6 Delicious Ways to Love Labneh, the Silky Lebanese Cheese (2024)

Labneh is a silky, creamy Lebanese cheese that goes with just about all of your favorite Mediterranean-inspired cuisine. You can easily make your own labneh from just a few simple ingredients: Greek yogurt, olive oil, and a couple pinches of salt. But whether you've made your own or bought it from the market, you'll love labneh's silky texture, and bright, tart flavors — and you'll want to enjoy it on absolutely everything. Here are a few places to start:

1. Spread it on toast for a zingy morning treat. Add mashed avocado and a sprinkle of flake salt for a breakfast with great taste and satisfaction staying power.

2. Connect with labneh's Middle Eastern origins by using it to top warmed pita bread, drizzling it with good-quality olive oil and dusting with a Lebanese spice blend.

3. Make a labneh sandwich, adding leftover grilled meat or fish, mint leaves, chopped olives and a shake or two of za'atar, a spice blend made from thyme, sesame seeds, and ground sumac powder.

4. Mound finished labneh in a bowl, then use the back of a spoon to make a swirl pattern on top. Pour on a generous splash of good-quality olive oil and add a sprinkling of Dukkah, the spice blend made with hazelnuts, sesame seeds, coriander, and cumin. Dip with raw veggies, crackers, or pita bread toasts.

5. Let the yogurt drain until it's fairly firm, then roll into little balls, sprinkle with chopped herbs. Arrange on a platter and you've got a standout appetizer, called "labneh korat" or "labneh makbouseh" in Lebanese (If you're planning on serving these at a party, it's a good rule of thumb that each quart of yogurt will produce about six ounces of labneh).

6. Store labneh balls in a mason jar, cover them with olive oil, add a few herbs, and you're ready to go with an impressive hostess gift.

Don't miss our collection of Lebanese Recipes.

Related:

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• How to Turn Greek Yogurt into Labneh
• Chef John's Best Middle Eastern Recipes