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:
- 1 cup plain yogurt
- 1 cup water
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tbsp lemon/lime juice
- mint (optional)
- cucumber (optional)
- combine yogurt, water, salt and lemon/lime juice in a blender
- blend thoroughly
- serve chilled
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Cucumber is an healthy and pleasant addition in it. I liked it
glad to hear you like it! thanks a lot!
Ayran is almost like Indian chach or buttermilk. It’s really refreshing and healthy. Thanks for sharing this. It reminds me of India.
I had only had shop bought bottled Ayran until seeing this post, I was offered some and I never say no to new things. I had the same revulsion. It was just salty thin Yoghurt with the consistency of thin paste. I tried the recipe yesterday, and also added a tsp of honey to it, and now I’m in love with it.
Mint and cucumber really bring the flavours out.
Hi there! Thanks so much for your feedback and glad to hear you love it! The addition of honey is an excellent idea!
Hi, I definitely love this drink its my favorite especially when my mother makes it for us, but I have a family night usually on the weekends i’m only 14 they get surprised by what I do. Now to the the real question you have ingredients on here, but no where does it say how much people it serves can you give me an answer? Because I have 5 family members and they usually want seconds of drinks and stuff like that so yeah, thanks.
hi there! Thanks so much for stopping by! Last time we made ayran it yielded about 6 cups. I guess, in your case you would want to double the recipe and amount! Hope it goes well! Let us know if your family likes it! 🙂
I bet these are so refreshing…and I love your glasses!!
Thanks Bonnie! We love our ghost glasses!
I never heard of this before but I’m quite fascinated, it sounds so interesting, refreshing and renewing!
Thanks Chris! It is quite different but very popular in the Middle East.
I´ve never heard of Ayran before, super interesting recipe and it sounds really refreshing!! xoxo
Appreciate it Johlene!
This drink looks super refreshing! Yum! Perfect for summer 🙂
Thank you Chris!
Yes, this sound and look so good…perfect for the warm weather…thanks for the recipe!
Enjoy the rest of your week 😀
Thanks very much Julianna! Have a good one!
I love this drink, It’s also very popular in Iran it’s called Doogh, very refreshing and delicious.
Cool! Glad to hear you know this drink and like it! 🙂
That sounds very refreshing and satisfying!
ela h.
Thanks so much Ela!
I used to go to Turkish restaurants all the time! And, I will eat anything that has yogurt!
Great! Glad to hear you like this!