Refreshing Yogurt Drink (Ayran)

Name: Refreshing Yogurt Drink (Ayran)
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: ½ cup plain yogurt; ½ tsp salt; 1 cup cold water; ¼ tsp dried/ground mint leaves ((or fresh mint))

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This refreshing yogurt drink recipe is called Daweh in Assyrian and Ayran in Turkish. All you need to make this drink is homemade yogurt or Greek yogurt, water, and salt. A sprig of fresh mint is used to garnish this delicious drink.

Ayran is a traditional Turkish yogurt-based drink that's popular in many countries of the Middle East, Central Asia, and the Balkans. It's made by blending yogurt, water, and a pinch of salt.

Ayran is typically served cold and is often enjoyed as a refreshing accompaniment to meals, especially during hot weather or alongside dishes like kofta kebabs, bulgur pilaf, and stuffed cabbage rolls.

We like to serve this yogurt drink nice and salty and loaded with plenty of ice cubes!

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😍 Why You'll Love This Recipe
🔖 Ingredients & Substitutions
🫙 How to Make This Yogurt Drink
🤷🏻‍♀️ Recipe FAQs
👩🏼‍🍳 Pro Tips
🧀 More Yogurt Recipes
📖 Recipe
💬 Comments

😍 Why You'll Love This Recipe

This is a quick and easy yogurt drink recipe.
It can be adjusted to suit your taste but adding less or more salt, or adjusting the water to yogurt ratio.
You can make ayran ahead of time and store it in a pitcher in the fridge.

🔖 Ingredients & Substitutions

Yogurt: Choose from Greek yogurt, or better yet, homemade yogurt.
Water: Fresh, filtered water is best.
Salt: Sea salt
Mint: Fresh mint for garnish or dried mint powder stirred into the drink.

🫙 How to Make This Yogurt Drink

Step 1: Add yogurt to a large glass. Stir in salt.

Step 2: Whisk in water, until thoroughly mixed. Stir in dried and ground mint leaves (if using).

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yogurt drink called ayran in a glass on the counter with mint and whisk

Step 3: Pour the yogurt drink over a tall glass of ice. Add a sprig of fresh mint for garnish. Serve immediately before it begins to separate.

🤷🏻‍♀️ Recipe FAQs

What is the origin of this Ayran drink?

It is believed that ayran likely originated in Persia or Turkey. In Iraq, this drink is known as "Shanina." In Iran, it's known as "Doogh." "Doogh" according to Wikipedia, is derived from the word "Dooshidan," (or "milking").

What yogurt to use in a yogurt drink?

I recommend either using homemade yogurt or Greek yogurt. You want to use a tangy yogurt versus a sweet one. You can also use Mountain High yogurt to make a yogurt drink.

👩🏼‍🍳 Pro Tips

When making this yogurt drink, the consistency matters. Getting the proper yogurt-to-water ratio is important. I prefer a creamier and thicker consistency so I mix one part of yogurt with two parts of water.
If you find this ratio too thick, you can easily dilute it with more water.
Ayran is one of those drinks that tastes better when heavily salted. However, if you are watching your salt, feel free to reduce the amount of salt suggested in the recipe.
If your yogurt drink does separate, stir or whisk until blended again.

ayran drink recipe (yogurt drink) in a blue glass, with dried mint and ice

🧀 More Yogurt Recipes

If you enjoy this Ayran yogurt drink, check out these related yogurt recipes!

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