Homemade labne is delicious, so much better than store bought and easy to make! You can make it with homemade yogurt or store bought. I do recommend using 5% or 6% milk fat yogurt such as Balkan yogurt, it works best.
It’s tomato season so this is the perfect salad to make! It’s healthy and delicious, you can make it as a side or it can be your lunch with some fresh bread and olives.
Labne is similar to the Albanian gjize, where the yogurt is cooked down and strained, becomes a sour cheese spread, often used in burek. Labne is easier to make as you skip the cooking part!
I was first introduced by it from my Lebanese friends, their moms always had a cheese cloth hanging from the kitchen sink, and one day I asked what they are making and they said labne.
Over the years I thought well there needs to a be a easier way cuz I don’t like having to clean the cheese cloth haha!
To make labne, you will need thick yogurt such as Balkan style yogurt, a strainer, a deep bowl and 2 coffee filters.
You can make as little or as much as you want. You can use 750 grams worth of yogurt or you can use half the amount. If I want more labne I will use the whole container, but if I just want enough for something like this than I use half the amount.
You can add salt to the yogurt for more flavour if you desire.
Place strainer over bowl, line with coffee filters and add yogurt on top of the filter. Refrigerate over night. Remove labne from the filter and strainer, drain the liquid.
Spread the labne on a plate or bowl and drizzle with extra virgin olive oil, serve within a few days.
It usually only last two days in my house. I nice way to serve labne is with fresh vegetables such as tomatoes and cucumbers.
I made this salad with tomatoes, cucumbers, radish and drizzled za’atar with olive oil on top. Simple, healthy and delicious! Try it yourself!
For the zaatar just pour some in a ramekin or a cup, and stir in olive oil until it becomes a loose paste.
If you are not familiar with za’atar it is a combination of dried thyme, sumac and sesame seeds. It’s tangy and combined with olive oil makes a delicious dip or dressing or anything really!
I first fell in love with it when I was a kid, our Palestinian neighbours introduced us to it, and the addiction began! haha
Fabulous! I just love this!