Kebab's Best Friend · Salted Yogurt Drink
Ayran
Photo: bnhsu / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0
It's whisked with cold water and salt, not sugar — the savory tang is the entire point, and Turks drink it alongside meat rather than dessert.
Ayran is a simple mix of yogurt, cold water, and a pinch of salt, whipped until frothy and served ice-cold in a glass or a squat metal cup. It's sold everywhere from kebab stands to supermarket coolers, usually poured to wash down grilled meat straight off the skewer.
Why it's made this way: Turkey is one of the world's largest yogurt-producing and consuming countries, and ayran grew directly out of that dairy tradition as the everyday companion to street-grilled meat.
More from Turkey
Part of World of Street Food — 690 dishes from 118 countries.
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