This refreshing drink is the best way to rehydrate on a hot summer day. Mixed with sea salt, Ayran is a Turkish yoghurt drink frothed to perfection in seconds and served up icy cold. It pairs perfectly with a hot meal like Karniyarik.
Why We Love This
We adore this Middle Eastern drink because it’s so easy to whip up a fresh batch at home in less than 5 minutes. Made with only 3 simple ingredients – yoghurt, water (or soda water) and salt means you can blend it up in no time.
Ayran contains no added sugar when using natural yoghurt, so it’s a healthy way to cool down. You’ll be free to enjoy the spiciest curry dish with an icy cold glass of ayran on hand to put out that fire.
Related: Matcha Latte / Vietnamese Iced Coffee
What is Turkish Ayran?
Ayran is a popular Middle Eastern beverage, especially in Turkey where it’s considered the national drink. In Iran, there’s a similar drink that goes by the name of “doogh” but is usually served up with fresh mint.
A deliciously simple recipe of diluted natural yoghurt mixed with sea salt and water, you’ll often find ayran paired with cooked meats, burek, or even pizza – but almost never with seafood which is superstitiously bad luck for your health.
Ayran reminds us a little bit of Indian lassi, just without the common additions of mango or strawberry flavour and sugar.
What You’ll Need
All you need is natural yoghurt, water, and sea salt. That’s it!
How to make Ayran:
This couldn’t be easier. You’ll just need a blender and pop in all the ingredients. Blend until super frothy (10-20 seconds should do it as there’s no solids!) and you’re ready.
If you don’t have a blender, you could use a rocket or stick blender instead. In a pinch, you could try popping it in an airtight container and giving it a good shake before pouring it into a glass!
Wandercook’s Tips
- Use soda water instead of still water to help your ayran become nice and frothy after blending! This will also add a little tingle to each sip!
- Serve alongside spicy or heavy meals to help cool things down.
FAQs
If you’ve never tried it before, ayran can be an intriguing experience. It has a slightly tart/sour taste from the natural yogurt, but the biggest surprise is the saltiness. Our first ever sip stopped us in our tracks. After the second sip our taste buds were starting to understand. And by the third? We were completely hooked!
They’re essentially the same, although sometimes you’ll find mint more frequently in Doogh.
Variations & Substitutes
- Add some finely diced cucumber, mint or crushed thyme for extra flavour, similar to Iran’s Doogh drink.
- Throw in some ice cubes before blending for an icy crunch.
- Or if you’re feeling really adventurous, you could even add a sprinkling of cracked black pepper for a spicy hit
Want more drink ideas, whip these up next:
★ Did you make this recipe? Please leave a star rating below!
Equipment
Ingredients
- 400 g natural yoghurt
- 2 cups cold water still or soda
- 1 pinch sea salt
Optional ingredients:
- handful ice cubes
- fresh mint leaves finely chopped
- cucumber finely ficed
- pinch black pepper
Instructions
- Place natural yoghurt, cold water and sea salt in a blender along with any of your chosen optional ingredients: ice cubes, mint, cucumber and black pepper.400 g natural yoghurt, 2 cups cold water, 1 pinch sea salt, handful ice cubes, fresh mint leaves, cucumber, pinch black pepper
- Mix until ingredients are combined and drink is frothy. This should be around 10-20 seconds. Serve chilled.
Video
Recipe Notes
- Use soda water instead of still water to help your ayran become nice and frothy after blending! This will also add a little tingle to each sip!
- Add some finely diced cucumber, mint or crushed thyme for extra flavour, similar to Iran’s Doogh drink.
- Throw in some ice cubes before blending for an icy crunch.
- Or if you’re feeling really adventurous, you could even add a sprinkling of cracked black pepper for a spicy hit
46 Comments
mehmet
22/03/2021 at 5:36 pmI love Turkish foods and I love yogurt and Ayran. Thank you.
Wandercooks
23/03/2021 at 10:51 amYou’re very welcome! 🙂
Nicholas Karako
06/11/2020 at 11:46 amSound good! Would be really refreshing if you use cucumber water and fresh mint. Which is better for you than my first impulse to want add salted caramel syrup.
Wandercooks
06/11/2020 at 12:08 pmHaha well we say make it twice and try both ways! You might be on to something. 😉
Johanna Paciullo
04/09/2020 at 4:26 amLove this drink. Was buying it in the Turkish grocery in Brooklyn but now I make my own and love it.
