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Ayran aşı
Chilled yoghurt and wheat soup
Ayran aşı: chilled yoghurt soup with wheat, chickpeas and fresh herbs
When the summer heat hits the eastern plateau around Erzurum, Erzincan and Sivas, families switch from hot soups to ayran aşı, a cold soup of thinned yoghurt with cooked whole wheat, chickpeas and handfuls of mint, dill and purslane or cucumber. It's ladled from a big bowl at lunch with flatbread, and it's as refreshing as a drink but filling as a meal. Common mistake: adding the grains while still hot, which makes the yoghurt split and turn sour-tasting; cool them completely first. Chef's tip: make it a few hours before serving and chill; the wheat soaks up the yoghurt and the herbs perfume the whole bowl.
- Total time
- 60 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 6
Ingredients
- 4 oz whole wheat berries or pearled speltsoaked overnight
- 7 oz cooked chickpeasdrained
- 1 ½ lb plain whole-milk yoghurt
- 2 cups cold water
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 cucumberfinely diced
- ½ oz fresh mintchopped
- ½ oz fresh dillchopped
- 1 tsp dried mint
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Method
0/4 doneStep 1: Drain 4 oz whole wheat berries or pearled spelt and simmer in fresh water for 35–40 minutes, until tender and starting to burst. Drain, rinse under cold water and cool completely.
40 minStep 2: Whisk 1 ½ lb plain whole-milk yoghurt with 2 cups cold water and 1 tsp salt until smooth and pourable, like thin buttermilk.
Step 3: Stir in the cold wheat, 7 oz cooked chickpeas, 1 cucumber, ½ oz fresh mint, ½ oz fresh dill and 1 tsp dried mint.
Step 4: Chill for at least 2 hours. Taste for salt, add a few ice cubes if you like, and serve cold.
120 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 210 kcal
- Protein
- 11 g
- Carbs
- 28 g
- Fat
- 6 g
- Fibre
- 4 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does ayran aşı take?
- About 60 minutes in total: 20 minutes to prepare and 40 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 6 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Can I make it ahead?
- Yes. It keeps well, so you can cook it earlier in the day or the day before and reheat it.
- What can I use instead of cooked chickpeas?
- Cannellini or butter beans, same amount.
- What can I use instead of plain whole-milk yoghurt?
- Sour cream or buttermilk, same amount.
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