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Three cups showing three different ways to serve Ayran.
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5 from 6 votes

Ayran (yogurt drink)

A popular Turkish refreshing drink that is served throughout the Middle East and Mediterranean region with different names. This Turkish drink is super easy to make and goes well with almost any meal.
Prep Time2 mins
Total Time2 mins
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, Turkish
Diet: Halal, Vegetarian
Servings: 3 cups
Calories: 100kcal
Author: Amira

Ingredients

Basic Ayran:

  • 2 cups plain whole milk yogurt.
  • 1 cup cold water.
  • Salt to your liking.

Green Ayran:

  • Basic Ayran.
  • Fresh mint leaves to your liking. I’ve used 6-8 small mint leaves per cup of Ayran.

Foamy Ayran:

  • 2 cups plain whole milk yogurt.
  • ½ cup cold water.
  • ½ cup sparkling water or club soda
  • Salt to taste.
  • Dried mint for garnishing optional

Instructions

To make the basic Ayran:

  • In a deep bowl add yogurt and whisk to make it smooth.
  • Gradually add water while whisking.
  • Season with salt and taste to adjust.

To make Green (mint) Ayran:

  • Finely chop fresh mint leaves and add to the basic ayran. You can also use a blender for easy blending.

Foamy Ayran:

  • In a deep bowl combine all the ingredients and beat with an electric mixer until foamy, take about 2 minutes.
  • Pour in cups and spoon the foam on top.
  • Garnish with some dry mint flakes.
  • Serve chilled or over ice cubes.

Video

Notes

  • Whisking the yogurt first makes it easier for the ingredients to blend with no lumps.
  • You can use a hand whisk or a blender to make Ayran. For the green minty one it is better to use a blender so you make sure mint leaves are completely broken and blended into the yogurt drink. For the frothy Ayran you will reach a better froth using an electric hand (beaters) blender.
  • Some people use 1:1, 2:1 and even ½:1 yogurt to water ratio so making it thinner or thicker is really a personal preference.
  • Serve with: Ayran can be enjoyed as a light snack with simit or it can be enjoyed with heavy or spicy meals. I saw Ayran served during Ramadan iftar in Istanbul along with kebabs.

Nutrition

Calories: 100kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 21mg | Sodium: 79mg | Potassium: 253mg | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 162IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 200mg | Iron: 1mg