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đź“– Recipe
While it is a simple recipe, this cold beverage provides relief from the heat during the summer and replaces essential sodium after sweating. It’s also delightfully refreshing to serve with spicy meals all year long to help cut the heat! The drink is loved throughout the Middle East (where it is also known as laban) and Mediterranean regions, but people enjoy ayran around the world. Sometimes it’s made with a few ingredient changes, like adding dried mint (like I do in my ayran recipe here) or swapping still water for carbonated sparkling water. Additionally, the name of the beverage is different depending on where you are… The names ayran and laban are Arabic; here are a few other popular names for the drink:
Persian - Doogh Greek - Ariani Dhallë - Albania Pakistan - Namkeen lassi India - Lassi (a name used for both salty and sweet versions)
I always plan to make a batch of this Turkish yogurt drink whenever we have something spicy planned for dinner! I genuinely feel, ayran is one of the best drink to sip on as it is great to quench your thirst, it’s nourishing, hydrating and healthy option when you want to cut back on sugar loaded beverages. The milky creaminess of the drink goes great with spicy Middle Eastern meat dishes like kababs, shawarma, moussaka. It lightly coats your tongue so you get plenty of bold flavor from the food, but with the spiciness cut back a bit. Whether you choose a frothy yogurt drink made with whole milk plain or Greek yogurt, there are a few ways to change up the recipe with extra add-ins and swaps. Keep reading for some of my favorite ways to customize your salty yogurt drink recipe!
Almond Rose Lassi Mango Lassi Banana Breakfast Smoothie Badam Milk Mixed Berry Smoothie
Water: It needs to be ice-cold to make the Turkish drink super refreshing. Salt: Start with a small amount and adjust to taste. Mint: This is optional, but I recommend whisking dried crushed mint leaves into the beverage AND serving with fresh mint leaves. The bright, fresh flavor of mint is delicious with the cold blended yogurt! Ice Cubes: Serve ayran over ice for the tastiest chilled drink. Cucumber: Use a blender to combine shredded cucumber with yogurt, water, and salt. It makes the drink even more fresh and rejuvinating. Dried Rose Petals: A little goes a long way, so just give a nice sprinkle of the petals on top of the beverage. They have a floral, perfume-y flavor that is sophisticated, but not overwhelming. Yogurt: You can make this recipe with your choice of plain unsweetened yogurt or plain Greek yogurt. As noted above, for the best taste I do recommend using full fat yogurt. Water: Here I’m using regular “still” water, as I prefer the smoothness of the drink. However, you can swap with carbonated water for a fun bubbly drink! Keep in mind that club soda and tonic water have sodium added and ayran already has plenty of salt. So I suggest using seltzer if you want a drink with bubbles. It’s delightful for an afternoon pick-me-up, either by itself or alongside a light snack. Try my creamy cool homemade tzatziki sauce with pita chips, fruit salad, or pair with something sweet! And you definitely want to serve chilled ayran with spicy dishes! Pair glasses with spicy pulao, crispy spicy fried chicken, and whenever these spicy masala baby potatoes are being served as a side dish. However, it does keep well and is still very refreshing when served over ice later. Store the yogurt drink in a container with a lid and store in the fridge for up to a week. If you are looking for more delicious and easy recipes delivered straight to your inbox, you can sign up for my email newsletter. You can also follow me on Pinterest, Instagram or Facebook to see more of my kitchen creations.
