More often than not, I think about how lucky we are to know and have the influence of global cooking. There are endless flavor possibilities, ideas, and fun to be had. I preface with this because these Turkish Eggs are not traditional (but calling this dish eggs and yogurt felt wrong since it’s such an iconic dish).

For my riff, I’m using fried eggs instead of poached (although this is standard in other regions). I’ve added avocado (because it’s currently in season in California), and I’ve made the butter topping with harissa instead of the commonly used Aleppo pepper.

Herb Choices

If you look in my refrigerator at any given time, I will always have parsley. Fresh herbs add so much to dishes, and I never like to be without. Other herbs that would be lovely in this dish include dill, cilantro, and/or chives. Feel free to play around.

Yogurt

I did not use Greek yogurt the final time I made this recipe but instead, used a cream-on-top yogurt. I tend to prefer this type of yogurt as I find the flavor to be a bit less tart and the texture a bit smoother. I’d say, use what you have on hand as long as it’s plain. If your yogurt is thinner, try straining it before using it.

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Turkish Eggs with Harissa Butter and Avocado Relish

2 servings

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes

Yogurt

• ½ cup whole milk Greek yogurt (or cream top yogurt)
• 1 garlic clove
• ¼ teaspoon sea salt

Avocado

• 1 avocado
• ½ cup packed parsley
• Juice from half a lemon
• ½ teaspoon toasted sesame seeds (black and white)
• Salt (to taste)

Eggs

• 4 teaspoons ghee
• 2 eggs

Harissa Butter

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 to 3 teaspoons harissa paste (see note)

1. Combine the yogurt, garlic, and salt in a bowl. Let sit while making the rest of the dish.
2. Next, cut the avocado in half and remove the pit. Cut into the avocado lengthwise, then crosswise, being careful not to cut into the avocado skin. Use a spoon and scoop out the avocado pieces. Place in a bowl.
3. Mince the parsley and add to the avocado along with the lemon juice, sesame seeds, and salt. 
4. Heat a skillet over medium heat. Add half of the ghee and once melted, add the egg. Fry the egg, spooning some of the ghee over the egg whites to help set. Once the whites are set and starting to crisp around the edges, remove the egg and repeat the process with the remaining egg.
5. Finally, wipe out the egg skillet and return to low heat. Add the butter, melt, and stir in the harissa paste. Start with a small amount of the paste, adding more as you desire.
6. Assemble the eggs. Divide the yogurt into two dishes, smoothing over the bottom. Top each with an egg, followed by a drizzle of harrissa butter, and finish with the avocado relish. 

Notes

Notes

Harissa Paste: Taste your harissa paste before adding it to the butter. If it’s hot, start small and add more as desired. 

Room Temp Yogurt: This dish is traditionally served with room-temperature yogurt (which makes sense- cold yogurt/hot egg isn’t the most appealing mouthful). I’d recommend measuring your yogurt out about an hour before you plan to make the recipe. 

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time :15 minutes minutes