5 Minute Recipes/ Asian Recipes/ Drinks/ Recipes/ Super Simple

Ayran Recipe – Turkish Yoghurt Drink

31/07/2020 (Last Updated: 01/12/2020)

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.

Frothy ayran spilling over the edge of a glass.

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

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The frothy topping on top of a glass of the Turkish Yoghurt Drink.

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!

Ingredients laid out to make Turkish ayran.

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

What is Ayran meant to taste like?

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!

What’s the difference between Turkish Ayran and Iranian Doogh?

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
Three bottles of fresh ayran ready to drink.

Want more drink ideas, whip these up next:

★ Did you make this recipe? Please leave a star rating below!

Glass filled with frothy yoghurt drink.

Ayran Recipe – Turkish Yoghurt Drink

This refreshing drink is the perfect 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.
5 from 17 votes
Prep Time: 2 minutes
Total Time: 2 minutes
Course: Drink
Cuisine: Turkish
Servings: 4 serves
Calories: 61kcal
Author: Wandercooks
Cost: $5

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 400 g natural yoghurt
  • 2 cups cold water still or soda
  • 1 pinch sea salt

Optional ingredients:

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

YouTube video

Recipe Notes

Quick tips to make this even better:
  • 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

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Ayran Recipe – Turkish Yoghurt Drink
Amount per Serving
Calories
61
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
3
g
5
%
Saturated Fat
 
2
g
13
%
Cholesterol
 
13
mg
4
%
Sodium
 
62
mg
3
%
Potassium
 
155
mg
4
%
Carbohydrates
 
5
g
2
%
Sugar
 
5
g
6
%
Protein
 
3
g
6
%
Vitamin A
 
100
IU
2
%
Vitamin C
 
0.5
mg
1
%
Calcium
 
125
mg
13
%
Iron
 
0.1
mg
1
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Hey hey – Did you make this recipe?We’d love it if you could give a star rating below ★★★★★ and show us your creations on Instagram! Snap a pic and tag @wandercooks / #Wandercooks

Ayran Recipe - Turkish Yoghurt Drink
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46 Comments

  • Reply
    mehmet
    22/03/2021 at 5:36 pm

    5 stars
    I love Turkish foods and I love yogurt and Ayran. Thank you.

    • Reply
      Wandercooks
      23/03/2021 at 10:51 am

      You’re very welcome! 🙂

  • Reply
    Nicholas Karako
    06/11/2020 at 11:46 am

    Sound 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.

    • Reply
      Wandercooks
      06/11/2020 at 12:08 pm

      Haha well we say make it twice and try both ways! You might be on to something. 😉

  • Reply
    Johanna Paciullo
    04/09/2020 at 4:26 am

    5 stars
    Love this drink. Was buying it in the Turkish grocery in Brooklyn but now I make my own and love it.

    • Reply
      Wandercooks
      08/09/2020 at 10:58 am

      Amazing Johanna, I love it when you learn to make something you used to purchase at home – it always tastes so much better too!

  • Reply
    kim
    28/07/2020 at 4:56 pm

    What a great recipe! I had never tried anything like this before and I really fell in love with it!

    • Reply
      Wandercooks
      28/07/2020 at 4:56 pm

      Oh fantastic, glad to hear!

    • Reply
      Feesha
      28/07/2020 at 4:56 pm

      I love this! I stir in lemon pepper and dill! So good!! I also make this undiluted to serve as a veggie dip. YUM!

      • Reply
        Wandercooks
        28/07/2020 at 4:56 pm

        Oh wow that sounds incredible – do you prefer using fresh or dried dill? Love the idea to serve it as a veggie dip too!

  • Reply
    Tisha
    28/07/2020 at 4:56 pm

    This is definitely an intriguing dish! It looks so creamy and so good I can’t wait to try it!

    • Reply
      Wandercooks
      28/07/2020 at 4:56 pm

      Intriguing is the word! Addictive is also appropriate haha 😀

  • Reply
    Farah
    28/07/2020 at 4:56 pm

    I love Turkish food and I love laban (yogurt!). Sounds like a recipe to try!

    • Reply
      Wandercooks
      28/07/2020 at 4:56 pm

      Please do! 🙂

  • Reply
    Natalie
    28/07/2020 at 4:56 pm

    I never tasted anything similar – looks and sounds so refreshing and delicious! Perfect for the summer!

    • Reply
      Wandercooks
      28/07/2020 at 4:56 pm

      Thanks Natalie, that blend of yogurt and salt is definitely a unique flavour combo. Definitely one to be experienced!

  • Reply
    SHANIKA
    28/07/2020 at 4:56 pm

    Homemade drinks are always the best! This Turkish Yoghurt drink looks so creamy and delish!

    • Reply
      Wandercooks
      28/07/2020 at 4:56 pm

      Totally agree Shanika! Especially when you can tweak the flavours to your heart’s content. 🙂

  • Reply
    Abdul Waheed
    28/07/2020 at 4:56 pm

    Well done Laura & Sarah. I liked your recipe and information you provided about Turkish Ayran Recipe. Thanks for sharing the wonderful thoughts as well.

    • Reply
      Wandercooks
      28/07/2020 at 4:56 pm

      Thanks 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!

  • Reply
    Shreyashi
    28/07/2020 at 4:56 pm

    Hey 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!

    • Reply
      Wandercooks
      28/07/2020 at 4:56 pm

      Thanks 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…

  • Reply
    Kristen
    28/07/2020 at 4:56 pm

    I love Yogurt and I am always looking for new recipes. I am going to try this for sure!!

    • Reply
      Wandercooks
      28/07/2020 at 4:56 pm

      Yoghurt is so deliciously versatile, but who would have thought salty would work so well too 🙂

  • Reply
    April
    28/07/2020 at 4:56 pm

    This looks very interesting and it sounds good. I wish I could drink it now!

    • Reply
      Wandercooks
      28/07/2020 at 4:56 pm

      Thanks April, wish you could too haha 🙂

  • Reply
    Sara
    28/07/2020 at 4:56 pm

    This looks good. I have never had anything like this!

    • Reply
      Wandercooks
      28/07/2020 at 4:56 pm

      Neither had we but it was such a surprisingly addictive drink and super refreshing too!

  • Reply
    Ali from Home & Plate
    28/07/2020 at 4:56 pm

    Salty? I will have to mention this to my Greek neighbors. May have to surprise them with this recipe. Sounds good.

    • Reply
      Wandercooks
      28/07/2020 at 4:56 pm

      Thanks Ali, hope you guys enjoy 🙂

  • Reply
    Sarah
    28/07/2020 at 4:56 pm

    …well now! This has left me completely intrigued and I absolutely must try! 🙂

    • Reply
      Wandercooks
      28/07/2020 at 4:56 pm

      Yes yes, you must! 😀

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