Turkish Style Poached Eggs Recipe (2024)

Breakfast|Destinations|Recipes|Turkey

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Turkish Style Poached Eggs Recipe (1)

We really enjoyed going to the local markets in Turkey. It’s where most Turks shop rather than in the big supermarkets. There are a huge number of vendors in the larger city markets like Fethiye. So there is good competition and plenty of choice.

Turkish Style Poached Eggs Recipe (2)

Our observation was that the fruit and vegetables on offer at the markets were super fresh and were of a much higher quality than in the supermarkets. Many of the vegetables looked as if they had been picked that morning or the previous evening.

Prices were about the same as from supermarkets. So why wouldn’t you buy the higher quality item at the market from a small, family vendor rather than some corporate supermarket chain with long supply chains?

Shopping at the markets is a rather social affair. The vendors are quite happy to have a chat and after a few weeks they remembered us. All in all a very pleasant atmosphere. And so different to back home.

A lot of “home produce” is available at the markets. Olive oil in co*ke bottles, bulk dips, tahini, honey, eggs and olives to mention a few. Many dairy items are available this way as well, such as butter, yogurt, labna, keifer and various cheeses, including our favorite, traditionally sold out of a goatskin.

Turkish Style Poached Eggs Recipe (3)

This is “not allowed” in Australia, the US and some other western countries as it is not considered “safe”. All I can say is that we had some if not the best tasting dairy products of all time on our trip to Turkey with no ill effects. We loved being able to buy from the smaller vendor and enjoyed our attempts to communicate.

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Here is some more information about markets and shopping in Turkey.

So in honor of all things fresh, try this delicious 1 dish concoction for breakfast. If you can, try to source the products from your farmer’s market or even better from your own home garden.

More Gourmet Breakfasts

If you are looking for some more gourmet breakfasts to try from around the world, here are a few:

Here is a classy breakfast. Swiss potato rosti is a classic! You can eat these grated potato cakes plain or topped with your favorite breakfast ingredients.

Avocado smash is colorful, healthy and becoming very popular all around the world. One of our go to breakfasts when you have access to good avocados.

Strapatsada or Greek scrambled eggs feature tomatoes gently cooked in olive oil. It’s another one pot dish that is the pride and joy of Crete.

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Turkish Style Poached Eggs

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Here is another one of our favorite Turkish dishes. This one makes a hearty and healthy breakfast, brunch or lunch. What I love about this dish is that it can be cooked in one pan and is quite simple. There is a slight heat to the dish with the addition of paprika and some sharpish goat’s milk feta. It is worth seeking out the sucuk, as it has a unique, spicy flavor, so typical of Turkey. When cooking this in Turkey, we used some “village” goat’s milk cheese, actually stored in and sold out of a goat’s skin! Spinach is sold loose and was super-fresh. We ate spinach almost every day for breakfast and when we did not eat it, we missed it.

Servings Prep Time Cook Time
2people 5minutes 15minutes
Servings Prep Time
2people 5minutes
Cook Time
15minutes
  • Course Breakfast
  • Cuisine Turkish

Ingredients

  • 1/3 lb spinach washed, including the stems
  • 1/4 lb sucuk or chorizo, sliced diagonally*
  • 1 onion, brown roughly choppeed
  • 2 tomatoes roughly chopped
  • 1 tsp paprika, mild
  • 1/2 cup goat's milk feta crumbled*
  • 4 eggs
  • drizzle olive oil extra virgen

Servings: people

Units:

  • Course Breakfast
  • Cuisine Turkish

Ingredients

  • 1/3 lb spinach washed, including the stems
  • 1/4 lb sucuk or chorizo, sliced diagonally*
  • 1 onion, brown roughly choppeed
  • 2 tomatoes roughly chopped
  • 1 tsp paprika, mild
  • 1/2 cup goat's milk feta crumbled*
  • 4 eggs
  • drizzle olive oil extra virgen

Servings: people

Units:

Instructions

  1. Place the spinach in a pan over a medium heat and cook until wilted, about 1 minute. Remove the spinach and allow to drain.
  2. Place the sucuk in the same pan. Cook for about 1 minute on each side. Remove and reserve without removing the pan drippings.
  3. Place the onion in the pan and cook for about 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  4. Add the tomatoes, paprika and half of the feta. Season with salt and pepper and stir to combine. Cook for about 5 minutes. The tomatoes should be broken down.
  5. Return the spinach and sucuk to the pan and stir to combine.
  6. With the back of a spoon make 4 indentations. Break the eggs carefully into each indentation. Sprinkle a pinch of paprika over the eggs and sprinkle the remaining feta over the tomato mixture. Place a lid on the pan and allow the eggs to “poach” in the tomato mixture. Check for doneness and remove when the egg whites are cooked but the yolks are still soft.
  7. After placing onto plates, drizzle some olive oil over and serve immediately.

