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A close-up of Çılbır, Turkish eggs poached in creamy yogurt, topped with chili butter and herbs, with a piece of toast.

Çılbır: Turkish Eggs with Creamy Yogurt & Butter Sauce

This recipe shows you how to make Çılbır, a traditional Turkish dish featuring poached eggs over herbed yogurt, finished with a spiced butter sauce. It is a flavorful dish that is naturally gluten-free.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Make-Ahead Time 1 day
Total Time 1 day 25 minutes
Servings: 2 people
Course: Breakfast, Brunch
Cuisine: Turkish
Calories: 394

Ingredients
  

For the Herbed Yogurt
  • 1 cup whole milk Greek yogurt
  • 1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice about ½ a small lemon
  • 1 clove garlic peeled and grated or minced
  • 1 Tbsp fresh dill finely chopped
  • 2 tsp fresh mint finely chopped
  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt
For Serving
  • 4 large eggs recommended 2 per person
  • 1 Tbsp distilled white vinegar
  • 1 Pita or crusty bread
  • 1 Flaky sea salt
  • 1 Freshly ground black pepper
For the Sauce
  • 3 Tbsp unsalted butter
  • 1 tsp Aleppo pepper

Equipment

  • Large mixing bowl
  • Medium saucepan
  • Small ramekin or bowl
  • slotted spoon
  • Pan

Method
 

  1. Make the herbed yogurt. In a large mixing bowl, combine 1 cup of Greek yogurt, 1 Tbsp olive oil, 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice, 1 grated garlic clove, 1 Tbsp chopped dill, and ½ tsp kosher salt. Whisk well, then set aside.
  2. Poach the eggs. Fill a medium saucepan with at least 3 inches of water, then add 1 Tbsp white vinegar. Set over medium heat and bring to a gentle simmer, or just lower. You do not want the water to boil. Crack each egg into a small ramekin or bowl. When the water is just below a simmer, carefully drop one egg at a time into the water and poach for 3 minutes, or until the whites are fully set, but the yolk is still runny. Poach two eggs at a time to ensure even cooking. The eggs will not overcook as they rest.
  3. Drain the eggs. Using a slotted spoon, carefully transfer the poached eggs to a paper towel or kitchen towel lined plate to absorb excess moisture. Repeat with remaining eggs.
  4. Make the sauce. Place 3 Tbsp butter and 1 tsp Aleppo pepper in a pan over medium heat. Cook until fragrant, about 1 minute, stirring often.
  5. Assemble, then serve! Divide yogurt evenly between shallow bowls. Top each with two poached eggs, then spoon the sauce on top. Garnish with additional fresh dill or mint, then sprinkle each poached egg with flaky sea salt. Serve immediately with pita or crusty bread.

Nutrition

Calories: 394kcalCarbohydrates: 4gProtein: 24gFat: 31gSaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 412mgSodium: 392mgPotassium: 287mgFiber: 0.02gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 913IUVitamin C: 0.4mgCalcium: 186mgIron: 2mg

Notes

The yogurt mixture can be prepared a day in advance. To make poached eggs ahead of time, poach them 1 day in advance. Store them in a sealed container filled with ice cold water, then refrigerate. When ready to eat, heat a saucepan of water on the stovetop over medium heat. When it is hot, lower each egg into the warm water for 30-60 seconds, then serve. Nutrition facts do not include pita or crusty bread.

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