> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://thefoodiekitchen.net/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Turkish Eggs — Çılbır in Brown Butter and Chilli - URL: https://thefoodiekitchen.net/turkish-eggs-cilbir-butter/ - Published: 2026-08-17T08:34:46.000Z - Updated: 2026-09-15T04:22:52.000Z - Description: Çılbır is the Ottoman breakfast that has survived into the modern Turkish kitchen — poached eggs on thick garlic yoghurt with brown butter and Aleppo pepper. A 10-minute breakfast of extraordinary depth. - Author: Savannah Ryan - Tags: Mediterranean Recipes, MAHA Recipes Çılbır is a 15th-century Ottoman dish that appears in records from the Topkapi Palace kitchen — poached eggs served on garlic yoghurt, finished with a sauce of butter browned with spices. It fell out of fashion for centuries and has been rediscovered in the 21st century as Turkish food has gained international attention. The combination of warm runny egg yolk, cool tangy yoghurt, and hot spiced butter is one of those rare dishes where the sum is dramatically greater than its parts. ## The Yoghurt The yoghurt base must be strained, full-fat yoghurt — Greek yoghurt or labneh. Thin yoghurt turns the dish watery when the hot eggs and butter are added. The yoghurt is seasoned with raw garlic — one clove, finely grated — and salt, and should be at room temperature when the eggs are placed on top. Cold yoghurt cools the eggs too quickly. ## The Brown Butter and Aleppo The sauce is brown butter with Aleppo pepper (pul biber) — a mildly hot, fruity, oil-rich dried chilli from the Aleppo region of Syria and southern Turkey. Aleppo pepper dissolves into the brown butter beautifully, turning it a deep red-orange. The sauce is poured hot over the eggs and yoghurt tableside, creating the sizzle and aroma that defines the dish. ## Serves 2 · Prep 5 min · Cook 8 min Serves 2 Prep 5 min Cook 8 min ### Ingredients - 4 large eggs - 250g thick Greek yoghurt or labneh - 1 garlic clove, finely grated - 60g unsalted butter - 1 tbsp Aleppo pepper flakes (pul biber) or sweet paprika with chilli flakes - Fresh dill or mint to garnish - Salt ### Method 1. Combine yoghurt with grated garlic and a pinch of salt. Spread in two shallow bowls. Allow to come to room temperature. 2. Bring a deep pan of water to a gentle simmer. Add a splash of white wine vinegar. 3. Crack each egg into a small cup. Create a gentle whirlpool in the water. Slide eggs in one at a time. 4. Poach 3 minutes for runny yolk. Remove with a slotted spoon. 5. Place 2 poached eggs on each bowl of yoghurt. 6. In a small pan, melt butter over medium heat until foaming and turning golden-brown. 7. Add Aleppo pepper. Remove from heat — it will sizzle in the butter. 8. Pour hot butter immediately over the eggs and yoghurt. Garnish with fresh herbs. ## Variations - Add a drizzle of sumac for additional tartness - Use crispy sage leaves fried in the butter instead of Aleppo pepper - Serve on toasted sourdough instead of in a bowl - Add a handful of wilted spinach under the yoghurt Frequently Asked Questions What is Aleppo pepper? A mildly hot, fruity, oil-rich dried chilli from the Aleppo region of Syria. It has a heat level between sweet paprika and cayenne with a fruity, slightly cumin-like character. Available at Middle Eastern grocery stores. Can I use fried eggs instead of poached? Yes — the dish works with any egg preparation. Fried eggs in butter with the runny yolk intact is the fastest version. Is this suitable for breakfast? It is a traditional Ottoman and Turkish breakfast dish, though it works equally well as a brunch or light lunch. Shop This Recipe Kerrygold Unsalted Butter Irish grass-fed butter — 82% fat, the benchmark for baking and finishing sauces. [Get on Amazon →](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00151WA06?tag=thefoodieki0f-20&ref=thefoodiekitchen.net) Savannah Ryan · Amazon Savor Mediterranean 20 Mediterranean recipes in olive oil and butter — Greek, Italian, Spanish and Turkish. [Get on Amazon →](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DQVW2FDW?tag=thefoodieki0f-20&ref=thefoodiekitchen.net) Shop on The Foodie Kitchen - [Seed oil free pantry — every fat, every brand](https://thefoodiekitchen.net/seed-oil-free-pantry-staples-amazon/) - [All 25 cookbooks by Savannah Ryan](https://thefoodiekitchen.net/cookbooks/) Related Recipes - [Cacio e Pepe in Butter](https://thefoodiekitchen.net/cacio-e-pepe-butter/) - [Ghee Deviled Eggs](https://thefoodiekitchen.net/ghee-deviled-eggs/) - [Greek Lamb Kleftiko](https://thefoodiekitchen.net/greek-lamb-kleftiko/) --- Follow Savannah: [@theefoodiekitchen](https://www.instagram.com/theefoodiekitchen/?ref=thefoodiekitchen.net) · [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61572217094296) · [All Links](https://linktr.ee/theefoodiekitchen?ref=thefoodiekitchen.net)