Labneh is a fresh soft cheese that has been a staple in the Middle East for centuries. Tangy and somewhat salty, nutritious and full of probiotics, labneh is made by straining most of the whey from yogurt. It’s thicker than sour cream, but not as thick as cream cheese. You can buy labneh, also spelled labne and labna, in well-stocked supermarkets or online. Or make it yourself by draining dairy yogurt made from cow’s, sheep’s, or goat’s milk, or vegan yogurt.
For an appetizer, snack, or party food, spread labneh on a plate, sprinkle and drizzle it with a few simple toppings, and you have a quick, attractive, and delicious dip to serve with warm sliced flatbread, toasted pita wedges, or bread sticks to swipe across the plate of labneh. Or scoop up the labne with crudites or slices of fruit.
Serves 4 to 6
Time: 5 to 15 minutes, depending on the topping
Spread about 2 cups of labneh on a flat plate, pushing it out to the edges with the back of a spoon. Sprinkle and/or drizzle with a topping.
Drizzle up to ¼ cup of a fruity extra-virgin olive oil over the top. Sprinkle with a tablespoon or two of za’atar and a few pinches of coarse salt.
Drizzle the labneh with a couple of tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil and a tablespoon of lemon juice. Sprinkle with a teaspoon of lemon zest, about ¼ cup of minced fresh herbs, and some coarse salt and cracked black pepper. We like Italian parsley and chives with some combination of basil, thyme, dill, oregano, and mint.
After drizzling with olive oil, sprinkle with 2 tablespoons of chopped parsley and/or fresh mint, a tablespoon of chopped black olives, such as kalamata, 2 tablespoons of chopped toasted pistachios (or walnuts), and ¼ cup of pomegranate seeds. A pinch of red pepper flakes will add a little bite.
• Chopped dried fruit such as figs or cherries; toasted pine nuts or chopped toasted nuts such as almonds, hazelnuts, or walnuts; a drizzle of honey.
• Olive oil; finely chopped black garlic; chopped chives or scallions; black sesame seeds; coarse salt.
• Olive oil; tiny cubes of cooked red and golden beets; chopped fresh dill; coarse salt and cracked black pepper.
• Olive oil; minced sun-dried tomatoes; chopped green olives; toasted pine nuts; minced fresh garlic; salt and pepper.