Turkish Eggs (Cilbir)
Turkish Eggs, also known as Cilbir, is a delicious and traditional Turkish breakfast dish. It features poached eggs served on a bed of garlicky yogurt and drizzled with a spiced butter sauce. To prepare Cilbir, you start by whisking yogurt with minced garlic and seasoning it with salt. The yogurt mixture is spread on a plate, creating a creamy base for the poached eggs. The eggs are then poached until the whites are set but the yolks remain runny. Once the eggs are poached, they are carefully placed on top of the yogurt. Finally, a hot, spiced butter sauce infused with red pepper flakes and paprika is poured over the eggs, adding a flavorful and aromatic touch to the dish. Cilbir is often garnished with fresh herbs, such as chopped parsley or dill, and served with crusty bread for a complete and satisfying breakfast experience.
Ingredients
Yogurt Spread:
- 1 cup Greek yogurt, at room temperature
- 1 clove garlic
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon salt, or to taste (Optional)
- 1 pinch cayenne pepper
- 2 ½ tablespoons finely chopped fresh dill, or to taste
Aleppo Butter:
- ½ stick unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon Aleppo chile flakes
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon ground cumin
Parsley and Jalapeño Oil (optional):
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
- 1 tablespoon diced jalapeno pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (Optional)
- 1 pinch salt (Optional)
Poached Eggs:
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar, or as needed
- 4 large eggs
- 1 pinch sea salt
Instructions
- Make yogurt spread: Place yogurt in a medium bowl and grate in garlic; mix to combine. Season with pepper, salt, and cayenne. Add dill and mix thoroughly. Set aside at room temperature.
- Make Aleppo butter: Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat; heat until bubbles begin to burst. Add chile flakes, paprika, and cumin. Stir until color is uniform. Turn off heat and let spices infuse.
- Make parsley and jalapeño oil: Grind parsley and jalapeño together in a mortar. Drizzle in olive oil and season with salt; stir to combine.
- Make poached eggs: Fill a large saucepan with 2 to 3 inches of water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, add vinegar, and keep water at a gentle simmer. Crack an egg into a small bowl, then gently slip egg into water, holding the bowl just above surface of water. Repeat with remaining eggs. Cook until whites are firm and yolks have thickened but are not hard, 2 1/2 to 3 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon, pat dry on a kitchen towel, and place onto a warm plate.
- Dollop yogurt mixture onto serving plates. Use the back of a spoon to spread yogurt, carving ridges into the top to catch oil. Drizzle some jalapeño oil. Top with eggs and 1 to 2 spoonfuls of Aleppo butter. Sprinkle sea salt on top.
Nutrition
Calories: 616kcalCarbohydrates: 9gProtein: 20gFat: 57gSaturated Fat: 25gCholesterol: 456mgSodium: 743mgPotassium: 306mgSugar: 5gVitamin C: 11mgCalcium: 87mgIron: 6mg
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