In the Middle-East and Mediterranean, yogurt is a staple as an ingredient in cooling drinks.
By Laura Bashar
Yogurt is not just for smoothies or frozen treats. In the Middle-East and Mediterranean, yogurt is a staple in the diet. It is served as a side dish, appetizer, marinade and dessert. It is consumed for breakfast, lunch and dinner. And, it is also used in drinks. 
What the western world calls “Greek Yogurt” is the typical yogurt found in these countries. It is a thicker and creamier yogurt, because less water is strained out. It also has more protein, less carbohydrates, less sodium and less sugar than the mass-produced yogurt. It is also more expensive.
Doogh is a Persian drink made with mint, yogurt and club soda. If you don’t care for the bubbly, water can be used instead. Dried mint offers more intense flavor than fresh, so save the fresh mint for garnish.
PrintCool Off with Doogh: A Persian Yogurt Drink
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 2 1x
Description
Refreshing and delicious, this traditional Persian drink is seasoned with mint and can be made with water or club soda.
Ingredients
- 1 cup(8 oz) yogurt
- 1 cup (8 oz) club soda
- 1/2 tsp mint, dried , crushed
- 1/16 tsp salt
- 1/16 tsp black pepper, ground
- 1 cup ice
- 1 TBS mint, fresh
Instructions
- In a small pitcher whisk together the yogurt, club soda and seasonings.
- Fill two glasses with ice and divide doogh evenly between the two glasses.
- Garnish with fresh mint and serve.
- Prep Time: 5 mins
Thank you for this great recipe–I want to use it for my class when we do cooking- so they can try
I’m not sure where you got this particular recipe, but I really doubt that it came from any Iranian.
1/16th teaspoon of salt? Really? First of all, I’m not sure how you would measure a sixteeth of any spice or condiment, and anyway, why bother? That amount would be undetectable in any drink.
Also,a 1 to 1 ratio of liquid to yogurt results in more of a “slush” more easily eaten with a spoon than sipped as a “drink.”
My preference, taken from my time living and working in Iran, is a 3, or at a minimum, 2 to one ratio of liquid (I prefer unflavored soda water to plain water) with a half to a full teaspoon of salt and a half tablespoon of dried mint served over crushed ice with a sprig of fresh spearmint.
I’ve been looking for the recipe…I knew it was easy but didn’t remember the mint. Thank you very much for posting this recipe!!!
I also was married to a full blood. In addition to the recipe above i like doogh with some added finely diced cucumber and crushed ice using sea salt according to taste
Thanks much i can’t wait to make it…