Labneh
This Middle Eastern starter builds full-fat plain yogurt, dried mint and sumac into an easy meal you can have ready in about 55 minutes. You'll find the full ingredient list (with a scaler to change the servings), 6 steps of method, substitutions, and ideas for what to serve alongside.
At easy difficulty across 6 steps, it's a good one for a busy evening. As written, it's meat-free.
What you'll need
Shopping list (5)
Pantry staples (you likely have these)
🔁 Unit converter
How to make it
- Stir the salt thoroughly through the yogurt in a bowl until evenly combined.
- Line a sieve or colander with a double layer of cheesecloth, spoon in the salted yogurt, then gather and tie the cloth into a bundle.
- Set the sieve over a deep bowl to catch the whey and refrigerate for 24 to 48 hours, the longer you strain the thicker and more cheese-like the labneh becomes.
- Unwrap the strained labneh, which should now be soft, spreadable and tangy, and discard the collected whey.
- Spread the labneh onto a serving plate using the back of a spoon to create swirls and shallow wells.
- Drizzle generously with olive oil and finish with a scatter of dried mint, sumac, sesame seeds and chopped parsley, served with warm flatbread for scooping.
What to serve with Labneh
- Basbousa Dessert
- Chicken Shawarma Chicken
- Kofta Beef
- Maamoul Dessert
Tips & common questions
How long does Labneh take to make?
About 55 minutes from start to finish — an estimate based on the 6 steps and 7 ingredients. Times vary with your kitchen and how much prep you do ahead.
Can I scale this recipe up or down?
Yes — use the servings control above the ingredients and every quantity rescales automatically (fractions included). Cooking times stay roughly the same; very large batches may need a little longer.
Is Labneh vegetarian?
Its ingredients contain no meat or fish, so it's suitable for vegetarians. Check any cheeses for animal rennet if that matters to you.
Related recipes
Labneh is an original Middle Eastern recipe developed in-house by Consomee. Photo: Labneh (5196911587).jpg by Leslie Seaton from Seattle, WA, USA, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons. We add the serving scaler, ingredient tools, timing and structure on top — how we source recipes.