Poached Eggs with Garlic Yoghurt, Turkish Style – Cilbir
We Turks love eggs done many different ways; one of our favorite ways to enjoy egg is as being poached and served over garlic yoghurt, a special dish called Cilbir, in Turkish. Cilbir is generally enjoyed as a hot mezze though I like serving as lunch or a light supper, along with a refreshing salad like Coban Salata, Shepherd’s Salad with cucumbers, tomatoes, spring onions and some pide bread or crusty bread.
I also like to prepare a simple red pepper flakes infused olive oil sauce and pour this over the poached eggs with garlic yoghurt, just before serving. The delicious heat from the red pepper flakes complements the dish beautifully.
I hope you enjoy this simple yet very satisfying dish, Afiyet Olsun. Also, my very best wishes for a wonderful festive season to you all, in good health and happiness.
Ozlem
- 1 small garlic clove, crushed and chopped finely
- 1 cup / 8 fl. oz. plain thick yoghurt, brought to room temperature
- 2 large free range eggs
- 30 ml / 2 tbsp. olive oil
- 30 ml / 2 tbsp. white wine vinegar
- 10 ml / 2 tsp. Turkish pul biber, red pepper flakes or chili flakes
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- Pide bread or crusty bread to serve
- Prepare the garlic yoghurt first – about 10, 15 minutes before poaching the eggs – and bring to the room temperature.
- In a small bowl, beat the yoghurt with garlic and seasoning. Spoon this into two serving plates, creating a round thick layer to provide a nest for the poached egg. Let the yoghurt mixture reach the room temperature.
- Fill a small pan with hot water, add the vinegar (this will help sealing the egg whites) and bring to a boil. Stir the water to create a whirlpool and crack in the first egg.
- As the egg spins and the white sets around the yolk, stir the water ready for the next one. Poach each egg for 2-3 minutes so that the yolk remains soft.
- While the eggs are poaching, quickly pour in the olive oil in a small pan and stir in the Turkish pul biber, red pepper flakes or chili flakes, over medium to high heat. Stir and let the red pepper flakes infuse to olive oil for a few minutes, turn the heat off.
- Lift the eggs out of the water with a slotted spoon and place them over the garlic yoghurt spread.
- Drizzle the red pepper flakes infused olive oil over the poached eggs. Serve immediately with pide bread or crusty bread by the side.
- Coban Salata, Shepherd’s Salad with cucumbers, tomatoes, spring onions would also go well with this delicious poached eggs over garlic yoghurt, Cilbir; Afiyet Olsun.
Turkish Cookery Classes in January 2017 – can be a wonderful foodie gift
Wednesday, Jan 11th – Turkish Pide Class at Blid & Hatton Gatherings, Cobham – 1 space available
Sunday, Jan. 29th 2017 – Healthy, Hearty Turkish Supper with Ozlem- at Divertimenti Cookery School
Lahmacun; Turkish thin pizzas with minced meat and vegetable, at our Jan. 29th Turkish Cookery Class
Get 2017 off to a healthy and wholesome start with my selection of Turkish supper dishes from my homeland at our Turkish cookery class at Divertimenti Cookery School on Sunday, January 29th, 12 pm – 3.30 pm. Packed full of flavor and easily reproduced at home without having to spend hours at your cooker, you will be surprised at the simplicity of such stunning dishes. During the class you will also be joined by a Turkish coffee expert, Ozerlat Coffee, who will carefully demonstrate all the rituals behind Turkish coffee making whilst offering you plenty of opportunity for tastings. Menu will include ‘Mercimek Corbasi’ (Lentil soup with cumin and red pepper flakes), ‘Zeytinyagli Pirasa’ (Leeks and carrots with olive oil, rice and lemon), ‘Lahmacun’ (Turkish thin pizza with minced meat and vegetables), ‘Cezerye’ (Caramelised carrot delight with walnuts) Turkish Coffee and Turkish Delight.
The classes would also make a wonderful gift for the festive season. You can view the class details and book through Divertimenti Cookery School at this link, hope you can join us!
Ozlem’s Turkish Table on Brooklands Radio
At Brooklands Radio, with Jill Bennett, talking about healthy Turkish Cuisine.
I had the pleasure of having an interview with Jill Bennet on healthy Turkish cuisine at the Brooklands Radio on Sunday, 27th November. It was wonderful to have a chance to talk and spread the word on wholesome, delicious Turkish cuisine – and had a flash back of happy memories of my amateur DJ days at Kent FM in Istanbul! – Here is the podcast link of our interview, if you like to listen to.