How to Make Labneh (Yogurt Cheese) ~ this exciting recipe is a method for making cheese from yogurt! It’s a Middle Eastern staple and it’s incredibly rich and creamy. I love to roll it into balls, and store it in olive oil with aromatics like lemon and herbs ~ it’s an exotic yet super easy and healthy Mediterranean appetizer or snack. If you’ve never made cheese before, this is where you start!
Meet my new obsession, homemade labneh
Labneh is an uber simple Middle Eastern fresh cheese, you’re going to be blown away by how easy it is to make. All you do to make this deliciously creamy spread is to drain plain yogurt. That’s it. You press out the excess liquid (whey) from the yogurt and you’re left with…cheese! It’s downright magical how this process transforms plain yogurt into a silky cheese.
I can’t wait to show you exactly how to do it. I’ll also show you how to roll the cheese into small balls that you can preserve in olive oil for appetizers, snacks, salads, etc. Let’s get going!
related: Jewel Box Labneh Balls
How to make labneh (or fresh yogurt cheese)
- Set a mesh strainer over a large bowl. You want several inches of space between the bottom of the bowl and the bottom of the strainer.
- Line the strainer with a fine mesh nylon straining bag (or 2 layers of cheesecloth.) I love to use nylon straining bags instead of cheesecloth because they last forever and are so much easier to clean than cheesecloth. Just rinse and throw in the regular wash. They can be used over and over again.
- Spoon a 24 ounce tub of plain yogurt into the lined strainer. I like to use whole milk yogurt, without any flavors or additives. Sprinkle with a dash of salt.
- Bring the bag up and twist it tightly around the yogurt (you can use a clip if you like.) Place a small plate on top, and then weigh it down with something heavy like a can or a brick. Set this in the fridge for 24 hours. Make sure the yogurt is sitting above the drained liquid. The longer you let it drain, the thicker the cheese will become. It can go up to 48 hours, but mine was fine in 24.
- Turn the labneh out of the bag and discard the whey. (You can use the whey in baking or cooking if you like.)
When it’s done the labneh will be thick and spreadable like a soft  cream cheese. When you taste it you’ll see that your homemade labneh has the super silky mouthfeel of a soft goat cheese. You can spread it on toast for breakfast, serve it as part of an appetizer or mezze platter, or top a wonderful salad with it.
As for flavor, I think it’s more subtle than goat cheese, and more tangy and interesting than cream cheese, it’s the perfect hybrid!
Once you’ve removed your cheese from the mesh bag or cheesecloth, give it a nice stir to remove the cloth markings and make it extra creamy.
Now you’re ready to store it in the refrigerator, up to a week. I like to roll it into balls and cover them in olive oil, it’s a convenient and flavorful way to store them and it makes it easy to grab as few or as many as you need.
How to make labneh cheese balls ~
- Rolls bits of the cheese into 1 inch balls. I like to lightly oil my hands so the cheese gets nice and smooth. Drop the balls into a clean jar.
- Once you’ve finished rolling all the cheese, fill the jar with olive oil. This will keep the cheese soft and fresh for a week.
- You can add aromatics to the oil if you like, I added strips of lemon zest and fresh thyme.
- When you’re done eating your labneh you can use the oil for cooking or salad dressings, so waste not, want not.
At first I was worried that the labneh would disintegrate in the oil, but I was amazed at how it held its shape, even after marinating for days. This is important because you’re going to want to use these balls intact, whether it’s as an appetizer, or in a salad, etc.
How to Make Labneh Cheese
Ingredients
- 24 ounces whole milk yogurt, without additives or flavors
- pinch of salt
- olive oil
- lemon zest
- fresh thyme leaves
Instructions
- Set a mesh strainer over a large bowl. Â The bowl should be deep enough so that there are at least a few inches of space between the bottom of the bowl and the strainer.
- Line the strainer with a fine mesh nylon straining bag (or 2 layers of cheesecloth.) Â I like nylon bags instead of cheesecloth because they last forever and are so much easier to clean. Â They can be rinsed and laundered over and over again.
- Turn the yogurt out into the lined strainer. Â Sprinkle with a little salt.
- Pull the fabric up around the yogurt and twist it tightly so liquid starts dripping into the bowl (you can use a clip if you like to hold it tight.) Â Place a small plate on top, and then weight it down with a brick or heavy can. Â Set this in the fridge for 24 hours. Â Check it once or twice to make sure that it’s draining. If not, increase the pressure, and make sure the yogurt is sitting above the liquid. Â The longer you let it drain, the thicker the cheese will become. Â It can go up to 48 hours, but usually 24 hours is sufficient.
- Turn the labneh out of the bag and discard the whey. Â (You can use the whey in baking or cooking if you like.)
- Now you have two choices…you can put your labneh in an airtight container and refrigerate it as is, or you can roll it into balls. To roll into balls, roll 1 inch balls between your palms. I like to lightly oil my hands, this seems to make the surface of the cheese nice and smooth and shiny. Put the balls in a clean jar.
- When all the cheese has been rolled, fill the jar with olive oil, enough to cover all the balls. Add the lemon zest and thyme.
- Will keep, refrigerated, for about a week.
Notes
- Make it vegan ~ I haven’t tried this but I assume you can use non dairy yogurt to make labneh. Â The only issue would be to find a yogurt without any flavors or additives.
- Make it skinnier ~ use low fat or even fat free yogurt.
- Make it dip-able ~ if you’d like to use your labneh as a simple dip, like hummus, just drain it for less time. Â The resulting cheese with be spoonable and delicious. Â Top with a swirl of great olive oil, a sprinkling of herbs, and dive in with warm pita.
Nutrition
Hi Sue,
I Love your easy-sounding recipe for Labneh & I can’t wait to try making some at home! How do You use it–I mean, do you have any specific recipes that really highlight the Labneh?? I have bought it in a Middle Eastern market before, & I love it, but I never really knew what to do with it. Lol.
You are Such a Wonderful cook/chef!! Thanks SO Much for Always sharing your BEST with us! <3
Hey Kathy ~ mostly I would use it as a spread, either on morning toast, or with a cheese or charcuterie platter.
Can you use Greek yogurt?
Greek yogurt won’t work as well, in my experience. It won’t drain as well.
I often add some mixed Mediterranean herbs into the yogurt with the salt. The flavours infuse and it’s a fantastic spread.