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an ayran turkish yogurt drink in a glass garnished with mint leaves, with another glass of ayran in the background.
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4.84 from 6 votes

Ayran (Turkish Salty Yogurt Drink)

Ayran is a tart and frothy salted yogurt drink that’s a popular relief for hot Turkish summers. Enjoy this refreshing savory drink for an afternoon snack, light breakfast, or alongside roasted or grilled meats like kebab or kofta.
Prep Time4 minutes
Total Time4 minutes
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: Turkish
Diet: Vegetarian
Servings: 1
Author: Devin Fuller

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup whole milk yogurt (plain & unsweetened)
  • 3/4 cup cold water
  • Kosher salt
  • Dried or fresh mint, optional, for garnish

Instructions

  • Combine. In a cocktail shaker, add the yogurt, water, and salt to taste (I do a healthy pinch). Use a fork or spoon to stir the ingredients together until combined.
  • Dry shake. Close the shaker and press hard on the top to seal. Shake vigorously for 10 seconds or so to aerate the mixture.
  • Add ice. Turn the shaker so you’re holding the larger side. Carefully open the top (you may need to hit the side with the palm of your hand). Add a handful of ice, seal well, and shake vigorously once more. Put some muscle into it! You want to make it as frothy as possible.
  • Serve. Hold onto the larger side of the shaker and open the top once more. Pour into your serving glass, garnish with a sprinkle of dried mint or a fresh mint sprig if you’d like, and serve immediately.

Notes

  • Ice: If you’d like fresh ice, fill your serving glass with ice and pour the ayran slowly into the glass, leaving the ice in the shaker. I usually don’t bother, but it’ll keep the drink from getting watery if you’re a slow sipper. You can also serve ayran with no ice if you'd like.
  • Method: If you don’t have a cocktail shaker, you can achieve a similar result by pouring the ayran between two extra large glasses or pitchers. Pour it from high to get as much air in there as possible. I recommend doing this over the sink!
  • Yogurt: Greek yogurt is thicker than Turkish yogurt. If you’re working with Greek yogurt, add a splash or two more water. Whisk the water and yogurt very well before shaking to loosen things up a bit, and shake very vigorously to incorporate.
  • Visit our shop to browse quality Mediterranean ingredients including olive oils, honey, jams, and spices.

Nutrition

Calories: 74.7kcal | Carbohydrates: 5.7g | Protein: 4.3g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2.6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1.1g | Cholesterol: 15.9mg | Sodium: 65.2mg | Potassium: 189.9mg | Sugar: 5.7g | Vitamin A: 121.3IU | Vitamin C: 0.6mg | Calcium: 153.5mg | Iron: 0.1mg

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