Turkish Inspired Eggs – Cilbir

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These Turkish Inspired Eggs is inspired by the Turkish dish called Çılbır, which are usually made with poached eggs. In my recipe, I use soft boiled eggs (I love the jammy egg texture!) and the dish is topped with a red pepper infused butter sauce. Toasted warm bread is used to dip and soak up the yummy garlic yogurt sauce with freshly picked dill.

Soft-boiled eggs over garlic yogurt sauce with spiced butter, served with bread slices.

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Ingredients:
How to Make Cilbur (Turkish Eggs)
Expert Tips
Recipe FAQs
If you enjoy egg dishes, try out these delicious recipes!
Turkish Inspired Eggs (Cilbur)
Expert Tips

Ingredients:

Here’s a look at what you need to make this Turkish Eggs at home. The highlights are here but the full ingredient list and quantities of each are in the recipe card.

Eggs – Buy high-quality pasteurized eggs for a fresh and delicious taste. Sometimes the yolk is orange and beautiful, but these types of eggs are also safer to consume raw.
Yogurt – use whole milk for extra creaminess! I recommend Greek Yogurt or Icelandic Skyr yogurt.
Ricotta (optional) – this makes the garlic yogurt sauce extra creamy. If you don’t have this, you can omit.
Garlic – fresh garlic tastes more savory and makes the dish more bright. Feel free to substitute with ground garlic powder instead.
Unsalted Butter – You will brown the butter on the pan and add salt to it. Therefore, unsalted is preferred.
Red Chili Flakes – This will add spice to your butter sauce. Traditionally, aleppo pepper is used. You can use either of the spices in your butter sauce.
Paprika – This gives the butter sauce, it’s bright red color! Don’t forget this!
Fresh Dill – fresh herbs bring out the acidity of the yogurt and garlic. You can also use parsley, cilantro or mint (or all!). Top with your preferred garnishes like tomatoes or sesame seeds (anything you like).

How to Make Cilbur (Turkish Eggs)

Yogurt, ricotta, garlic, salt, and pepper being mixed in a bowl.

Step 1. Mince your garlic and add the yogurt, ricotta (optional), grated garlic, and salt and pepper in a bowl.

Smoothly mixed garlic yogurt sauce in a white bowl.

Step 2: Mix until smooth and set aside.

Eggs boiling in a pot of water to prepare soft-boiled eggs.

Step 3: Place eggs in the pot when the water is boiling! Boiling is when you see large bubbles forming in the water (not small bubbles).

VERY IMPORTANT: Set a timer for 7 minutes. Do 6 minutes if you prefer more runny eggs.

Boiled eggs placed in a bowl of ice water to cool.

Step 4: Immediately when the timer is up, place eggs in ice cold water.

PRO TIP: Temper your eggs by placing them in a warm bowl of water after taking them out of the fridge. This prevents cracking when placing in the boiling water.

Soft-boiled eggs halved, showing their yolk on a wooden cutting board.

Step 5: Then, peel the eggs and cut them in half carefully.

Butter melting in a pan for preparing spiced butter sauce.

Step 6: Make the butter sauce by melting 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter in a pan on medium heat.

Red chili flakes and paprika added to browned butter in a pan.

Step 7: Once the butter starts to brown (it takes 1-2 minutes), add ½ teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon red chili flakes, and ½ teaspoon paprika. Mix continuously and cook for 1 minute. Turn off the heat and add 1 tablespoon of olive oil, then mix well. Let this cool.

Spiced butter sauce being drizzled over soft-boiled eggs and yogurt.

Step 8: To assemble the plate, add a layer of yogurt on a plate. Next, add the eggs on top of the yogurt and drizzle the butter sauce generously on top of the yogurt and eggs. Top with chopped dill. Dip the eggs and yogurt with toasted bread for the best result!

Turkish style eggs with garlic yogurt, spiced butter, dill, and bread slice.

Expert Tips

In order to to make perfect soft boiled eggs, temper your eggs. After taking your eggs out of the refrigerator, place them in a warm bowl of water. This helps bring your eggs to room temperature, which aids in even cooking and prevents the egg shells from cracking and leaking.
Place eggs in an ice bath to stop the cooking process. Additionally, this makes the eggshell peeling process much easier.
Toast some bread and eat with the turkish eggs. Crunchy and crispy bread goes so well with the smooth sauce and jammy eggs!
Butter can be easily bunt after it’s brown. Make sure you stir often and watch the heat.
Serve with Creamy Cilantro Sauce for extra savory flavor! It goes so well with white bread!

Recipe FAQs

What kind of yogurt should I use?

I recommend using greek full fat yogurt. You can also use Icelandic Skyr yogurt. This results in a creamy sauce!

How do I store this?

You can store the yogurt sauce, chili sauce and eggs separate close containers. When you want to reheat the butter chili sauce, place in the microwave for 30 seconds. The yogurt and eggs can be eaten straight from the fridge. This can stay in the fridge for up to 4 days.

What can I serve the Turkish Eggs with?

Turkish eggs is usually eaten with toasted bread. You can also eat with flatbread or even crispy crackers! The dip is spicy and infused with herbs. You can also serve this delicious Spanish Garlic Shrimp for a delicious dip breading dinner!

If you enjoy egg dishes, try out these delicious recipes!

Chinese steamed egg – soft and silken eggs are steamed and best served with white rice.
Shrimp and egg stir fry – easy 10 minute Chinese stir fry for an easy meal!
Hong Kong French Toast – soft and buttery bread filled with peanut butter topped with condensed milk!