Making Labneh
        Make this, the simplest of cheeses
        
        
        
        Making Labneh
recipes | preserving
        
        Labneh (also spelled 
labaneh is a soft cheese made in the Middle East from 
strained yoghurt. It is probably the easiest cheese to make requiring very little time and almost no equipment.
        
        
        In order to make 
labneh all you need is 
Greek style yoghurt - typically labelled as being 10% fat - and a little salt. Greek yoghurt is rich, thick, and creamy; high in protein, and low in sodium and sugar. In terms of equipment all you need is a strainer/collander, a couple of bowls, a straining cloth (e.g. a clean piece of cheese cloth, muslin, tea towel, or sterile hankerchief), and a whisk or fork.
        
        Pour the yoghurt into a bowl and add salt (just 1-2 teaspoons at most per 500g of yoghurt). Whisk well. Put the straining cloth into strainer ensuring that all of the holes in the strainer are covered by the cloth, and then put the strainer into the second bowl. Pour the salted yoghurt into the cloth.
        
        
        Now lift up the corners of the cloth, and tie them together or hold them tightly together with string or a rubber band. Hang the bag you have made up - for example from a tap with the liquid dripping out and down the drain, or over a bowl if you want to keep the whey. If the weather is warm then it is best to hang the bag inside your refrigerator to keep everything fresh.
        
        The following day, open up the bag and inside you will find 
labneh - a soft white cheese which you can mould into shape and store in the refrigerator. If you want a harder cheese, twist the corners of the cloth together tightly to squeeze even more liquid out of the yoghurt, and leave it for another 24 hours.
        
        
        The common way to 
store labneh is to roll it into small (approx 2cm diameter) balls between wet hands, put them into a sterile jar, and fill the jar with olive oil so that all the labneh balls are completely covered. They can remain in the refrigerator for weeks 
preserved in that way. You can also add garlic and/or your choice of chopped herbs (typically fresh mint) to the oil to give the labneh additional flavour.
        
        
        Serving and Eating Labneh
Labneh is usually served with 
olive oil and pita bread. Press the labneh onto a platter, and pour over a good extra virgin olive oil. Then use 
toasted pita bread as a scoop to capture the oil and labneh, and eat.
        
        
          
        
          Article Published: 10:31, 23rd Nov 2010
        Article Published: 10:31, 23rd Nov 2010
        
        
        Related Articles
        Chili Oil
        Make your own delicious chili oil
        
Article Published: 14:36, 25th Nov 2010
        recipes | preserving | grow your own
        
        Uses for Duck Eggs
        A selection of uses for duck eggs
        
Article Published: 09:34, 16th Jun 2011
        recipes | livestock | preserving
        
        Grape Jelly Recipe
        Make your own delicious grape jelly
        
Article Published: 12:11, 10th Jan 2011
        recipes | fruits | preserving
        
        Make Fruit Leather
        Find out how to preserve fruits as fruit leather
        
Article Published: 19:38, 25th Nov 2010
        fruits | preserving | recipes
        
        Tomato Ketchup Recipe with Fresh Tomatoes
        Make your own delicious tomato ketchup with fresh tomatoes
        
Article Published: 11:02, 22nd Nov 2010
        preserving | recipes | grow your own
        
        Making Garlic Oil
        Make your own garlic oil
        
Article Published: 14:49, 25th Nov 2010
        preserving | grow your own | recipes
        
        Lemon Balm Cake Recipe
        Make a delicious cake with easy to grow lemon balm
        
Article Published: 14:43, 15th Jun 2011
        recipes | grow your own
        
        How to Make Sloe Gin
        Find out how to make your own sloe gin
        
Article Published: 14:40, 13th Apr 2012
        recipes | foraging | fruit
        
        Make Caramelised Onion Chutney
        Make a delicious caramelised onion chutney
        
Article Published: 08:33, 22nd May 2010
        preserving | vegetables | grow your own | recipes
        
        Make Tomato Passata
        Preserve tomatoes by making delicious tomato passata
        
Article Published: 12:00, 25th May 2010
        preserving | fruits | grow your own | recipes