SHAVED CUCUMBER LEMON HERB LABNEH TOAST

shaved cucumber lemon herb labneh toast

To say that cucumber is a staple in our Greek kitchen would be a huge understatement. We have been eating 1-2 large cucumbers every day since moving here. Why you may ask? Well, here in Greece, produce is extremely seasonal, and I mean hyper extremely seasonal. Which means lettuces are only available in the cool winter & early spring months. Soft mixed greens and crunchy head lettuces were are a major part of our diet back in America, so when we first arrived on the island we were feeling at a bit of a loss.

shaved cucumber lemon herb labneh toast

Enter shaved cucumber: this simple, yet genius way of preparing cucumber has completely changed our lives. Shaving cucumber into long, thin strips transforms the humble cucumber into a texture that is reminiscent of the lettuces we longed so deeply for – we are absolutely smitten with shaved cucumber! We have been adding it to everything possible, but this shaved cucumber lemon herb labneh toast has become a favorite quick & easy meal in our kitchen.

shaved cucumber lemon herb labneh toast

My idea for the lemon herb labneh came from what I feel is a classic combination of cucumber and cream cheese. By simply straining some Greek yogurt overnight, you get an even thicker yogurt that transforms into a spread that is almost like cream cheese – which is known as labneh throughout the Mediterranean and the Middle East. Our little village garden is absolutely bursting with fresh thyme, basil & mint at the moment, so I folded some fresh garden herbs & lemon zest into the labneh to brighten the spread with the flavors of summer.

shaved cucumber lemon herb labneh toast shaved cucumber lemon herb labneh toast

When I walked to our village baker to pick out a fresh loaf of bread, I was so excited to find a loaf of sourdough! Rather than just toasting the bread, I decided to olive oil fry the slices for an even more satisfying crunch. A spread of the lemon herb labneh, a pile of lightly dressed shaved cucumber and a final sprinkle of lemon zest, cayenne flakes & herbs and you have an incredibly satisfying meal that takes almost no effort at all. The possibilities for variations of this toast are endless…are you vegan or dairy free? Then you can try substituting hummus or avocado for the labneh. Don’t have fresh herbs on hand? Then try mixing in a spoonful of your favorite spice mix instead.

shaved cucumber lemon herb labneh toast

Light and refreshing, this shaved cucumber lemon herb labneh toast is ideal fare for those days when it is just too hot to even think about cooking. We eat it on the regular for breakfast, lunch or even as a light dinner because it is just that good :)

shaved cucumber lemon herb labneh toast Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon

SHAVED CUCUMBER LEMON HERB LABNEH TOAST


  • Total Time: 0 hours
  • Yield: approx. 6 large slices of toast

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 2 cups labneh ( 32oz/500g Greek yogurt strained overnight + 1 tsp salt )
  • zest of 1 large lemon, a pinch or two reserved for garnish
  • 2 tbsp fresh basil, minced
  • 1 tbsp fresh mint, minced
  • 1 tsp fresh thyme, minced ( we used a combination of common thyme & lemon thyme)
  • 2 medium cucumbers
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 6 thick slices of bread ( we used sourdough )
  • olive oil
  • red chili flakes to garnish

Instructions

  1. Start by using a peeler to shave your cucumbers into approximately 1″ wide pieces, discarding the first shavings of skin. When you reach the seed cavity rotate the cucumber and begin shaving into slices until you reach the seed cavity again, repeat until all that remains is the cucumber seed cavity
  2. Add shaved cucumber to a bowl along with the olive oil and lemon juice – toss to combine and then refrigerate until ready to serve
  3. In a small bowl, combine the labneh with the salt, minced fresh herbs and lemon zest, reserving a bit of the zest for garnish. Mix until well combined, set aside.
  4. Fry slices of bread in olive oil in a pan over medium high heat until each side of the bread is golden and crisp.
  5. To serve: spread each slice of toast generously with the lemon herb labneh, top with shaved cucumber and sprinkle with a bit of chili flakes, lemon zest and a touch of minced fresh herbs
  • Prep Time: 0 hours
  • Cook Time: 0 hours
{ 18 comments… add one }
  • Helen Demas July 14, 2018, 4:28 pm

    Looks delicious !! and beautiful.

    • bella | ful-filled July 15, 2018, 12:33 am

      Aw…thank you Eleni! Hope you and the family are well :D

  • DAVE VIGGIANO July 14, 2018, 10:13 pm

    Lovely!

    • bella | ful-filled July 15, 2018, 12:32 am

      Thank you so much Dave!

  • Michelle July 15, 2018, 6:32 pm

    This looks great! What do you do/use to strain the yogurt?

    • bella | ful-filled July 17, 2018, 12:27 am

      Thank you! I use a large piece of cheesecloth wrapped around the yogurt and hung over a bowl overnight!

  • Carolyn July 17, 2018, 5:10 pm

    Bella-this looks so so good! Perfect for this heat way we’re experiencing as of late! I love the texture of strained yogurt, how lovely to pair it with herbs and cool cucumbers-I must do!

    • bella | ful-filled July 19, 2018, 7:07 am

      Thank you so much Carolyn! I am so happy you think so, we just love this toast! I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

  • Niko Karragiannidis July 23, 2018, 7:17 am

    the photos you have here of all the different stages of the lemon herb labneh and the finished toast shots were SO compelling that we just HAD to try it, and boy are we ever glad we did!!! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!!!!

  • Niko Karragiannidis July 23, 2018, 7:18 am

    my family went SO CRAZY for this awesomeness that we ate it several days in a row, and one of the days we ate it like four times, can NOT get enough of this!!! GREAT job on this bella!!

  • Niko Karragiannidis July 23, 2018, 7:18 am

    the depths of flavor were amazing especially for such a few ingredients and such a simple prep and recipe!!

  • Niko Karragiannidis July 23, 2018, 7:19 am

    this was SO freakin BOMB!!!

    • bella | ful-filled July 23, 2018, 7:20 am

      Thank you so much!

  • for speed August 12, 2021, 3:45 am

    First off I ԝould like to say terrific blog!
    I had a quick question that I’d like to asқ іf you dߋ not mind.

    I was curious to knoԝ how you centeг yourseⅼf and clear your mind before writing.

    I һаvе had difficulty clearing my mind in getting my ideas out.

    I truly do еnjoy writing howevеr it just seems like tһe fіrst 10 to
    15 minutes are usuɑlly lost simply juѕt trying to figure out how to begin. Any suggestions or tipѕ?
    Kud᧐s!

    • bella | ful-filled August 15, 2021, 12:17 pm

      thank you so much :) I often struggle with writing as well, seems like I have to be in the right mood for the words to flow…
      I think taking some time to clear your mind ahead of writing is important, but also knowing when you’re just not in the right mindspace to write is equally important

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Next post:

Previous post: