Labaneh

Thick, tart, and creamy, this yogurt-like cheese, when eaten together with olive oil, pita bread, and za'atar spice, makes a typical Galilean breakfast. This recipe first appeared in our May 2013 issue with Gabriella Gershenson's article The Promised Land.

  • Serves

    serves 4

Ingredients

  • 8 cups whole milk
  • 1 cup plain yogurt
  • Kosher salt, to taste
  • Olive oil, for serving

Instructions

Step 1

Bring milk to a boil in a 4-qt. nonreactive saucepan fitted with a deep-fry thermometer. Remove from heat and let cool until thermometer reads 118°. Transfer 1 cup milk to a bowl; whisk in yogurt until combined. Add yogurt mixture to saucepan and whisk until smooth; cover tightly with plastic wrap and let sit in a warm place (ideally 70°-75°) until thickened, 6-8 hours.

Step 2

Line a fine-mesh strainer with 3 layers of cheesecloth; set over a bowl. Transfer yogurt to strainer; let drain at least 8 hours or overnight. Transfer to a serving dish. Season with salt and drizzle with oil.
  1. Bring milk to a boil in a 4-qt. nonreactive saucepan fitted with a deep-fry thermometer. Remove from heat and let cool until thermometer reads 118°. Transfer 1 cup milk to a bowl; whisk in yogurt until combined. Add yogurt mixture to saucepan and whisk until smooth; cover tightly with plastic wrap and let sit in a warm place (ideally 70°-75°) until thickened, 6-8 hours.
  2. Line a fine-mesh strainer with 3 layers of cheesecloth; set over a bowl. Transfer yogurt to strainer; let drain at least 8 hours or overnight. Transfer to a serving dish. Season with salt and drizzle with oil.
Recipes

Labaneh

  • Serves

    serves 4

Labaneh
EILON PAZ

Thick, tart, and creamy, this yogurt-like cheese, when eaten together with olive oil, pita bread, and za'atar spice, makes a typical Galilean breakfast. This recipe first appeared in our May 2013 issue with Gabriella Gershenson's article The Promised Land.

Ingredients

  • 8 cups whole milk
  • 1 cup plain yogurt
  • Kosher salt, to taste
  • Olive oil, for serving

Instructions

Step 1

Bring milk to a boil in a 4-qt. nonreactive saucepan fitted with a deep-fry thermometer. Remove from heat and let cool until thermometer reads 118°. Transfer 1 cup milk to a bowl; whisk in yogurt until combined. Add yogurt mixture to saucepan and whisk until smooth; cover tightly with plastic wrap and let sit in a warm place (ideally 70°-75°) until thickened, 6-8 hours.

Step 2

Line a fine-mesh strainer with 3 layers of cheesecloth; set over a bowl. Transfer yogurt to strainer; let drain at least 8 hours or overnight. Transfer to a serving dish. Season with salt and drizzle with oil.
  1. Bring milk to a boil in a 4-qt. nonreactive saucepan fitted with a deep-fry thermometer. Remove from heat and let cool until thermometer reads 118°. Transfer 1 cup milk to a bowl; whisk in yogurt until combined. Add yogurt mixture to saucepan and whisk until smooth; cover tightly with plastic wrap and let sit in a warm place (ideally 70°-75°) until thickened, 6-8 hours.
  2. Line a fine-mesh strainer with 3 layers of cheesecloth; set over a bowl. Transfer yogurt to strainer; let drain at least 8 hours or overnight. Transfer to a serving dish. Season with salt and drizzle with oil.

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