Middle Eastern Yogurt Drink (Ayran) Ayran is a very popular drink in Middle Eastern countries like Lebanon or Turkey. In fact, it’s apparently the national drink of Turkey!   Each region in the Middle East has their slight variation of ayran.  However, the most traditional one consists of three simple ingredients.  What is ayran you ask?  Well, it’s  a thirst quenching drink made from a combination of  water, yogurt and salt.   Okay, okay, I admit it, at first this drink sounds far from being a thirst quencher, but trust me this drink is refreshing.   Ayran is specially refreshing on a hot summer day after a big meal.  Next time you have a heavy meal, specially a spicy one, reach for a cold glass of ayran instead of pop and you will understand what I am saying. To be honest, when I first heard about ayran from Arkadi, I was not sold. He has been trying to convince me to try this drink for years (yeah yeah yeah, I can be stubborn sometimes).  He has fond memories drinking ayran as a child.  My first experience with ayran was not a pleasant one I have to say.  We stopped by our local shawarma shop, devoured our spicy shawarmas and Arkadi urged me to drink his store bought ayran drink.  And like a good little girl that I am, I did.  It was weird.  To me, it tasted like water downed salty milk.   So when Arkadi brought up the whole ayran business recently, I was very  hesitant.   I finally had to indulge him and so off he went to the kitchen and a few minutes later, he emerged with a blender full of ayran.  I have to say, this time around I found myself quite pleased with Arkadi’s homemade ayran.   Arkadi’s ayran was real refreshing (there, I said it!).    And really, it’s actually a lot healthier than any pop out there.  It’s good for digestion (thank you yogurt) and  the addition of mint and cucumber made the drink even more refreshing! Try something new today! Here’s the simple recipe to follow:

4.8 from 4 reviews
Middle Eastern Yogurt Drink (Ayran)
 
Author:
Recipe type: Drinks
Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Ingredients
  • 1 cup plain yogurt
  • 1 cup water
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 tbsp lemon/lime juice
  • mint (optional)
  • cucumber (optional)
Instructions
  1. combine yogurt, water, salt and lemon/lime juice in a blender
  2. blend thoroughly
  3. serve chilled

Middle Eastern Yogurt Drink (Ayran)1