Turkish Eggs with Garlic Yogurt (Çilbir)
Poached eggs on garlic-scented yogurt, topped with a drizzle of melted spiced butter. Perfect for a light meal on its own or serve with toasted bread plus chopped tomatoes and cucumbers.
Ingredients
- ½ - 1 small clove garlic finely chopped or grated
- 1 pinch salt
- 100-150 ml full fat thick or Greek style yogurt
- 20 g butter
- ¼ - ½ tsp Aleppo pepper, chilli flakes or paprika
- ½ tsp ground cumin
- black pepper to taste
- 1 or 2 eggs
To serve (optional)
- dill, mint, coriander, or parsley finely or roughly chopped
- diced cucumber
- diced tomatoes
- 1 tsp toasted sesame seeds
- toast
Instructions
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Have ready a kettle approximately half full of boiled water.
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For the yogurt
Sprinkle the chopped garlic with a pinch of salt.
Using the flat part of a knife blade, mash the salt into the garlic to create a paste.
Optional: heat the yogurt
Put the yogurt in a microwave safe bowl and stir in the garlic paste. Heat for 10 - 25 seconds until just warm. Set aside.
If you don't have a microwave, heat the yogurt in a heatproof bowl over a simmering saucepan of boiling water. The water should not touch the bottom of the bowl. Stir the yogurt until it is just warm (2-3 min) then set aside.
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For the poached eggs
Pour boiling water from the kettle into a small but deepish frying pan and bring it to a gentle simmer.
Swirl the water then crack in 1 or 2 eggs (see Recipe Notes for tip on poaching eggs) and simmer for 1 - 1½ minutes.
Take the pan off the heat and leave until the eggs are done to your liking (2-3 min).
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For the spiced butter (make while the eggs are finishing)
Put the butter in a small saucepan and melt over moderate heat.
Add the spices and let it sizzle for about a minute (turn the heat up if necessary). Set aside.
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To serve
Spoon the garlic yogurt over the base of a small bowl or plate.
Remove the poached eggs from the pan with a slotted spoon and drain on kitchen paper if necessary. Place on top of the yogurt.
Pour the spiced butter over the eggs and yogurt.
Sprinkle over any of the optional suggestions and serve with toast if liked.
Recipe Notes
Get neater poached eggs.
Avoid those straggly bits of egg white when you poach eggs by cracking into a fine sieve over a bowl first. This allows the watery part of the white to drain away & you'll get a neater poached egg.