How to cook Labneh scented with saffron and rosewater

What is labneh?

Labneh is a yoghurt cheese.

It is one of those wonderful exotic foods that is becoming more well known as people travel and enjoy the local food. How to cook labneh –  That is the question for today.

It can be prepared as a delicious silky pudding or more like a cheese with a slightly denser texture. The labneh cheese can be rolled into balls and stored in olive oil in the refrigerator.

How to cook Labneh as a fragrant Rose water silk pudding:

Ingredients

300 gm Greek-style yoghurt
2 tblsp caster sugar
Rose water
Pinch of saffron threads

Method
For labneh, place yoghurt in a muslin-lined sieve over a bowl, pull the muslin together, tie to enclose and refrigerate to drain overnight. Discard the whey liquid.

Into the labneh add 2 tablespoons of caster sugar or agave or honey;
a couple of drops of fragrant rose water; and
a pinch of saffron and stir.

Allow the thick and creamy labneh to sit for 20 minutes to allow flavours to infuse.

Labneh is beautiful with Middle Eastern and Moroccan dishes.  The creaminess of it is wonderful with baclava, or the cheese is fabulous with spicy pumpkin.