homemade labneh
labneh is a soft cheese made by straining yogurt to remove the whey. it has a thick, spreadable texture similar to soft goat cheese or cream cheese, and thanks to its yogurt base, its flavor is rich and tangy. you can dot it onto salads, dollop it onto pizza, slather it onto sandwiches, and more!
ingredients
1 cup whole milk greek yogurt
heaping 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
toppings & serving options
extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling
za'atar, crushed pistachios, lemon zest, and/or red pepper flakes
fresh mint leaves
crisp veggies, pita, or crackers
instructions
in a small bowl, mix together the yogurt and salt.
scoop the mixture onto a layer of cheesecloth (or 2 layers, depending on the thickness of your yogurt). bring the edges of the cheesecloth together, tie it around a wooden spoon, and place the spoon across the top of a medium bowl so that the labneh hangs in the center but does not touch the bottom of the bowl. chill overnight.
remove the labneh from the cheese cloth. transfer to bowl and serve as a spread with desired toppings and veggies, pita, or crackers for dipping. it can also be dolloped, like soft goat cheese, onto salads, pizza, or flatbread.