
Cilbir
Cilbir is a stunning Turkish dish of silky poached eggs nestled in a cloud of garlicky yogurt and drizzled with a vibrant, paprika-spiced brown butter. A staple of Ottoman cuisine, it has gone viral for good reason — the combination of warm, runny yolks melting into cool, tangy yogurt and fiery red butter is as dramatic as it is delicious. Perfect for a leisurely weekend brunch, it comes together in under 30 minutes and looks like something straight off a restaurant menu.
2 servings · Prep 10 min · Cook 15 min · Total 25 min
Main Course · Brunch
Ingredients
Open in recipe scaler →Yogurt Base
1 cup full-fat Greek yogurt room temperature
2 cloves garlic finely grated or minced
1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
0.25 tsp fine sea salt
Main
4 large eggs very fresh, cold
1 tbsp white wine vinegar
2 tbsp fresh dill roughly chopped
1 pinch flaky sea salt
4 slice crusty bread sourdough or Turkish pide, toasted- Turkish pide
Spiced Butter
4 tbsp unsalted butter- 1.5 tsp Aleppo pepper flakes or substitute sweet smoked paprika with a pinch of cayenne
sweet smoked paprika with a pinch of cayenne
0.5 tsp sweet paprika
Equipment
Stovetop
Saucepan
Mixing Bowl
Skillet
Pot
Paper Towel
Wooden Spoon
Slotted Spoon
Ramekins
Whisk
Pan
Saucepan (5 Quarts)
Mixing Bowl (4 Quarts)
Sieve
Instructions
- In a small #[Mixing Bowl], combine the @[Greek Yogurt], grated @[Garlic], @[Lemon Juice], and @[Fine Sea Salt]. Stir well until smooth and creamy. Taste and adjust seasoning. Divide the @[Greek Yogurt] between two wide, shallow serving bowls and spread it out into an even layer using the back of a spoon. Set aside at room temperature — the @[Greek Yogurt] should not be cold when the @[Eggs] go on top.
- Fill a medium #[Saucepan] with about 3 inches of water and bring to a gentle simmer over ^[medium heat]. Add the @[White Wine Vinegar]. Crack each @[Egg] individually into a small cup or ramekin. Once the water is barely simmering (small bubbles, not a rolling boil), stir the water gently to create a slow swirl, then slide one @[Egg] at a time into the center. Poach 2 @[Eggs] at a time for ~[3 to 3.5 minutes] for a runny yolk, or up to ~[4 minutes] for a slightly firmer set. Remove with a slotted spoon, blot dry on a paper towel, and place 2 @[Eggs] on top of the @[Greek Yogurt] in each bowl. Repeat with remaining @[Eggs].
- While the second batch of @[Eggs] poaches, melt the @[Butter] in a small #[Saucepan] over ^[medium heat]. Swirl the pan occasionally and cook until the @[Butter] turns golden and smells nutty, about ~[2 to 3 minutes]. Remove from heat and immediately stir in the @[Aleppo Pepper Flakes] and @[Sweet Paprika]. The @[Butter] will sizzle and turn a deep, vibrant red. Work quickly — the residual heat blooms the spices perfectly.
- Spoon the hot spiced @[Butter] generously over the poached @[Eggs] and @[Greek Yogurt] in each bowl, letting it pool and swirl into the white @[Greek Yogurt]. Scatter fresh @[Dill] over the top and finish with a pinch of @[Flaky Sea Salt]. Serve immediately with plenty of toasted crusty @[Sourdough Bread] for scooping up every last bit.




