Yogurt can be drained of much of its water content, resulting in a thick, creamy product known in the Middle East as labna (or labne). Drained yogurt is like a moist, fresh, tangy cheese (and is sometimes referred to as yogurt cheese), and makes a great spread or dip. In Turkey and the Middle East there are a number of dips and salad dressings that begin with drained yogurt, to which pureed garlic and chopped fresh herbs are added. It’s mixed with chopped cucumbers for salads (coming up in these recipes), even mixed with chopped dried apricots for a sweet and tangy dip.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups lowfat yogurt
  • Nutritional Information
    • Nutritional analysis per serving (2 servings)

      154 calories; 3 grams fat; 2 grams saturated fat; 1 gram monounsaturated fat; 0 grams polyunsaturated fat; 17 grams carbohydrates; 17 grams sugars; 12 grams protein; 14 milligrams cholesterol; 171 milligrams sodium

    • Note: Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available data.

1 cup

Preparation

  1. Line a strainer with a double thickness of cheesecloth and set it over a bowl. Place the yogurt in the strainer and refrigerate for at least 2 hours and preferably 4 hours or longer. Transfer to a covered container and refrigerate. Serve as a spread, dip, as a topping for rice, or as the base for a salad dressing.

Dining and Cooking