Turkish drink · 2 minutes
Ayran Recipe (Turkish Salted Yoghurt Drink)
Whole yoghurt. Ice cold water. Whisk to foam.
Recipe by Farwa ZeeshanTested in the NineFoods home kitchenAyran is the cold, salty yoghurt drink served with every Turkish kebab, close to a thin salted lassi. It disappoints when it is flat and sour. The fix is full fat yoghurt, very cold water, the right pinch of salt, and blending or whisking hard until a thick foam forms on top.
The 3 laws of ayran
Why this recipe works
Low fat
Creamier, better foam.
Tap water
Refreshing and frothy.
Stir
The foam is the point.
Shopping and prep list
Ingredients
Ayran
The NineFoods ayran gauge
Is it right?
Look at the glass.
Method · 2 stages
Step by step
Blend
- Blend yoghurt, water and salt 30 seconds. Use the gauge above.
Serve
- Pour into glasses, add mint if liked.
Chef's troubleshooter
What went wrong? Pick the symptom
Why
Not whisked.
Fix next time
Blend hard.
Why
Old yoghurt.
Fix next time
Use fresh yoghurt.
Why
Heavy salt.
Fix next time
Add more yoghurt and water.
Why
Cold yoghurt not blended.
Fix next time
Blend or whisk well.
Swap smart
Ingredient roles and substitutes
| Ingredient | Job in the dish | Swap with |
|---|---|---|
| Full fat yoghurt | Base | Greek yoghurt plus more water |
| Salt | Flavour | Black salt for a desi twist |
| Mint | Aroma | Leave out |
| Blender | Foam | Whisk or shake in a jar |
After the meal
Serve, store, reheat
Serve with
Kebabs, lahmacun, pide and manti.
Store
Fridge 1 day; whisk again.
Reheat
Serve cold.
How we tested this recipe
Tested in a home kitchen, not a studio
Recipe developed and tested by Farwa Zeeshan, who cooks and tests every NineFoods recipe on a regular home stove.
- Cooked from start to finish with the exact quantities above for 4 servings, using both the metric and US cup measures.
- Every one of the 2 stages was timed at the stove; heat levels and the 'look for' cues are what we saw in the pan.
- The doneness check (is it right) and the troubleshooter come from batches that went wrong, and how we fixed them.
- Reheating and storage advice was checked on leftovers, not guessed.
Keep cooking
Related recipes and guides
Quick answers
Ayran FAQ
Is ayran the same as lassi?
It is like a thin salted lassi.
Is ayran the same as doogh?
Very similar; doogh is often fizzy and minty.
Is ayran healthy?
It is hydrating and contains probiotics.
What goes with ayran?
Kebabs and pastries.