Ayran (Tart Yogurt Drink)

This is so simple that it barely qualifies as a recipe. Yet, I am posting it, becuase I am so delighted to have re-discovered this drink! The backstory: When I was a teenager, I had the opportunity to stay in Turkey with a lovely family. The kids and I often hung out on the beach, then in the afternoon would retire to a little open-air cafe for refreshments. I LOVED this yogurt drink that I had there, but nobody could tell me what it was. I tried to re-create it at home but was never really sure what it was. It was sort of like buttermilk, but thicker, and we'd usually sprinkle salt on top of it before we drank it.  Fast forward 16 years, and I'm browsing cheesemaking information on Fankhauser's fantastic website, and I see the recipe for this exact drink! Huzzah!!! I whipped some up, and it is a delicious as I remember it!

Here are the directions, taken directly from Fankhauser's site: "How to make is extremely simple: Mix yoghurt with (about quarter amount of yoghurt) water and pinch of salt. Mix them well in blender (good sign of mixing is: bubbles, lots of them). Serve with ice in hot summer days."  I agree it's best made in a blender, but if lazy, I just whisk yogurt and water together, or use my stick blender, and then pour it over ice and sprinkle a bit of sea salt on top. 

A warning: this is NOT a sweet drink. It is salty, savory, and tart. If you want a sweet yogurt drink, make a smoothie. I personally dislike most sweet drinks, so this is PERFECT for me. It's really refreshing!