Doogh is a classic Iranian drink – refreshing, minty and bubbly! Perfect to cool you down or to wash down a big Persian meal.
Doogh. The word should conjure instant visions of a large Persian meal including mounds of beautiful rice and kabobs. Doogh is a fizzy, yogurty and minty drink – everything that makes it perfect for washing down a heavy meal or cooling you off.
Doogh (Iranian or Persian Yogurt Drink)
Although unusual, this drink is simple and satisfying. The combination of yogurt with fizzy water and mint makes it a light counter-balance to a carb-laden meal. It’s also a refreshing drink to sip on during warmer weather – load it up with ice cubes for a cold treat!
And while the idea of a salty, carbonated drink may seem unfamiliar to some, it is actually very similar in components to a salty Indian lassi drink! And I couldn’t imagine anything going better with a savory meal than a savory drink!
I can see you thinking ‘beer!’ right now, but trust me. If you’re having Persian food, you’ll want doogh. You just will.
Doogh (Iranian or Persian Carbonated Yogurt Drink
If you don’t like your doogh too salty, adjust the seasonings – some may find that the yogurt and mint give enough flavor to the drink and that it doesn’t need additional salt. Some may like less or more carbonation so feel free to adjust the water to club soda ratio as well.
So the next time you’re sweating it out on a warm day or looking for something to wash down your big Persian meal of chelo kabob, look no further than a refreshing glass of doogh!
Last but certainly not least, if you don’t already know about Yummly, you need to know! It’s a new food sharing site that’s been exploding recently. Use it to search recipes by all sorts of criteria like time, flavors, allergy information and many others! Or simply browse and find something delicious. If you are using Yummly, connect with me here. 🙂
Want to stay connected & up to date with Ahu Eats? Don’t forget to follow on Facebook, Instagram, & Pinterest!
- Serves: 3
- Serving size: 1 cup
- Calories: 45
- Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 3
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 97
- Protein: 8
- ¾ cup plain yogurt - the more sour and tangy varieties work best
- 1 cup cold water
- 1 cup cold club soda
- 1 teaspoon dried mint
- 1 pinch salt (optional)
- Fresh mint for garnish
- Ice
- Add the yogurt, water and club soda to a pitcher. Stir to combine - a whisk or fork works best.
- Add the dried mint and salt and mix up.
- Add in the desired amount of ice.
- Taste and adjust seasonings.
- Pour into glasses and garnish with mint.
My first taste of doogh was in the mid 1980s… it didn’t go well. I need to try it again, now that my palate has expanded!
It’s most certainly an acquired taste! I’m curious to hear if you like it 20+ years later! 🙂
It is also similar to Turkish ayran an raita, but a bit more refined. I will certainly try it!
I LOVE doogh, it’s one of my favorite drinks and I enjoyed with so many Persian dishes. Thanks for posting this, it’s been a while since I made it.
Yay, so glad you like it! 🙂
I’ve never heard of doogh before but we love trying different cuisines and this looks and sounds really interesting and delicious!
I gotta agree, Ahu, the combination of ingredients does sound a little unlikely to work well together when I hear it, but when I just look at it once it’s done it looks really nice. I love Persian rice with a passion but never had doogh, but I’m gonna look out for it next time and review it for my site. <3 <3 <3
I was fortunate to have lived in Teheran for 5 years. Doogh is my all time favorite drink. I usually purchase Ab Ali brand in both the plain and fizzy style.
It is great to find a recipe that I can make. We used to make it with whole milk, homemade yogurt but watching the calorie I have avoided most whole milk products. Thank you.
Oh wow, you’ve got me with this one…yummy!
😉 Thank you!
I use naturally carbonated mineral water vs Club Soda ( not to downgrade such honorable drink :-))
I also like to add freshly crushed coriander or/and caraway seeds. Fresh dill works too if mint is not available.
At 18, I, with my two brothers, first encountered refreshing bottles of doogh under the shade of a pergola at rest stop, during a 1968 bus ride from Tehran to Isfahan. We didn’t know what it was, but were curious, and I was delighted to enjoy it. How fortunate we were to experience the gracious hospitality of the Persian people! A couple years ago the memory flooded back, as I encountered the same bottle label at a Persian grocery in Albuquerque, and now I have a recipe so that I can enjoy it any time. Thank you!
I really like this i drink the Jordainian version of it called shannena
I have great memories of me and my dad making doogh from my childhood in the 80’s. Funny, every other family member hates it but us…so much better homemade.
I like to suggest a slide alternation and that is to get the Google more fresh and gays , do all the steps but do not add the soda , I mean the sparkling water , leave it as the very last addition this way you save all the gays and bubbly water to the max
First time i had this drink was when my Persian girlfriend(Wife now) brought me for the first time to eat Persian food , i told her what’sthus wired drink? And than after lile 5 min I ordered another one and than the third too,
I love this drink so much
I first tried, and INSTANTLY became addicted to, “yogurt soda” in Seattle in the early ’90s. Then I moved to Port Townsend and when I came back the little shop where I’d formerly bought it had closed. I’ve spent my life looking for doogh ever since, only to discover that I have to pay $2.99 a bottle + shipping. Huh. Glad I have a recipe, even though the cultures won’t be the same.
Please include tips on how to pronounce the names that are not familiar to all, like doogh, is it d-oo-g or d-oh-g or something else?
Is it okay if we don’t use Club Soda? Also, can we dry Mint at home, or is it better to buy it?