A yogurt cocktail might sound crazy if you’re new to soju, but yogurt soju is popular in Korea and all over Asia. The best part is it can be made with only three ingredients.
You’ll find it in private homes and prominently displayed on bar menus. This Korean yogurt cocktail recipe is made with soju (a clear distilled liquor made from rice that many people liken to vodka), fruit-flavored or plain Asian yogurt drink (similar to kefir or lassi), and a fizzy soda.
Sprite or 7Up works fine, but some recipes call for fruit juice instead of, or in addition to, the soda (grapefruit juice is popular for its tart flavor). Soju itself also comes flavored (peach, blueberry, and pomegranate flavors are popular), and they can be used as an alternative to unflavored Soju.
Don’t be afraid to experiment to see what combinations you like best, as it’s difficult to make a bad one. Korean yogurt soju cocktails are delicious, refreshing, sweet, and tangy. Both yogurt and soju go well with the fiery aspects of Korean cuisine, so it makes sense that they’d be mixed together. But be careful—the most common complaint about yogurt soju is that it’s so easy to drink that you’re drunk before you know it.
Ingredients
3 ounces soju
3 ounces Asian yogurt drink, plain or flavored, thawed if frozen
3 ounces lemon-lime soda, such as Sprite or 7Up
Steps to Make It
- Gather the ingredients.
- Ingredients for Korean yogurt soju. Into a stainless steel cocktail shaker filled with ice, add the soju and yogurt drink.
- Ice in shaker and soju ingredients in small glasses. Shake until ingredients are thoroughly chilled.
- Add the soda and stir. Strain into a glass and enjoy. Soju cocktail and an ice shaker.
Recipe Variation
This recipe uses an Asian-style yogurt drink that is a milk-based drink. It is watery compared to American yogurt, somewhat similar to kefir or lassi. You can try an American yogurt drink if you don’t have access to the Korean yogurt, as long as it’s not too thick. You can use the plain (regular) flavor, but people do use peach, strawberry, orange, melon, lychee, mango, and other fruit varieties as well. Any of these flavors can be used to make your yogurt soju cocktail. In fact, there are numerous variations on the basic recipe, some of which include fruit-based garnishes.
