Delicious Australia - (08August 2020

2 cups(500ml)extravirginolive oil

1 tspwholepeppercorns

1 sprigbayleaves

4 garlic cloves, blanched and refreshed

Combinetheyoghurtwith2 tspsaltflakes

in a bowl,thentransfertoa sievelined

withmuslinorcheeseclothsetovera bowl.

Foldthemuslinoverandtiewithkitchen

stringorelastictoenclose.Refrigerate

overnight,allowingexcess liquid to drain

fromtheyoghurt.

Dipyourfingersin oilandrollthe

strainedyoghurtintoballsaboutthesize

ofa cherrytomato.Coatin desired

seasoning(chopped mixed herbs, chilli

flakes,za’atar).

Placeoliveoilin a jarwitha lid.Addthe

peppercorns,bayleaves,blanched garlic,

andlabnehballs.Sealwithlid.

Labnehballscanbestoredin thefridge

foruptoa month.Wealsorecommend

usingtheinfusedoilforcooking,asa salad

dressing, or drizzled over avocado toast.

SERVINGIT UP

Welovehowversatilelabnehis.Someof

ourfavouritewaysto enjoy this simple

delicacyinclude:

• Sprinkledwithherbsorevenchilliflakes,
  andaddedtoa saladorsandwich.


• Sprinkledwithza’atar,drizzled with
  oliveoil,andservedasan
  accompanimenttoa MiddleEastern
  spread– thinkpita,grilled meat,
  cucumberandolives.


• Asa healthysubstituteforsour
  creamonbakedpotatoesornachos,or
  spreadontoast with tomatoes, olive oil
  and mint.

MARINATED LABNEH

MAKES1KG

Begin this recipe 1 day ahead.

1kgpot-setnaturalyoghurt

Choppedmixedherbs(weusedflat-leaf

parsley,tarragonandmint), chilli flakes

and za’atar, to coat PHOTOGRAPHY

BEN

DEARNLEY

STYLING

KIRSTEN JENKINS

MERCHANDISING

EMMALY STEWART

FOR

KEEPS

EllieandSamStuddlooktolabneh,

anage-oldMiddleEasternfavourite

thatteachestechniquesforno-waste

preservation in the modern world.

THEPRACTICEOFpreservingmilk

throughfermentationis a stapleofmany

culturesanddietsaroundtheworld.In

essence,thecontrolledsouringofmilk

allowspeopletoextendthelifeoftheir

milkoryoghurtandenjoya delicious,

nutritionalbountyformonthsoreven

years.It’salsoa tried-and-tested method

forreducingfoodwaste.

A surprisinglyeasyandsatisfyingway

topreservemilkis tomakelabneh

(pronouncedleb-neigh), anancientform of

cheesecreatedbystrainingyoghurt

throughmuslinorcheesecloth.Labneh

canbetracedbackover2,000yearsand

originatesfromtheLevantregion(more

affectionatelyknownasthe‘fertile

crescent’).Today,labnehstillformsthe

foundationofmanyMiddleEasterndishes.

Thisdeliciousdairyproductcanvaryin

thicknessdependingonthetypeofmilkor

yoghurtused,theculturesadded,and

whetherit’seatenfresh or dried, or

preserved in oil.

@thestuddsiblings

60 delicious.com.au

CHEESE COUNTER.