Monday, July 13, 2020

Yogurt cheese returns

I like to make yogurt cheese, aka labneh, when I remember.  Best with whole milk yogurt. Strained overnight in the fridge in a cheesecloth-lined sieve over a bowl.



Then you get a supply of great cheese, similar texture to cream cheese but I like it better. It's sharper and less waxy to my taste



And the whey that drains off is good in soup, so that's in the freezer now.



Today I sprinkled freshcut chives over.



Then lunch was a Swiss cheese chive omelette, with a cornbread oat walnut muffin, spread with labneh.  Nice on a hot summer day when you can't be pestered to start cooking.

I've added in violets and other edible flowers at other times. It's very appealing.

10 comments:

  1. I’ve never made labneh. Must try it.

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  2. I just had a cornmeal oat muffin for breakfast, split and spread with labneh, and the chive flavor had developed. Very good.

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  3. Have you ever made paneer? Another quick and simple - according to the paneer-makers of youtube, anyway - cottagey cheese. I couldn't get cottage cheese on my most recent grocery adventure, so I bought an extra half-gallon of milk to make paneer. Then of course I drank all the milk. Which was even easier than making paneer ;)

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    1. Yes, I've made it a few times. Flavored it with flowers, chives etc. An Indian friend was visiting after I made a batch, which I showed her, saying it's cream cheese. Girija: no, no, Lizzie, it's paneer!

      Labneh is easier to make, no gathering of curds and dripping over a bowl. But basically it's the same process: separating out the solids.

      I have yogurt for cooking and yogurt for eating, so I will have enough for my plans.

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  4. This is another thing I've never tried but now I'm putting yogurt on my shopping list and see if I'm able to get it. I'd like to try this!

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    1. Be sure to get whole milk plain yogurt. Not Greek yogurt, that's already strained. I like Dannon but there are others. Don't go for that wildly expensive Icelandic stuff, not worth it.

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  5. I'll have to try the labneh - then you can add herbs, I assume.

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    1. Yes. Or you could sweeten it if you like it on the dessert side. I add chives or thyme or whatever I'm up for after it's drained. But it occurs to me you could also add them to the yogurt before you drain it. I must try that and see if it's good.

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