A Yemeniyah's Recipes

In the city of Aden, in Yemen, we were used to going out to have this drink on a warm summer day with family. This is often served in the states in some South Asian [Indian], and Turkish restaurants. Indians call it Lassi, and the Turkish call it Ayran. Some Middle Eastern stores sell it salty with mint. I personally used to like it with salt, but it is originally made with sugar in Yemen. I am going to give you the recipe with sugar, since the salt is just my personal preference. My husband thinks I am weird to like it with salt.

To serve two you will need:

1) 2 cups of plain yoghurt

2) 1/4 cup of sugar–more if you like it sweeter

3) 2 cups of cold water–if you like it thinner you can use 3 cups

4) 1 cup of ice

Place all the ingredients in a blender and blend well. Serve cold.

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This cold drink brings fond memories of summer days in Aden, especially extremely hot Ramadans. I also remember that our first floor neighbor used to distribute bottles of it annually to the whole neighborhood. It was her an annual sadaqa (charity) –may Allah rest her soul. There were a lot of smiley faces when the chilled bottle would arrive at everyone’s doorstep.

I still make it often during Ramadan, and it still as my Uncle Iqbal would say, “Go down a dry throat and cool the heart.”

Ingredients:

1) 3 cups of water

2) 1/2 cup of powdered milk (I use Nido)–but you can use any milk.

3) 1/4 cup of sugar–more if you like it sweeter

4) few drops of red food coloring

5) 1/2 tsp of powdered vanilla

Whisk the water, powdered milk and sugar in a pot. Boil until it comes to rolling boiling. Turn off. Add the rest of the ingredients–vanilla and red food coloring–and mix well. When it has cooled, chill in the refrigerator for 2 hours. Serve with ice cubes.

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