Easy Labneh

Homemade labneh is easy and delicious. This tangy, creamy Middle Eastern yogurt cheese only needs two ingredients and can be used in many ways.

Labneh is often called “yogurt cheese” and is creamy like cream cheese with a tanginess like sour cream. It’s a Middle Eastern staple often enjoyed with pita bread.

You strain yogurt to make it but don’t think of it as thick yogurt. Labneh (sometimes spelled labaneh, lebnah, labne, or labni) has a delicious salty, tangy flavor different from plain or Greek yogurt.

How to Make Labneh

Our detailed recipe for making labneh is below, but I’ll walk you through the basic steps and a few extra tips here. To make labneh, you will need plain yogurt and salt (I use sea salt).

You will mix the salt into your yogurt and strain the two in cheesecloth for 12 to 24 hours. As the yogurt strains, it becomes thick, almost spreadable.

Use whole-fat goat’s milk or sheep’s milk yogurt for the most traditional labneh. If you can’t access them, use a whole-fat plain cow’s milk yogurt instead. Many labneh recipes call for Greek yogurt, which is already strained to remove some whey.

In the photos below, you can see the strained salted yogurt hanging with the whey below it. This was after a night in the fridge.

For the best flavor, when making labneh, use:

• High-quality sea salt (I use Redmond Real Salt)
• Whole-fat yogurt — low-fat yogurt won’t give you the same thick, rich texture
• Plain yogurt — make sure there’s no sweetener added
• Goat’s milk or sheep’s milk yogurt — for the most traditional flavor or use plain cow’s milk yogurt or Greek yogurt

Recommended Tools for Making Labneh

You will need a few simple tools for making homemade labneh:

• A fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth – I prefer cheesecloth.
• Butcher’s twine to tie the cheesecloth.
• Tall-sided bowl or container – needs to be tall enough for the cheesecloth ball (filled with salted yogurt) to hang and drain without touching the bottom.
• Wooden spoon or similar to hang the cheesecloth ball.

I use a tall storage container (OXO brand), which is the perfect height for holding up my cheesecloth ball and allowing the whey to drain from the yogurt. You can see my setup in the photo here.

Ways to Enjoy Labneh

There are many ways to enjoy labneh. Great labneh is salty and tangy and does well with more savory dishes. The most traditional way to serve labneh is on a plate with olive oil and some za’atar, either sprinkled on top or in a small bowl to the side. It’s fantastic with bread, especially pita bread.

Labneh also goes well with roasted vegetables, salads, and sandwiches. Serve it on a mezze plate with other Middle Eastern and Mediterranean dishes like hummus, baba ganoush, chickpea salad, olives, and Tzatziki.

You can make labneh balls, which also helps extend its shelf-life. Roll your labneh into small balls, and then drop them into a jar with plain olive oil or herb-infused olive oil.

Save the Whey! When making labneh, you will have whey leftover (the liquid strained out of the yogurt). Your first inclination might be to toss it but don’t. You can use it! Add the leftover whey from labneh to mashed potatoes, salad dressings (it will add a bit of saltiness), and soups.

More Dip Recipes

• Roasted Red Pepper Hummus
• Creamy Tahini Sauce
• Easy Olive Oil Dip
• Try our Easy No-Yeast Flatbread, Homemade Pita Bread, or these Sesame Garlic Flatbreads for dipping.