Recipe Notes

For an authentic Turkish taste, it is worth seeking out the sucuk and goat’s milk feta. The sucuk sausage is commonly used in Turkish cooking. It can be sliced in half and grilled on the BBQ (really outstanding). The goat’s milk feta is quite sharp and mildly salty. Try to source both products in better delicatessens or you can try the links above.

I prefer to use mature spinach as it has more flavour. However, baby spinach and silver beat, will also work.

For a vegetarian version of this dish, replace the sucuk with cooked chick peas.

Turkish Style Poached Eggs Recipe (7)

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20 Responses

  1. Becky @ Bite of Delight

    | Reply

    This looks absolutely delicious! Such a wonderful breakfast, I can’t wait to try it!

    • Editor

      |

      Thank you for your kind comments Becky. We still make this breakfast even if we don’t have any of the sucuk sausage on hand. Cheers….Mark

  2. Fareeha

    | Reply

    Loved reading ur post.. The turks sure know their way around the food..

    • Editor

      |

      Fareeha thanks for your comment. We loved the food in Turkey. There is a high emphasis on vegetables and they have many delightful ways of cooking them. Cheers….Mark

  3. Brian Jones

    | Reply

    Love the sound of this, a bit of a meaty take on a shakshouka with a poached egg… Lovely!

    • Editor

      |

      Hi Brian

      Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for the tip on the shakshouka, I will have to try it.

      Cheers….Mark

  4. Madiha Nawaz

    | Reply

    Loved reading and knowing a little about the Turkish markets and thanks for showing the glimses of it too 🙂
    Your recipe sounds similar to shukshuka, which is a middle eastern egg dish and is eaten in other regions too 🙂 I shall try making it the Turkish way next time by using your recipe 🙂
    Thank you for sharing!

    • Editor

      |

      Thanks for reading. There is another post about Turkish markets (in Fethiye) here https://www.compassandfork.com/food-shopping-fethiye/

  5. Dawn @ Words Of Deliciousness

    | Reply

    This sounds like a wonder dish for breakfast. It sounds like a wonderful trip to Turkey.

    • Editor

      |

      Yes quite a filling dish as well. Turkey flies a bit under the radar for travel and has a lot to offer.

  6. Katalina @ Peas & Peonies

    | Reply

    I am obsessed with eggs, and I am always happy to find new ways to enjoy them, love the recipe.

    • Editor

      |

      This recipe is incredibly tasty, we use it for brunch and guests and always get rave reviews!

  7. Sally - My Custard Pie

    | Reply

    Beautiful pics of the markets in Turkey. This is one of my favourite recipes – the Turks know how to do a good breakfast.

    • Editor

      |

      Yes, a Turkish breakfast is a real meal!

  8. Kavey

    | Reply

    Totally agree with you on markets, is one of my favourite aspects of travel. Eggs look great!

    • Editor

      |

      Yes I think markets are a great way to meet the locals as well and learn new things to cook. We get great recipe tips at the markets!

  9. Cassandrea ~ Chews and Brews

    | Reply

    Oh wow! This looks amazing!! YUM!

    • Editor

      |

      Give them a try and let us know what you think!

  10. I like the idea of a poached egg incorporated into those wonderful ingredients. Will definitely try it because we have plenty of feta goat cheese here. Thanks for sharing…

    • Editor

      |

      Yes, the goat’s feta is a great taste in the overall dish!

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Turkish Style Poached Eggs Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What are Turkish eggs made of? ›

It's simply poached eggs over a bed of garlicky yogurt drizzled with a spiced butter sauce. Make sure to use Greek yogurt versus simply a plain yogurt because you want it to be a thick spread for the base of the dish.

How to make the best poached eggs? ›

Gently tip the ramekin into the water for the egg to slide out. Poach the eggs – as soon as your eggs are all in, cover with a tight-fitting lid, remove from heat, and set a timer for 4 minutes. Remove the eggs with a slotted spoon. I like to tap the spoon over a paper towel to remove excess water before plating.

