Embark on a culinary journey to the vibrant streets of Israel with a delightful dish that captures the essence of the region's rich flavors. Israeli yogurt cheese, known locally as "labneh," is a thick, creamy spread that forms the heart of this delectable creation. Paired with fluffy pita bread, tangy olives, and a drizzle of olive oil, this dish offers a symphony of textures and flavors that will tantalize your taste buds. Discover the art of preparing labneh from scratch, using simple ingredients and traditional techniques. Complement your homemade labneh with a selection of vibrant toppings, from chopped cucumbers and tomatoes to aromatic herbs like mint and za'atar. Elevate your culinary skills with a step-by-step guide to crafting the perfect pita bread, ensuring a soft and fluffy interior with a golden-brown crust. Explore variations of this classic dish, such as a refreshing labneh salad or a savory labneh dip. Indulge in the authentic flavors of Israel with this versatile and delectable yogurt cheese and pita bread combination.
Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!
PITA AND GREENS BENEDICT WITH FETA CREAM
Steps:
- Combine the feta, yogurt, Aleppo or paprika, a few turns of pepper and 2 tablespoons olive oil in a high-speed blender and blend until very smooth. Taste and adjust the seasonings. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use (this can be made a day or two in advance).
- Heat the remaining tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook for a minute. Add the spinach, a few pinches of salt and 2 tablespoons water and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and wilted, about 4 minutes. (You may need to add the spinach in batches if it's too much to fit in all at once.) Season with pepper and squeeze in the lemon juice. Turn the heat down to low just to keep this warm while you poach the eggs.
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Crack the eggs one at a time into a small bowl, then carefully lower the eggs into the boiling water. Cook until the whites are firm but the yolks are still runny, 2 to 3 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to remove to a paper towel or clean kitchen towel to dry off any excess moisture.
- Toast or grill the pitas. Drizzle with a little olive oil and top with the spinach and eggs. Spoon on the feta cream and sprinkle with fresh black pepper and a pinch of Aleppo or paprika. Enjoy!
- Mix together the warm water, yeast and sugar in a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook. Let sit until foamy, about 5 minutes. With the mixer running on low speed, add the salt and oil, then gradually add the flour. Increase the speed to medium-high and mix, adding just enough additional flour so that the dough no longer sticks to the bowl, until the dough is smooth and slightly sticky, 7 to 10 minutes. (Do not add too much flour.) Lightly coat a clean large bowl with oil or cooking spray, then place the dough in the bowl and turn it once or twice to coat it in oil. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let it rise at room temperature until it has doubled in size, about 2 hours.
- Turn the dough onto a clean work surface and divide it into 24 equal pieces. Mold each piece into a ball by stretching the top and tucking the edges under. Place the balls 1 inch apart on a piece of parchment paper, then cover them with plastic wrap and let them rise for 30 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
- With a rolling pin, roll out the balls of dough into 3-inch circles, dusting with flour as needed. Place them on the lined baking sheets and bake until they're puffy and just starting to brown, about 5 minutes.
ISRAELI YOGURT "CHEESE" WITH PITA AND OLIVES
Categories Dairy Herb Appetizer No-Cook Vegetarian Yogurt Bon Appétit Pescatarian Peanut Free Tree Nut Free Soy Free No Sugar Added Kosher
Yield Makes about 2 cups
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Set strainer over large bowl. Line strainer with 4 layers of cheesecloth, allowing 4 inches to extend over sides of strainer (do not let strainer touch bottom of bowl). Spoon yogurt into strainer. Gather cheesecloth together; fold over yogurt. Refrigerate at least 8 hours or overnight (liquid will drain out and yogurt will thicken).
- Combine sesame seeds, salt, summer savory, cayenne and cumin in small bowl. Open cheesecloth at top. Using rubber spatula, transfer drained yogurt to bowl. Drizzle olive oil over. Sprinkle with sesame seed mixture. Place bowl in center of platter; surround with pita bread triangles and olives.
- Broil tomatoes until skins begin to split and blacken in spots, turning occasionally, about 4 minutes. Cool. Peel tomatoes. Cut into wedges. Arrange peppers, tomatoes and eggs on platter. Sprinkle with tuna and capers. Mix oil and lemon juice in small bowl. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Drizzle dressing over salad.
LEBANESE YOGURT CHEESE WITH ZA'ATAR AND OLIVES
Steps:
- Line a sieve with cheesecloth. If the cheesecloth is loosely woven (most supermarket brands are), use a triple thickness. Pour the yogurt into the sieve, then gather the edges of the cheesecloth and tie into a bag. Hang the bag over the sink or over a bowl to catch the drippings. Let drain for 8 hours.
- Turn the soft, creamy cheese out onto a platter. Season the surface with salt to taste, drizzle with olive oil, then sprinkle generously with za'atar. Surround the cheese with the olives and radishes. Serve with the warm pita bread wedges.
