches above the bottom of the container).
• Place the entire container in the refrigerator to drain. For firm labneh cheese that can be shaped into balls, let sit overnight. (For creamy, softer labneh let it sit only 6 to 8 hours.)
• For the seed and herb coating: after the labneh has drained overnight, mix the sesame seeds, sumac, dried thyme, dried mint, nigella seeds and red pepper flakes together in a shallow dish.
• Oil your hands and shape the cheese into 2 tablespoon-sized balls. Roll each ball in the spice mixture to coat completely and place in a 32-ounce airtight container. Cover the cheese with 2 cups olive oil and refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.
• Serve with bread, green olives, pickled cucumber, mint leaves, zaatar and red tea.

FRIED CAULIFLOWER WITH TAHINI, LABNEH, BABA GHANOUSH

Steps:

• For the labneh: Place the yogurt in a couple layers of cheesecloth and tie with butcher's twine, creating a ball. Tie the cheesecloth to a spoon or utensil over a bowl to let any excess liquid drain. Let sit in the refrigerator overnight.
• For the tahini dipper: Preheat the oil in a deep-fryer to 375 degrees F. Preheat your oven to 475 degrees F.
• Combine the tahini, lemon juice, coriander and cumin with 1/3 cup water in a food processor and blend. Season to taste with salt.
• For the labneh: In a small bowl, combine the oil, parsley, sesame seeds, sumac, thyme and lemon zest, creating your homemade "zaatar" oil.
• Place the labneh in a pretty bowl, then create a divot in the middle. Spoon the zaatar oil in the divot and over the top.
• For the baba ghanoush: Place the eggplants on a baking sheet and roast, turning every 5 minutes, until the skin is blackened and all sides are soft, about 15 minutes. Place in a bowl until cool enough to handle. Cut off the tops and cut the eggplants in half. Spoon out the flesh, separating it from the burnt skin.
• In a food processor, combine the eggplant, tahini, olive oil, pomegranate molasses, sumac and lemon juice until smooth (reserve the zest for the cauliflower). Season to taste with salt.
• For the cauliflower: Fry the cauliflower until brown and crispy, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Toss in a bowl with the ras el hanout, turmeric, parsley, lemon zest and salt.
• Serve with the tahini dipper, baba ghanoush, labneh and pita chips.

LABNEH DIP WITH SIZZLED SCALLIONS AND CHILE

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil, scallions, red-pepper flakes and cilantro in a small pot over medium-low heat. Cook, swirling occasionally, until the scallions and red-pepper flakes start to visually and audibly sizzle and frizzle and turn the oil a bright, fiery orange. Remove from the heat, and let cool enough to taste without burning your mouth, then season with salt and pepper.
• Combine the labneh and lemon juice in a medium bowl, and season with salt and pepper. Spoon into a bowl and swirl in the sizzled scallion mixture. Top with extra cilantro, if you like.

HOW TO MAKE LABNEH (CREAMY YOGURT CHEESE)

Steps:

• In a large bowl, mix the yogurt and the salt. Taste and adjust the seasoning (the flavors will intensify once the whey is separated form the yogurt).
• Line a colander with several layers of cheesecloth and place it over a deep bowl. Transfer the yogurt to the colander, fold the cheese cloth over it, and cover with an inverted plate. Place the bowl in the refrigerator for a minimum of 8 hours, or better, overnight. The longer you leave it the thicker it will become.
• To serve, spoon some of the labneh into a serving bowl, top with toasted pine nuts, za'atar (or your favorite dried herb mixture) and drizzle liberally with extra virgin olive oil. Serve with toasted pita bread and/or sliced veggies.

STRAWBERRY CHEESECAKE WITH LABNEH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a 9-inch springform pan with parchment paper.
• Mix graham cracker crumbs and 2 tablespoons sugar together in a bowl. Mix in melted butter until well combined. Press into the bottom of the prepared pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven until firm, about 8 minutes. Remove and let cool. Reduce oven temperature to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C).
• Beat labneh in a large bowl with an electric mixer on low speed until fluffy. Add 1 cup sugar gradually, beating until blended. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in vanilla extract. Pour batter over the cooled crust.
• Cut a single sheet of aluminum foil large enough to surround all sides of the springform pan. Wrap the pan carefully, ensuring all sides are tightly covered. Place the wrapped pan in a deep baking pan; add enough hot water to come halfway up the sides of the pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 1 hour. Turn off the oven and let the cheesecake settle for 30 minutes, with the door closed. Open the oven door partially and let the cheesecake cool inside for 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and run a knife around the edges. Let cool completely, about 30 minutes. Refrigerate until firm, 8 hours to overnight.
• Combine strawberries and 1/3 cup sugar in a blender; blend until smooth.
• Bring strawberry mixture to a simmer in a saucepan over low heat; cook and stir for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool. Garnish cheesecake with the sauce.

