Middle East / Drinks
Leben (Middle Eastern Sour Milk)
Leben is a traditional Middle Eastern or North African drink. Making it is very simple.
Ingredients
- whole milk, homogenized1 gallon
- yogurt, unflavored; plain1 cup
- half and half cream, optional1 quart
- citric acid, optional1 tsp
- sugar, optional1 tsp
Quantities are auto-calculated from the original recipe as a guide. Items without numbers (e.g. “to taste”) are not changed.
Method 7 steps
Add the milk to a large pot. Boil until it starts to foam.
Turn off the heat and wait for the milk to cool to room temperature.
Stir in the yogurt and half and half.
To make your leben more sour, boil the mixture and add the citric acid along with it until it starts to foam. To make your leben more sweet, boil the mixture and add the sugar along with it until it starts to foam. It is not recommended to add the sugar and citric acid together in your leben. This will worsen its taste.
Stir well, cover with a towel, and let rest overnight at room temperature.
Uncover and stir, then enjoy.
To preserve your leben, cool it as a regular dairy product.
Region evidence: place name in title — Title: “Middle Eastern” in “Leben (Middle Eastern Sour Milk)”
