Labneh Made From Store-Bought Yogurt

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Labneh can be made in two ways: labneh using homemade yogurt (starting from milk) or using store-bought yogurt. This labneh recipe starts from store-bought yogurt and it's perfect for when you are short on time and want to simplify things.

You might be wondering, why would I go through the hassle of making homemade yogurt? Well, there is a difference in taste between labneh made from homemade yogurt and labneh made from store-bought yogurt. The difference is that labneh made from store-bought yogurt is not sour. It has the same consistency, however, it's not the same in taste as making labneh from milk.

What I Love About This Recipe

I love how simple and easy this recipe is. It's literally one step- strain yogurt. If you are short on time and want a really simple way to make labneh, this recipe is for you. Not to mention, there are so many ways to eat labneh: sprinkle some za'atar on top, labneh on a toasted bagel, garlic labneh with pita chips, labneh pita sandwich, and even labneh frosting! Mind blown.

Ingredient Notes

I recommend full-fat unsweetened plain organic yogurt like the one below. Two quarts of yogurt will yield about a quart of labneh. This is literally the only required ingredient.

full fat plain yogurt used to make labneh

How To Make Labneh With Store-Bought Yogurt

Place two layers of a strong paper towel laid perpendicular in the strainer. Alternatively, use a large diameter thin cotton cloth.

Add the strainer on top of a second bowl to catch the drippings (whey) of the yogurt while straining.

Pour the yogurt on top of the paper towels. Strain the yogurt overnight or for a minimum of 6 hours in the fridge.

plain full fat yogurt added to the strainer with paper towels

Once the labneh has reached the desired consistency, remove and drain the bottom bowl of whey liquid. Pour the labneh into a container. Add some salt to taste.

Tips and Tricks

Use a thick paper towel. If you are living in the U.S., most paper towels are thick. However, in other parts of the world, paper towels are very thin and similar to tissue. If using a paper towel, make sure it's a thick one.
Use high-quality ingredients, aka organic yogurt. I splurge on high-quality yogurt whenever available to make labneh from store-bought yogurt.
Continue straining until labneh is desired consistency. Depending on if using a paper towel or thin cloth fabric, the straining time may vary. Just keep straining until the labneh spread is the desired consistency.

Substitutions and Variations

Use dairy-free yogurt to make dairy-free labneh. Make sure to get unsweetened dairy-free yogurt like unsweetened coconut yogurt and unsweetened almond yogurt.
Strain the yogurt in the same way as Greek yogurt by using a Greek yogurt straining cloth bag.

How To Eat

Eat labneh in a variety of ways: as a dip or in a labneh sandwich, with vegetables, pita chips, or pita bread. Some sides that go well are fresh mint, sliced cucumbers, fresh tomatoes, and olives. And, don't forget the pita bread or pita chips!

Garlic Labneh

If you are a garlic lover, labneh is excellent with some mashed garlic. Garlic labneh is can be made with a mortar and pestle or garlic press. Mash 1 clove of garlic with a pinch of salt for every 1 cup of labneh. Mix the mashed garlic and labneh well together.

Za'atar Labneh

Another way of eating labneh is with za'atar, olive oil, and salt flakes. This is my favorite way to eat labneh. You can eat za'atar labneh with fried pita chips or regular pita bread.

Storage

Store the labneh dip in an airtight container in the fridge up until the expiration date on the store-bought yogurt container. I don't recommend freezing labneh.

FAQs

What yogurt is best for making labneh?

I recommend using organic full-fat unsweetened cow's milk plain yogurt.

What's the difference between labneh and Greek yogurt?

Labneh made from store-bought yogurt is similar in taste to Greek yogurt, however, labneh is a little bit thicker in consistency closer to cream cheese. Historically, Greek yogurt is made from goat's milk whereas labneh is made from cow's milk.

Delicious Dips

Perfect Labneh Pairings

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