Labneh
لبنة
Yoghurt drained until it is a cheese — oil, za'atar, and bread. Breakfast that is also mezze.
Recipe by I Want Some Food · Reviewed by the editorial kitchen. Native name preserved: لبنة.
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- —
- Rest
- 12 hr
- Total
- 12 hr 10 min
- Difficulty
- Very easy
- Spice
- No chilli
- Cost
- Cheap nightUnder $8 USD · indicative, not a store price
About
Labneh is salted yoghurt hung until it is thick enough to spread or roll into balls. The recipe is time. If you buy a tub, taste it: it should be sour and dense, not cream-cheese sweet.
What you'll need
5 ingredients. Tap each one once it's out on the bench.
Ingredients
Scaling multiplies the written quantities. Baking still prefers a scale.
Steps
Step 1
Stir salt into yoghurt. Hang in a cloth over a bowl, fridge, 12–24 hours, until thick.
5 min
Step 2
Plate, oil, za'atar. Bread. The whey is useful in bread or soup.
Nutrition
Per serving · estimate
- Calories
- 305 kcal
- Protein
- 10.8 g
- Carbs
- 38.1 g
- Fat
- 12.3 g
- Saturated fat
- 4.5 g
- Fibre
- 1.3 g
- Sugar
- 8.5 g
- Sodium
- 694 mg
Calculated from canonical ingredient data (USDA FoodData Central averages and equivalent published tables). Estimates only.
Allergens
Informational only. Not a medical guarantee. Cross-contamination happens in real kitchens.
- Milk
- Wheat
- Vegetarian
Adapt this recipe
The original recipe stays as it is. Personal versions are labelled. Serving changes are simple maths.
Adaptations · 0 / 15 used. Resets 12 November.
Substitutions
Cloth → A coffee filter or lined sieve
Slower, still works.
Tips
- Full-fat yoghurt. Low-fat labneh is chalk.
- Roll balls and cover with oil to keep a week.
History & culture
Breakfast with za'atar and olives. Also a mezze well of oil.
Strained yoghurt is older than any brand. Balls in oil are how it keeps.
Traditional
Provenance: Editorial adaptation.
Questions about this recipe
Answers taken from this dish's times, amounts, swaps and tips.
How long does Labneh take?
12 hr 10 min all in — 10 min prep, 12 hr rest. Cook and rest follow the method. Leftover storage and optional extra waits are not included.
How many does it serve?
The recipe is written for 6 bowls. Scale the ingredient list on the page if you are cooking for a different number.
How hard is it?
Very easy.
How spicy is it?
No chilli.
What allergens should I watch?
This recipe is labelled for Milk, Wheat. Labels are informational — check the packets in your kitchen. This is not medical advice.
Does it fit a diet?
The published recipe is labelled Vegetarian.
6 more questionsFewer questions
What does it cost to cook?
Cheap night — about Under $8 USD, as a grocery budget for this recipe, not a restaurant price.
What equipment do I need?
Mixing bowl.
How much salt do I put in?
The recipe lists Salt at 1 tsp.
What can I use instead?
Cloth → A coffee filter or lined sieve. Slower, still works.
Any tips from this recipe?
Full-fat yoghurt. Low-fat labneh is chalk. Roll balls and cover with oil to keep a week.
Can I use an air fryer?
This method is not written for an air fryer. The core technique on the page still applies.
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