Ayran is a Middle Eastern (Lassi) summer yoghurt drink mixed with salt and mint. It is also the national drink of Turkey.
I have fond memories drinking Ayrani, as it is called in Cyprus, as a young girl, when we would go shopping in Famagusta and Larnaca, which wasn’t very often – maybe three to four times a year to get new shoes and clothes. There used to be a man on a bicycle selling Ayrani and my mum would always treat us to a glass of this wonderful cold yoghurt drink and to a mixed kebab from the street vendors; I can still smell them!
Ayran is a very refreshing, palatable, healthy and digestible drink, that’s good for quenching the thirst on a hot day – better than any fizzy drink!
Ingredients (makes 1 large glass):
½ glass plain sheep’s yogurt
150ml (¼ pint) iced water or soda water
A little salt
A little caster sugar
Dried mint
Ice-cubes
Fresh mint leaves
Lime wedges
Method:
Put all the ingredients except the dried mint in a blender, blend until smooth and frothy.
Pour into a tall glass and mix in a little dried mint. Add ice-cubes, decorate with fresh mint and wedges of lime and serve.
