Labneh~ A Creamy Yogurt Cheese

Author Notes

Labneh is a fresh Middle Eastern yogurt cheese made from cow’s milk. Labneh, a word derived from the word laban which means white or milk.

Labneh is a delicious strained yogurt cheese, is yogurt which has been strained in a cloth or cheese cloth made of muslin, to remove the whey, giving a consistency between that of yogurt and cheese, while preserving yogurt’s distinctive sour taste.

Strained yogurt is a traditional food in the Middle East and South Asia, where it is often used in cooking, as it is high enough in fat not to curdle at higher temperatures. It is used in both cooked and raw, savory and sweet dishes.

In Lebanon & Syria, people eat this fresh cheese on a daily basis. Labneh can be eaten plain or you can add many different flavors to it like dried mint, sumac, olives, parsely & extra virgin olive oil. It is also used in salads like a yogurt tarragon & cucumber salad. Labneh is also used in soups, which gives soup a creamy tangy taste.

Labneh makes a great appetizer, serve it with Pita bread, crackers or on spread it on a crostini bread drizzled with good extra virgin olive oil. Not to mention its healthy and nutritious! —onetribegourmet