- Pita Bread with Lubneh (Yogurt Cheese) and Cucumbers

Dear Fans of Hounds Who Cook,

This is a recipe passed down to us from Me, who got it from the most authentic source, who's name was Omar. He hailed from Lebanon. Here is how his mother made Lubneh and how Me then made Lubneh and how we now make Lubneh. We love feeling global.

Lubneh
Me's Independent Rating: 3 of 3

1 pint plain yogurt
extra virgin olive oil (no exceptions)
coarse sea salt (no exceptions)
pita bread
cucumbers

Line a sieve with a coffee filter, paper towel, or flour sack dishtowel, and place over a bowl. Spoon the yogurt into the lined sieve and let sit 6 hours, or overnight. (Turn the yogurt in the liner once after a few hours to hasten the process, if desired.) Turn strained yogurt ("cheese") onto a serving plate with a ridge. Spread the yogurt out with a knife, pressing to leave a trail to and fro across the cheese with the knife. Leave space between the ridge of the plate and the cheese. Drizzle a high quality extra virgin olive oil over the cheese - 2 to 4 tablespoons. Let it pool in the riverbed the knife made, and around the perimeter of the cheese on the plate. Sprinkle liberally with coarse sea salt.

Peel and cut the cucumber into lengthwise wedges for dipping. Cut pitas in halves or quarters and toast in the oven or toaster to crisp.

Serve the Lubneh at room temperature with the pita and cucumbers (or other cut vegetables) for dipping.

Tips from Guthrie:
We suspect that the liquid (whey) that comes off the yogurt might have all of the nutrition of the yogurt. We hope not, but we save it just in case. Me uses it in cooking (replacing milk, buttermilk, or water in a scone recipe, etc.) but we dogs drink it up right on the spot.

Tips from Eli:
Print this out. Everyone will ask how to make it. It's been a staple at all of Me's parties since the 1990s. Great with celery, carrots or anywhere you'd use cream cheese (except in baking) - like on a bagel (sans olive oil and salt, in that case). As the party carries on and the oil and salt are eaten up, re-douse it with a little oil and salt.