Labneh Dip with Olives (Photos courtesy https://immigrantstable.com/labneh-dip-with-olives/)

Labneh Dip with Olives

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“My mother used to keep a container of labneh on the top shelf of the refrigerator, nestled between jars of pickles and the bottle of pomegranate molasses that never seemed to run out. She’d spread it thick on slices of fresh bread, drizzle it with oil, and top it with za’atar, maybe some pickled turnips if they were on hand. It wasn’t something she made from scratch, but it always felt homemade, especially when her hands were the ones scooping it onto the plate. Now, I make labneh almost every week. And this version, topped with warm Castelvetrano olives and infused lemon-garlic oil, is the one that seems to stick. Maybe it’s the way the lemon zest perfumes the oil, or how the almonds crackle against the creamy yogurt. Maybe it’s the quiet moment I get while stirring the olives on the stove, before the questions and messes of dinner begin,” says Ksenia Prints.

Ksenia Prints is a food writer, blogger, photographer and recipe developer from Montreal, Canada. She blogs At the Immigrant’s Table, a food blog showcasing healthy, beautiful international recipes for adventurous home cooks. She loves to highlight ethnic cuisines and immigrant cultures by working with chefs from relevant countries and adapting those recipes to gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, sugar-free and other dietary restrictions. The CEO and Founder of Prints Media, Ksenia is an accomplished, accredited and professional writer and journalist with over 20 years of experience in the publishing world. She is dedicated to publishing authentic, original and human-produced content in a world filled with an ever-growing amount of artificial intelligence (AI).

 

Ingredients:

1 cup plain Greek yogurt, full-fat for best texture

1 teaspoon salt

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1/2 cup olive oil

2 cloves garlic, peeled and lightly crushed

Zest of 1 lemon, reserve a few strands for garnish

1 cup Castelvetrano olives, pitted or whole*

2 tablespoons sliced almonds

Flaky sea salt to taste

Topics: Labneh, Yogurt

Za’atar to taste

 

Preparation:

Line a mesh strainer with two layers of cheesecloth and place it over a deep bowl. Add the yogurt, sprinkle in the salt, and gently fold the cloth over the top. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 8–12 hours. The yogurt will thicken into rich, tangy labneh.

In a small skillet over medium heat, pour in the olive oil. Add the garlic and lemon zest. Let them sizzle gently for 2–3 minutes until fragrant and just golden at the edges. Add the olives to the skillet and stir occasionally for 3–4 minutes. They should be soft and glistening, not browned. Remove the olives and garlic with a slotted spoon and set aside. Save the infused oil.

Spoon the thickened labneh into a shallow serving bowl. Create swoops and divots in the surface with the back of your spoon. Top the labneh with the warm olives, garlic, and a few strands of lemon zest. Drizzle with the infused oil. Finish with toasted sliced almonds, a sprinkle of za’atar, and flaky sea salt.

For this recipe, go to: https://immigrantstable.com/labneh-dip-with-olives/

* From Bon Appétit: “Castelvetrano olives are widely beloved for their exceptionally mild, buttery, and slightly sweet flavor profile, which lacks the intense bitterness or overpowering brine of many other green olives. Originating from Sicily, these ‘Nocellara del Belice’ olives are prized for their bright green hue, meaty texture, and crisp, satisfying bite.”

Ksenia has traveled to every continent, except Asia, in search of inspiration and culinary experiences, eating in Michelin-starred restaurants and street food stalls in Jordan, Athens, Copenhagen, Mexico City, and New York City. Her favorite culinary trip involves cooking in the back of an RV across the Golden Coast of Australia.

At The Immigrant’s Table

Order today at: https://www.sendowl.com/s/cookbook/at-the-immigrants-table-by-at-the-immigrants-table/?src=direct

Explore Jewish, Middle Eastern, Russian, and Colombian recipes in an inspiring ebook that brings vibrant, comforting dishes into your everyday cooking. This ebook is for anyone who believes a good meal can make any day better. Inside, you’ll discover a curated collection of simple, delicious, and heartwarming recipes designed to be loved and shared. At The Immigrant’s Table is a warm collection of 53 recipes from Ksenia Prints’ family kitchen, blending flavors from Colombia, the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and more. From appetizers to desserts, each dish is designed to bring people together, create memories, and make cooking accessible and joyful. Perfect for weeknights, gatherings, or cozy meals at home.

53 family-inspired recipes from around the world.

Appetizers, breakfasts, soups, dinners, desserts, and drinks.

Easy-to-follow recipes with accessible ingredients.

Instant digital download, start cooking right away.

Connect at:

https://kseniaprints.com/

https://www.facebook.com/immigrantstable

https://www.instagram.com/immigrantstable

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrxwn-mwXH_Kek8Cbqjq4gA

https://immigrantstable.com/personal/

https://thermocookery.com/about-me/

https://www.foodrepublic.com/author/kseniaprints/

 

For Ksenia’s Middle Eastern Small Plates Recipe Reviews: https://immigrantstable.com/middle-eastern-small-plates-recipes-preview-bourekas-eggplant-dip-almond-lavosh-carrot-salad/

For her travel stories at Food & Wine, go to: https://www.foodandwine.com/ksenia-prints-8624493

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