labneh labne lebena yogurt israeli breakfast

Labneh

An Israeli breakfast recipe for a thick yogurt-based cheese.

Advertisement

There are few things as wonderful as Israeli breakfast. Unlike the Cheerios-and-milk American routine (or, even worse, the ubiquitous but tasteless nutrition bar), Israeli breakfasts are adventures in flavor, texture, and spice. Like the people themselves, Israelis’ breakfast foods are bold, with assertively tangy flavors, and comprise the freshest ingredients.

Think stacks of fresh pita to be dunked in hummus, labneh (a thick yogurt-based cheese), fruity olive oil, and za’atar–the essential Israeli herb. All this accompanies fresh sliced cucumbers and tomatoes, as well as a spread of other cheeses and much more.

For a full Israeli breakfast banquet, serve labneh with hummus and Muhammara — a Syrian red pepper and walnut spread with a kiss of pomegranate syrup. Serve these spreads with sliced vegetables, but also try them with pickled cauliflower. Its flavors are strong enough to stand up to the spreads. The cauliflower is great 24 hours after preparation and only improves with age.

Ingredients

za’atar

olive oil

1 quart Greek or regular yogurt

1 teaspoon salt

Directions

Stir salt into yogurt. Line a wire mesh strainer with either cheesecloth (at least two layers) or paper towels. Spoon yogurt into strainer; set over a bowl, cover loosely with saran wrap, and refrigerate overnight.

In the morning, bowl will contain much of the whey, which should be discarded. Greek yogurt will be ready if it has sat over night for about 8 hours. For regular yogurt, strain an additional 3-4 hours for maximum thickness.

Serve in a shallow bowl; drizzle olive oil, and top with a generous sprinkle of za’atar.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Discover More

10 Awesome Jewish Gifts For Your Foodie Father

Help your dad take his kitchen experiments to theatrical new heights.

7 Summery Jewish Recipes to Make This June

From golden grilled chicken to a delightfully easy cheesecake.

We Want Your Best High Holiday Recipes

We’re whipping up another Nosher community cookbook, and you can be part of it.