Ayran

5 from 3 votes

Ayran is a cold Turkish yogurt drink made with plain yogurt and water, then mixed until smooth and lightly frothy. Serve it chilled with kebabs, lahmacun, pide, börek, gözleme, or spicy Turkish meals.

Prep Time5

Total Time5

Course: Drinks, Side Dish

Cuisine: Middle Eastern, Turkish

Diet: Gluten Free, Halal, Vegetarian

Servings: people

Calories: 78kcal

Author: Ayla Clulee

Ingredients

2 cups cold water
18 oz Greek yogurt or plain natural yogurt (500 grams)
½ teaspoon sea salt
ice cubes (optional)

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Place the yogurt in a large jug along with the salt and most of the cold water.
Depending on the thickness of the yogurt, and also how thick you want your drink, you might need to adjust the amount of water stated in the recipe.
Mix well until there are no lumps, and the salt is totally dissolved.
Add some ice cubes if you want it extra cold and refreshing.
Serve in a glass or a pitcher and garnish with fresh mint leaves for extra freshness.
For extra foamy and creamy ayran, you can use a blender or a stick blender. All you need to do is to place water, yogurt, and salt in a blender and blend until smooth and frothy.

Notes

Use plain natural yogurt, Greek yogurt, or homemade yogurt.
Greek yogurt is thicker, so you may need more water.
Start with less water and add more gradually.
If the ayran is too watery, add more yogurt and mix again.
If the ayran is too thick, add a splash more cold water.
Mint is best used as a garnish, not blended into the drink.
Lemon, garlic, cucumber, herbs, or other flavorings make a different yogurt drink rather than classic Turkish ayran.
A blender or stick blender gives the smoothest and frothiest texture.
Store leftovers in a covered jug or bottle in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Stir or shake well before serving.

Nutrition