What is Labneh? One of the Middle East’s Best Kept Secrets (2024)

FAQs

What is Labneh? One of the Middle East’s Best Kept Secrets? ›

What is labneh? Labneh is a Middle Eastern strained yogurt, like a thicker and tangier version of Greek yogurt. It's made by straining yogurt (with salt) in a cheesecloth until thick and most of the liquid has been removed. It's a two ingredient wonder spread!

Labneh is what you get when you strain an already-strained yogurt to remove more of the liquid whey. Greek yogurt is strained yogurt, but labneh is doubly strained. What is Labneh made of? Labneh is a soft, flavorful Middle Eastern cheese made from strained yogurt and is so easy to make yourself.

Labneh cheese is a type of soft cheese produced by straining yogurt to remove most of the whey for a thicker, more concentrated product. It's often made from cultured dairy products like kefir, Greek yogurt or probiotic yogurt, which are all rich in beneficial bacteria that can help optimize your gut health.

Is labneh similar to sour cream? Labneh is thicker and less tangy than sour cream. Because of the acidity in labneh, it can possibly be used in place of sour cream in baking recipes.

However, labneh is noticeably thicker than Greek yogurt, as well as richer in flavor, so it's not a direct substitute — especially when used as a spread or dip, or in baking.

Many grocery stores now carry labneh in the dairy section, but it's simple to make at home. You only need whole-milk yogurt (cow's milk is more traditional, but goat's milk is another option) and a little salt. No need to use Greek yogurt here; plain, unsweetened whole-milk yogurt will do the trick.

Strained yogurt is known as labneh (labna, labni, labne, lebni, or labani; Arabic: لبنة) in the Levant, Egypt, and the Arabian Peninsula.

Our labneh is safe to consume everyday. Although, I wouldn't recommend it. To ensure you are getting a variety of nutrients and minerals from your food, it is beneficial to practice food rotation. Food rotation advocates eating different foods daily.

looked at other health properties of labneh. The strained yoghurt was compared to 38 varieties of reduced-fat white-brined cheeses like haloumi and Akkawi. Results found that labneh contained the lowest amounts of fat and cholesterol.

Labneh, a Middle Eastern cheese, is a lesser-known choice for weight loss due to its balanced nutrition. This tangy, lower-calorie soft cheese has a consistency similar to sour cream and is made from strained yogurt, making it a rich source of gut-friendly probiotics.

How long does labneh keep in the fridge? ›

Store labneh in a tight-lid container in the fridge and use as a spread, like any cream cheese. Labneh will keep this way up to 2 weeks.

Labneh is a soft Middle Eastern cheese made from strained yogurt. It's surprisingly easy to make, and it's really versatile. Serve it as a dip with good-quality olive oil and za'atar, or add it to salads, pizzas, sandwiches, and more!

Labneh is a soft cheese, similar in texture to cream cheese, made from strained yogurt and very popular in Middle Eastern cuisine. You may see it spelled lebneh, lebnah, labaneh, labane, labne, or labni. At about half the fat and calories of standard cream cheese, it's a healthier alternative.

Labneh (also known as labneh, labni, lebni or zabedi) is the name of a popular thick yoghurt in the Middle East. It has been consumed in the levant region of Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Palestine for thousands of years. You can find labneh both in a dried form or steeped and marinated in olive oil.

Like most Middle Eastern foods, labneh is extremely good for you. Apart from being an important source of protein, labneh is considered a probiotic food, meaning that it is high in a range of healthy bacteria that help to boost your immune system.

Answer to earlier posts: labneh is similar to Greek yogurt, but is thicker and includes the salt. The consistency should be somewhere between Greek yogurt and cream cheese.

Like kefir, labneh cheese is a fermented product high in probiotics, which is healthy bacteria. It helps in strengthening the microbiome and improving gut health. Optimum levels of probiotics can help develop an enhanced immune system, control cholesterol, improve digestion and even aid in cancer prevention.

Is labneh and ricotta the same? No, they are not. Ricotta is a cheese made by heating milk until it separates into curds and whey, then using the whey as the main ingredient in a cheese-making process. Labneh is made by straining yoghurt.

Overall, the key differences among these cheeses lie in their origin, texture, flavor, and production processes. Feta cheese is crumbly, tangy, and made from sheep's, cow's, or goat's milk. Labneh cheese is creamy, mildly tangy, and made from Milk, Starter Culture, Enzymes or Rennet, and salt.