I have been so excited for today’s #SundaySupper theme since it was first announced a few weeks ago. I love foods of all types (well almost all, Indian and I don’t really get along that well) but if I was stuck on a dessert island and had to choose one cuisine I’d probably go for Middle Eastern. For us at least, whenever we eat Middle Eastern food it’s a feast of epic proportions. You can’t just order one or two dishes. Falafel, hummus, tabouleh, shakshuka, spiced beef, all the lamb dishes and of course my favorite of them all labneh.
The first time I had labneh was at a Israeli restaurant in our neighborhood – while the word cheese is listed after it, labneh is just strained yogurt. I couldn’t get enough of it and was scooping it up with my pitas and piling it on top of my dish. I always knew it was easy to recreate at home but I kept going back to the market attached to that restaurant to pick up more.
I honestly had no excuse left not to make my own labneh and I’m so glad I finally did. The total amount of active work is about 5 minutes, the rest of the time you just need to wait for all the liquid to strain from your yogurt. Three days later you can enjoy this tart and creamy spread as part of your own homemade mezze platter.
Ingredients
- 4 cups (1 32oz container) full fat Greek yogurt (such as Fage)
- 1/2 teaspoon Kosher Salt
- cheesecloth
- kitchen twine
- chopsticks
- optional: olive oil and za'atar seasoning
Instructions
- In a medium mixing bowl combine the Greek yogurt and salt.
- Lay the cheese cloth out in another bowl and place the yogurt in the center. Bring the sides of the cheesecloth up and bundle together tightly. Tie together with kitchen twine.
- Take your chopsticks and make sure they fit across your bowl. Tie the cheesecloth bundle up and around the chopsticks so it drops down and hangs just a bit above the bottom of the bowl.
- You'll immediately start to see liquid draining from the yogurt. Place in the refrigerator to drain for 72 hours, emptying the liquid from the bowl twice a day.
- After 72 hours, untie the cheesecloth and scoop out the labneh.
- If serving right away, place in a bowl with a generous pour of extra virgin olive oil and a sprinkling of za'atar seasoning on top.
- Store in an airtight container in your refrigerator for up to one week.
Now let’s take a look at some of the other fabulous foods we have this week!
Mezze {Appetizers}
- Muhammara – Supper for a Steal
- Homemade Labneh Cheese – The Girl in the Little Red Kitchen
- Jerusalem’s Burnt Eggplant with Garlic, Lemon & Pomegranate Seeds – Take A Bite Out of Boca
- Sun Dried Tomato Hummus – Family Foodie
Salata {Salads and Sides}
- Fried Cauliflower w/ Sesame Parsley Sauce (Qarnabeet Mekleh Bil Taratoor) – girlichef
- Burnt Eggplant and Chickpea Soup – The Wimpy Vegetarian
- Couscous, Lentil and Chickpea Salad – Citronlimette
- Persian Jeweled Rice – Vintage Kitchen Notes
- Lebanese Rice – Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
Main
- Quinoa Falafel– Jane’s Adventure in Dinner
- Jamie Oliver’s Beef Tagine – Shockingly Delicious
- Chicken Biryani – Bobbi’s Kozy Kitchen
- Crockpot Curry Chicken – The Foodie Army Wife
- Quinoa Falafel with Fresh Herbs – Sue’s Nutrition Buzz
- Shakshuka – kimchi MOM
- Beef Tagine Over Couscous – Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
- Grilled Red Snapper with Cilantro and Onion Stuffing or ????? ????? ?? ???? – Food Lust People Love
- Falafel with Israeli Salad – Webicurean
- Chicken Shawarma – The Texan New Yorker
- Spaghetti Squash Pastitsio with Greek Yogurt Bechamel – Cupcakes & Kale Chips
- Kushari – Curious Cuisiniere
- Israeli BBQ Chicken – From Fast Food to Fresh Food
- Quick Persian Rice with Spiced Beef – MarocMama
Halwa {Desserts}
- Ghraybeh Cookies – Killer Bunnies, Inc
- Fried Honey Citrus Cakes – Neighborfood
- Easy Baklava Cake – NinjaBaking.com
- Ghraybeh – That Skinny Chick Can Bake
- Sesame Tahini Cookies – Magnolia Days
- Basbousa (Semolina Cake) – Mess Makes Food
Join the #SundaySupper conversation on Twitter tonight (Sunday). We tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world. Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm EST. Follow the #SundaySupper hashtag and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat. Check out our #SundaySupper Pinterest board for more fabulous recipes and food photos. Would you like to join the Sunday Supper Movement? It’s easy. You can sign up by visiting the Sunday Supper Movement page.
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SO easy, beautiful and tasty! I think I’m going to have to host a Middle Eastern themed party!!!
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I’ve wondered what la meh cheese was! I love this, and how easy it is to make. Totally making this one.
That looks delicious!!!
I’ve never tried labneh before, but it looks fabulous! The olive oil and spices really touch it off nicely.
I can’t wait to try this recipe. Looks fabulous!
You have totally inspired me to make my own Labneh Cheese…. could it really be only 5 minutes of work? Too good to be true!
I have never had Labneh but I’ve now decided I NEED TO. This looks so amazing!
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What a labour of love! It looks worth it though!
This is absolutely, positively the first cheese I will make. Wow! So easy and sounds so tasty.
Now, I have no excuse to not to make this cheese with your simple recipe! Love the pictures- gorgeous clicks!
This sounds super easy and right up my alley! I love anything I eat with a pita.
Um, yes please. This sounds incredible!
I’d be scooping up this delectable “cheese” too if the star ingredient is Greek yogurt! Thank you for sharing the recipe, Susan =)
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Haha, when the hubby and I go out for Greek or Middle Easter, we always want to order everything!! We get so stuffed! I’ll have to try this -‘sounds so simple and tasty!
Well done, Susan! Your bowl of creamy labneh looks wonderful. I must admit, I mostly buy it too because I never seem plan meals far enough ahead to have it ready in time.
Pingback: Falafel with Israeli Salad #SundaySupper | Webicurean
Yum! I’ve been wanting to make yogurt cheese for a while now. This looks like the perfect time to try it!
I need to try this! It looks so amazing in your pictures, I really just want to scoop some up right now!
I love this theme! I haven’t had this before but it sounds pretty yummy!
Pingback: Muhammara for Middle Eastern #SundaySupper | Supper for a Steal
Mmmm sounds delicious and easy. I think I would like to be stranded on an island with Middle Eastern food also 🙂
Your picture is lovely. My mouth is watering as we love Middle Eastern food too.
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