Description
Turkish Eggs, or Cilbir, is a traditional Turkish breakfast dish featuring creamy, tangy yogurt topped with perfectly poached eggs and drizzled with warm, spiced butter. This comforting dish combines soft textures and bold flavors, garnished with fresh herbs and typically served with crusty bread.
Ingredients
Eggs and Poaching
- 2 large eggs
Yogurt Base
- 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- Salt to taste
Spiced Butter Sauce
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 tsp paprika or chili flakes
Garnish and Serving
- Fresh dill or parsley, chopped
- Bread for serving (such as crusty white bread or sourdough)
Instructions
- Prepare the yogurt: In a bowl, stir the minced garlic and a pinch of salt into the plain Greek yogurt until well combined. Spread this creamy garlic yogurt evenly on a serving plate.
- Poach the eggs: Fill a pan with water and bring it to a gentle simmer. Optionally, add a splash of vinegar to help maintain egg shape. Crack the eggs one at a time into the simmering water and poach until the whites are fully set but yolks remain soft, approximately 3-4 minutes. Carefully remove the eggs with a slotted spoon and place them atop the spread yogurt.
- Make the spiced butter: In a small pan, melt the butter over medium heat. Once melted, add the paprika or chili flakes to the butter and stir, allowing the spices to infuse and the butter to turn a rich red color. Remove from heat once fragrant.
- Assemble the dish: Drizzle the warm spiced butter generously over the poached eggs and yogurt. Garnish the dish with freshly chopped dill or parsley to add a refreshing herbal note.
- Serve: Serve immediately with slices of your preferred bread to scoop up the creamy mixture and poached eggs.
Notes
- Use Greek yogurt for a thicker, creamier texture that holds up well under the warm butter.
- Adding a splash of vinegar to the poaching water helps the eggs keep their shape and prevents spreading.
- You can substitute paprika with chili flakes for a spicier butter drizzle.
- Serve with rustic bread to soak up all the delicious flavors.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Poaching
- Cuisine: Turkish