LABNEH WA ZA'ATAR (SPICED YOGURT CHEESE)

Steps:

• Pour 2 cups of yogurt into a white flour sack towel or a few layers of cheese cloth, and squeeze out the whey until you cannot squeeze out any more.
• Place in a strainer over a bowl and refrigerate for about 24 hours squeezing out the whey every six hours or so until it forms a ball and is the consistency of cream cheese.
• Toast the sesame seeds in a small frying pan just until they turn golden; remove from heat.
• Mix together the za'atar spices and toasted sesame seeds in a shallow bowl.
• Divide the cheese into 3 sections and roll each into a ball.
• Roll cheese balls one by one in the spices.
• Drizzle with olive oil and garnish with fresh mint. Enjoy!

LABNEH DIP WITH CARAMELIZED ONIONS AND FENNEL

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, heat 2 tablespoons oil over medium. Add onions, fennel, thyme, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring often, until brown, about 45 minutes. (If necessary, add a splash of water to keep onions from sticking.) Add sherry and Worcestershire; cook until evaporated, about 5 minutes. Let cool completely.
• Stir together labneh, garlic, and 1 teaspoon salt. Spread into a bowl or plate; top with onion mixture. Drizzle with remaining 1 tablespoon oil, sprinkle with more thyme, and serve with crackers and crudités.

CONFIT OF ONIONS WITH LABNEH SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat oil in nonstick frying pan, and add onions. Reduce heat to low, and cook very slowly, adding a little water if necessary, until onions become golden brown. This may take as long as 30 minutes. The longer you cook, the more flavor in your confit.
• Remove onions to a bowl, and add pomegranate concentrate if desired, mixing well.
• Place labneh in another bowl. Add coriander and salt and pepper to taste. Place dollop of labneh on each latke, and top it with the confit of onions topped with a fresh sprig of cilantro.

LEBANESE GRILLED EGGPLANT WITH LABNEH

Steps:

• 1. In a small bowl, combine the labneh and garlic. Set aside for the flavors to meld.
• 2. Turn your grill to medium high and oil the grate.
• 3. Combine the 1/4 cup olive oil and the za'atar in a small bowl. Add salt and pepper to taste. Brush both sides of the eggplant slices with the oil mixture. Grill the eggplant until it is tender and slightly charred in spots, turning often. This will take about 8-10 minutes depending on your grill. When done, remove from grill and set aside.
• 4. Meanwhile, combine the lemon slices and 1 tablespoon olive oil in a small bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Using a veggie grill pan, grill the lemon on the bbq until the slices are slightly charred, turning frequently. When done, set aside on a small plate.
• 5. While the eggplant and lemons are grilling, place the sliced onions in a bowl of water. When the grilling is done, drain the onions and pat dry with paper towels.
• 6. Place the the onions, mint, sherry and 1 tablespoon olive oil in a medium bowl. Stir to combine. Add the lemons and gently toss to combine.
• 7. To assemble: Spoon the garlicky labneh over a serving platter. Arrange the eggplant slices on top. Then layer the onion/lemon mixture over the eggplant. The dish should be served slightly warm or at room temperature.

ROASTED SPICED CARROTS & LABNEH

Steps:

• Spoon the natural yogurt into the middle of a double layer of muslin, then tie the ends at the top using kitchen string. Hang the muslin sack over the tap and leave to drain into the sink overnight.
• The next day, tip the labneh into a bowl and stir in ½ tsp fine sea salt and most of the dill.
• Heat the oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 8. Toss the carrots, olive oil, za'atar and coriander seeds together on a baking sheet and arrange in a single layer. Roast for 15-20 mins, or until tender. Season.
• Spread the labneh over a serving plate and top with the carrots. Scatter with the rest of the dill, then drizzle with extra virgin olive oil and sprinkle over some chilli flakes, if using. Serve with crusty bread.

LABNEH

Steps:

• 1. Line a large bowl with a piece of cheesecloth or other fine cloth. In another bowl, mix the yogurt and salt well. Transfer the yogurt to the cheesecloth, pick up the edges of the cloth, and tie them together well to form a bundle. hang this over your sink or over a large bowl and leave for 48 hours. By this time the yogurt will have lost most of its liquid and be ready to use as a spread.
• 2. To go the whole hog, leave it hanging for a day longer. Remove the cheese from the cloth and place in a sealed container in the fridge. Once it is thoroughly chilled, preferably after 24 hours hours, roll the cheese into balls, somewhere between the size of an olive and a walnut.
• 3. Take a sterilized jar about 2 1/2 cups / 600 ml in capacity. Pour some of the oil inside and gently lay the balls in the oil. Add some more oil and continue with the balls until all the cheese is in the jar and immersed in oil. Seal the jar and keep until needed.
• 4. Before serving, scatter the mint and pepper on a flat plate and roll the balls in it.

LAMB KOFTA WITH LABNEH DIP

Steps:

• Make the meatballs: Mix the lamb and beef with the onion, garlic, breadcrumbs, 1/4 cup water, the parsley, mint, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, the paprika, cumin, sumac, allspice and a few grinds of pepper until just combined. Form into 1 1/2-inch meatballs (about 20).
• Heat the olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the meatballs and cook, turning, until browned and cooked through, 12 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make the dip: Mix the labneh with the lemon juice in a bowl; season with salt. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with sumac. Transfer the meatballs to a platter and sprinkle with mint. Serve with the dip.