Labne is my favorite ingredient ever. It’s smooth, creamy, salty, and not to mention, lower in fat than any cream cheese you will find. Every time I put it out when we have friends over, someone always asks, “Ooooooh, what is this?” I use it a lot throughout my recipes, so if you can’t seem to find it in the grocery store, this is a really easy way to make it. It should be thick and spreadable. Normally this spread is served simply on a plate with olive oil and za’atar. You can feel free to mix in chopped green olives for added texture and flavor. I do that often.
Ingredients
1 lb (454 g) plain yogurt
1 tsp kosher salt
Instructions
Makes about 2 cups (500 G)
Place a strainer over a large bowl and line it with 4 layers of cheesecloth. Mix the yogurt and salt together and pour onto the cheesecloth. Allow to drain in the fridge for at least 8 hours or longer.
It will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Plate the labane, drizzle with olive oil and season with za’atar. Alternatively, mix with chopped green olives.
Edible Communities originally published this excerpt from Modern Israeli Cooking: 100 New Recipes for Traditional Classics by Danielle Oron with Page Street Publishing.