YOGURT CHEESE
A delicious, creamy cheese that perks up bagels and sandwiches. Very simple to make and the variations are endless. Try to use a full fat yogurt such as Balkan style. You could easily experiment with many other ingredients such as, chopped olives, fresh herbs or sweet ingredients.
Provided by LISAMONIQUE
Categories Appetizers and Snacks Dips and Spreads Recipes
Time P2DT5m
Yield 16
Number Of Ingredients 4
Steps:
- Line a strainer with two layers of cheesecloth. In a medium bowl, mix together the yogurt, salt, pepper and garlic.
- Pour into the cheesecloth lined strainer. Place the strainer over another bowl to catch the liquid, and refrigerate for 1 to 2 days, until all of the liquid has drained off. Empty the drainage bowl occasionally so you can see when the cheese has stopped draining.
- Transfer cheese to a covered container, and store in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 29 calories, Carbohydrate 2.4 g, Cholesterol 6 mg, Fat 1.5 g, Protein 1.6 g, SaturatedFat 1 g, Sodium 93.9 mg, Sugar 2.1 g
YOGURT CHEESE WITH PITA AND OLIVES
This tangy, fresh yogurt "cheese" -known as labaneh- vies for attention with hummus and tahini on the standard Israeli platter of mezze, or appetizers. Here it's seasoned with sesame seeds and spices, and drizzled with olive oil. Plan to start this the day before serving.
Provided by Mirj2338
Categories Spreads
Time 16h4m
Yield 2 cups
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Set strainer over large bowl.
- Line strainer with 4 layers of cheesecloth, allowing 4 inches to extend over sides of strainer (do not let strainer touch bottom of bowl).
- Spoon yogurt into strainer.
- Gather cheesecloth together; fold over yogurt.
- Refrigerate at least 8 hours or overnight (liquid will drain out and yogurt will thicken).
- Combine sesame seeds, salt, summer savory, cayenne and cumin in small bowl.
- Open cheesecloth at top.
- Using rubber spatula, transfer drained yogurt to bowl.
- Drizzle olive oil over.
- Sprinkle with sesame seed mixture.
- Place bowl in center of platter; surround with pita bread triangles and olives.
- Broil tomatoes until skins begin to split and blacken in spots, turning occasionally, about 4 minutes.
- Cool.
- Peel tomatoes.
- Cut into wedges.
- Arrange peppers, tomatoes and eggs on platter.
- Sprinkle with tuna and capers.
- Mix oil and lemon juice in small bowl.
- Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Drizzle dressing over salad.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 428.1, Fat 30.2, SaturatedFat 12.2, Cholesterol 63.7, Sodium 807.5, Carbohydrate 23.4, Fiber 0.3, Sugar 22.9, Protein 17.3
GRILLED TURKEY PITAS
Move over hamburgers! My Greek-style turkey sandwich filling is hearty enough to make a meal in a pita pocket. The yogurt adds creaminess and substance. -Penny Malcolm, Americus, Georgia
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Lunch
Time 40m
Yield 4 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- In a small bowl, combine the first eight ingredients. Pour 1/4 cup yogurt mixture into a large resealable plastic bag; add turkey. Seal bag and turn to coat; refrigerate turkey for 8 hours or overnight. Cover and refrigerate remaining yogurt mixture., Drain and discard marinade. Moisten a paper towel with cooking oil. Using long-handled tongs, lightly coat the grill rack. , Grill, covered, over medium heat or broil 4 in. from the heat for 15-20 minutes or until a thermometer reads 170°, turning occasionally. Let stand for 5 minutes before slicing., To remaining yogurt mixture, add the tomatoes, cucumber, onion, green pepper, cheese and olives., Grill pita halves, uncovered, over medium heat for 1-2 minutes on each side or until warm. Fill each pita half with sliced turkey and 1/3 cup yogurt mixture.,
Nutrition Facts : Calories 536 calories, Fat 15g fat (4g saturated fat), Cholesterol 77mg cholesterol, Sodium 903mg sodium, Carbohydrate 51g carbohydrate (12g sugars, Fiber 4g fiber), Protein 50g protein.
Tips:
- Use fresh, high-quality yogurt for the best flavor. If using store-bought yogurt, choose a yogurt that is plain and unsweetened.
- Make sure to strain the yogurt for at least 30 minutes, or overnight, before using it to make the yogurt cheese. This will help to remove excess whey and create a thicker, creamier cheese.
- Add your favorite herbs, spices, or seasonings to the yogurt cheese for extra flavor. Some popular options include salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, dill, and za'atar.
- Serve the yogurt cheese with a variety of toppings. Some popular options include honey, olive oil, chopped nuts, and fresh fruit.
- Yogurt cheese can be used as a spread, dip, or topping for a variety of dishes. It is also a great ingredient for salads, sandwiches, and wraps.
Conclusion:
Israeli yogurt cheese is a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed in many different ways. It is an excellent source of protein and calcium, and it is also a good probiotic food. Whether you are looking for a healthy breakfast or a tasty snack, Israeli yogurt cheese is a great option.
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