Wandercooks
08/09/2020 at 10:58 amAmazing Johanna, I love it when you learn to make something you used to purchase at home – it always tastes so much better too!
kim
28/07/2020 at 4:56 pmWhat a great recipe! I had never tried anything like this before and I really fell in love with it!
Wandercooks
28/07/2020 at 4:56 pmOh fantastic, glad to hear!
Feesha
28/07/2020 at 4:56 pmI love this! I stir in lemon pepper and dill! So good!! I also make this undiluted to serve as a veggie dip. YUM!
Wandercooks
28/07/2020 at 4:56 pmOh wow that sounds incredible – do you prefer using fresh or dried dill? Love the idea to serve it as a veggie dip too!
Tisha
28/07/2020 at 4:56 pmThis is definitely an intriguing dish! It looks so creamy and so good I can’t wait to try it!
Wandercooks
28/07/2020 at 4:56 pmIntriguing is the word! Addictive is also appropriate haha 😀
Farah
28/07/2020 at 4:56 pmI love Turkish food and I love laban (yogurt!). Sounds like a recipe to try!
Wandercooks
28/07/2020 at 4:56 pmPlease do! 🙂
Natalie
28/07/2020 at 4:56 pmI never tasted anything similar – looks and sounds so refreshing and delicious! Perfect for the summer!
Wandercooks
28/07/2020 at 4:56 pmThanks Natalie, that blend of yogurt and salt is definitely a unique flavour combo. Definitely one to be experienced!
SHANIKA
28/07/2020 at 4:56 pmHomemade drinks are always the best! This Turkish Yoghurt drink looks so creamy and delish!
Wandercooks
28/07/2020 at 4:56 pmTotally agree Shanika! Especially when you can tweak the flavours to your heart’s content. 🙂
Abdul Waheed
28/07/2020 at 4:56 pmWell done Laura & Sarah. I liked your recipe and information you provided about Turkish Ayran Recipe. Thanks for sharing the wonderful thoughts as well.
Wandercooks
28/07/2020 at 4:56 pmThanks Abdul, so glad you liked it! Ayran is such a surprisingly refreshing drink – I think we’ll have to go make another batch right now!
Shreyashi
28/07/2020 at 4:56 pmHey guys,
So I just had to pop in the moment I saw this on facebook. I had my honeymoon in Turkey and I simply fell in love with Ayran… well Ayran and baklava of course.
You guys are living the life of most foodie’s dreams… wandercook= wanderlust= pure awesome.
Cheers!
Wandercooks
28/07/2020 at 4:56 pmThanks Shreyashi! Wow Turkey must have been a magical place for a honeymoon! Haha it is pretty fun have to say. Just today we were just going through all the recipes we gathered on our trip away. We’ve got a whole stack of them from all the amazing people we met, either printed, hand-written, scribbled, emailed etc – so much deliciousness waiting to be brought to life. 😀 So glad you got to have ayran and baklava, they are up there on our list of favourites that’s for sure. Now if only we could source (or make) a batch of Lokum/Turkish Delight…
Kristen
28/07/2020 at 4:56 pmI love Yogurt and I am always looking for new recipes. I am going to try this for sure!!
Wandercooks
28/07/2020 at 4:56 pmYoghurt is so deliciously versatile, but who would have thought salty would work so well too 🙂
April
28/07/2020 at 4:56 pmThis looks very interesting and it sounds good. I wish I could drink it now!
Wandercooks
28/07/2020 at 4:56 pmThanks April, wish you could too haha 🙂
Sara
28/07/2020 at 4:56 pmThis looks good. I have never had anything like this!
Wandercooks
28/07/2020 at 4:56 pmNeither had we but it was such a surprisingly addictive drink and super refreshing too!
Ali from Home & Plate
28/07/2020 at 4:56 pmSalty? I will have to mention this to my Greek neighbors. May have to surprise them with this recipe. Sounds good.
Wandercooks
28/07/2020 at 4:56 pmThanks Ali, hope you guys enjoy 🙂
Sarah
28/07/2020 at 4:56 pm…well now! This has left me completely intrigued and I absolutely must try! 🙂
Wandercooks
28/07/2020 at 4:56 pmYes yes, you must! 😀