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🍅 Heirloom Tomatoes on Herbed Labneh & Za'atar

July 09, 2025 by Stephanie Shami in dinner, salads, sides

A late-summer layering ritual—with za’atar, roasted garlic, and a cameo from Wilder.

This dish is less about cooking and more about curating: the juiciest heirloom tomatoes you can find, a creamy base of herbed labneh that holds it all together, and a few golden touches to finish. We started with overnight-strained labneh (for maximum thickness), added roasted garlic, herbs, lemon zest, and olive oil, then layered it all up on a platter like edible art.

📝 Ingredients (Serves 2 as a starter, 4 as part of a spread)

For the Herbed Labneh Base:

  • 1 cup labneh (or full-fat Greek yogurt, strained overnight)

  • 2 tbsp olive oil

  • 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley

  • 2-3 small clove roasted garlic, mashed

  • Zest of 1 lemon

  • Salt to taste

For the Tomato Layer:

  • 3–4 ripe heirloom tomatoes, thickly sliced (mix of colors and sizes)

  • 1–2 tbsp good olive oil

  • Flaky salt + freshly ground black pepper

To Finish:

  • Za’atar, for sprinkling

  • More olive oil

  • Optional: extra herbs or edible flowers for flair

🔥 Instructions

1. Prep the labneh:
Strain labneh overnight for the thickest texture.
Once ready, mix with roasted garlic, olive oil, parsley, lemon zest, and a good pinch of salt. Taste and adjust.

2. Build the base:
Using a cake knife or spatula, spread a thick, even layer of herbed labneh on a serving platter. Think of it as a soft bed for your tomatoes.

3. Layer the tomatoes:
Slice the heirlooms thick and gently place them in overlapping layers over the labneh. Go for contrast in color and shape.

4. Finish with flair:
Drizzle everything with your favorite olive oil. Sprinkle with flaky salt, fresh black pepper, and a generous dusting of za’atar.

🌿 To Serve

Serve immediately or let it sit for 10–15 minutes to let the flavors mingle. Great as a standalone starter or part of a mezze-style summer spread. Just add bread, wine, and whatever toddler commentary you’re gifted with that day. 🍷

July 09, 2025 /Stephanie Shami
no-cook appetizer, summer tomatoes, tomato salad, herbed labneh, za'atar, middle easter recipe, tomato girl summer, healthy appetizer, tomato girl summer recipes, monthly dinner parties, heirloom tomatoes, egyptian inspired, mezze
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© 2024 Stephanie Shami