fbpx

Homemade Yogurt Cheese

When I began this blog, one of the first recipes I shared with everyone was for homemade yogurt. If you have a yogurt maker, the recipe is ideal for going beyond yogurt to making yogurt cheese, commonly known as labne in the Middle East. If you don’t want to make it yourself,  just start out with a good quality store-bought yogurt.

Labneh is wonderful as a spread or dip any time of day, even breakfast. It’s smooth and thick, a bit tart and most commonly topped with olive oil and zattar {thyme & oregano}. I love it with pita bread and olives, but at times I even use it on tacos when I don’t have sour cream- my kind of fusion food.

Nowadays labneh is normally bought commercially, but it’s so easy to make yourself at home. All you need is yogurt to start out and then top with what you like best, or nothing at all. Here’s my no-fuss way of making it.

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Place a bowl to fit underneath a colander. This will catch the liquids coming from the yogurt when it drains.
  2. Line the colander with cheesecloth or a thin cotton towel, then add the yogurt.
  3. Cover the yogurt with the ends of the cloth or towel. Place a dish or bowl on top to cover it completely. Place in the fridge overnight or for about 6-8 hours. It should thicken considerably and you should see liquids in the bowl underneath the colander. The towel or cloth should also be wet.
  4. Release the cheese from the cheesecloth or towel and place in a bowl or storage container until ready to use.
  5. To serve, drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with ground oregano or other herbs and spices you enjoy. Scoop with pita bread, olives or even dates for a healthy, delicious treat.

My Fave Yogurts

Stonyfield Yogurts

Cultural Revolution Organic Yogurts

This post may contain affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something I may earn a commission. MyHalalKitchen.com is a participant in the Amazon Services, LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Please see my affiliates disclosure page for more detailed information about the companies with who I am affiliated. 

Related Articles

Responses

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  1. Salam Alaykum
    When I click on the link for homemade yogurt, it says that I do not have permission to view drafts. Not sure if anyone else has this problem.

    P.S The homemade cheese looks delicious!

  2. I like to eat strained yoghurt at home too. The thickness you get after straining it, is absolutely lovely to eat! My 3 year old daughter and I love to eat it with fresh fruit and a drizzle of honey!

  3. I like this labneh very much and have it always in my fridge. In a market I found plain yoghurt with 10% of fat. This is the best. Before draining I add a bit of salt. Fundamental I add chopped garlic. Than fresh mint, parsley or chivers. (either – or, not all together).

  4. Salam allaikum,ilove to eat labneh ii remember when i was in middle east i used to eat it a lot but now not any more because here in phillipines its hard to find a good yoghurt maybe you can give me the recipe how to make yoghurt?thanks a lot

Get the latest updates & lots of FREE goodies!

Subscribe To My Quick Bites Newsletter

By signing up, you’ll be notified when new recipes and other tasty treats are cooked up in my kitchen!