How do you make poached eggs taste better? ›

Vinegar — this acid helps the eggs hold their shape in the water. I like using white vinegar, but you can also use apple cider vinegar, white wine vinegar, or even a splash of lemon juice in a pinch! Just be aware that lemon juice will give the eggs a slightly lemony flavor.

Should I use vinegar when poaching eggs? ›

Adding a splash of vinegar to the water sets the whites faster, so you have fewer wispy bits. However, if you follow the other tips this extra step usually isn't necessary. Avoid stirring immediately. Don't be tempted to move the egg around too soon after you put it in the water.

Why are they called Turkish eggs? ›

What are Turkish eggs? Turkish eggs, called çilbir (chill-burr), is a dish dating back to the Ottoman Empire around the 15th century. As it's made today, there are just three main components: eggs, yogurt and chile oil.

How do you eat Turkish eggs? ›

Divide the warm creamy yogurt between two shallow bowls, top each with a poached egg, pour the peppery butter around and slightly over the yogurt, scatter the chopped dill on top, and eat dreamily, dipping in some thick well-toasted bread as you do so.

What's the secret to poached eggs? ›

Use vinegar

The vinegar helps the egg whites cook faster, allowing the egg to better stay together. Just adding about a Tablespoon of vinegar to your water can make all the difference. And that's on chemistry.

What does vinegar do in poached eggs? ›

The other way is to increase the acidity of how you're cooking it. "Vinegar is an inherently acidic material, so if we add a few drops of vinegar into that boiling water that is going to increase the rate of denaturing and it's going to make that happen faster and help the poached egg hold its shape better."

How to make a poached egg step by step? ›

How to make poached eggs
  1. Pour boiling water into a shallow pan or frying pan, to a depth of about 3cm. Bring back to the boil then reduce to a simmer.
  2. Crack each egg into a. cup, then gently tip. ...
  3. Using medium eggs, simmer for: 2 minutes - soft. ...
  4. Carefully remove the poached egg with a slotted spoon and serve immediately.

How many minutes for poached eggs? ›

A really soft poached egg should take around 2 minutes and a soft-to-firm one will need 4 minutes (it depends on the size of the egg and whether you're using it straight from the fridge). To check if it's done, carefully remove your egg from the pan with a slotted spoon and give it a gentle prod with a teaspoon.

Should eggs be cold before poaching? ›

Let eggs come to room temperature before poaching, as that helps them cook more evenly. Take the eggs you want to poach out of the fridge at least 30 minutes before you plan to cook them. If your eggs are not farm-fresh, you can add a few drops of vinegar or lemon juice to the water.

How long do you soak eggs in vinegar before poaching? ›

you don't have to worry about it flying everywhere. You wanna let your eggs soak for about 10 minutes. If you let them soak for too long, they will pick up a little vinegar flavor.

How much vinegar do you put in water for poached eggs? ›

Directions. Heat the water: Add enough water to come 1 inch up the side of a narrow, deep 2-quart saucier. Add 1 teaspoon kosher salt and 2 teaspoons white vinegar and bring to a simmer over medium heat.

Can I use apple cider vinegar instead of white vinegar for poached eggs? ›

Add vinegar: I always recommend adding a tablespoon of vinegar (preferably a mild-tasting vinegar, like rice or apple cider vinegar) to the water before adding your eggs. It helps the whites to coagulate more quickly. And don't worry — you can't even taste it.

Are turkey eggs healthier than chicken eggs? ›

Turkey eggs are nutritionally similar to chicken eggs, although they are slightly fattier and more calorific, even when you adjust for their larger size. The average turkey egg contains 135 calories to a chicken egg's 72, with 9 grams of fat versus 5 grams for chicken eggs.

What are the benefits of Turkish eggs? ›

Good for hair and skin – Turkish eggs are a great superfood for both the skin and hair. The nutrients present in these eggs — such as protein, Vitamin B complex and fats — help strengthen and nourish the hair.

Are turkey eggs different from chicken eggs? ›

Turkey eggs are only about 50%. larger than a chicken egg, but they have nearly twice the amount of calories, fats, and protein. But the look, texture, and flavor of a Turkey egg. is nearly identical to that of a chicken egg.

Why don t we buy turkey eggs? ›

According to Modern Farmer, it comes down to economics. To justify the expense of raising turkey eggs, farmers would have to charge about $3 per egg, or $36 a dozen. You can get a lot more chicken eggs for that price.

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