Turkish Eggs (Cilbir)

Description

At my age I feel like I’ve seen and done it all, so you can only imagine my shock at finding a new way to do eggs. I would never have thought to pair yogurt with poached eggs and a spicy red pepper butter, but it might be my new favorite breakfast now. Fried eggs also work in this, any way you like ’em. Serve with toasted crusty bread for dipping.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup Greek yogurt, at room temperature
  • 1 clove garlic
  • ¼ teaspoon salt, or to taste (Optional)
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 pinch cayenne pepper
  • 2 ½ tablespoons finely chopped fresh dill, or to taste
  • ½ stick unsalted butter
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cumin
  • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 tablespoon Aleppo chili flakes
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
  • 1 tablespoon diced jalapeno pepper
  • 1 pinch salt (Optional)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil (Optional)
  • 1 tablespoon white vinegar, or as needed
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 pinch sea salt

Instructions

  1. Make yogurt spread: Place yogurt in a medium bowl and grate in garlic; mix to combine. Season with pepper
  2. salt
  3. and cayenne. Add dill and mix thoroughly. Set aside at room temperature.
  4. Make Aleppo butter: Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat; heat until bubbles begin to burst. Add chili flakes
  5. paprika
  6. and cumin. Stir until color is uniform. Turn off heat and let spices infuse.
  7. Make parsley and jalapeño oil: Grind parsley and jalapeño together in a mortar. Drizzle in olive oil and season with salt; stir to combine.
  8. Make poached eggs: Fill a large saucepan with 2 to 3 inches of water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low
  9. add vinegar
  10. and keep water at a gentle simmer. Crack an egg into a small bowl
  11. then gently slip egg into water
  12. 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
  13. 2 1/2 to 3 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon
  14. pat dry on a kitchen towel
  15. and place onto a warm plate.
  16. Dollop yogurt mixture onto serving plates. Use the back of a spoon to spread yogurt
  17. 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.

Prep Time: 25 mins

Cook Time: 10 mins

Total Time: 35 mins

Servings: 2

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