Silky Turkish Eggs with Spiced Butter (Çilbir)
Turkish poached eggs served on garlicky yoghurt and drizzled with spiced butter infused with Aleppo pepper and paprika. A quick, elegant brunch ready in 20 minutes.
A filling vegetarian curry with chickpeas, spinach, and aromatic spices, served with fluffy couscous. Ready in 30 minutes, ideal for weeknight dinners.
Chickpeas and spinach work well together because the chickpeas give you something substantial to get your teeth into, while the spinach wilts down and adds colour and a bit of iron. The combination feels properly filling without being heavy.
The curry starts with building up the spice base slowly. You cook the onion until it's soft, then add the ginger, cumin seeds, and black mustard seeds. These need a good ten minutes on low heat to release their flavours properly. The garlic goes in near the end so it doesn't burn and turn bitter.
Once the spices smell right, you add the tinned tomatoes, chickpeas, and the ground spices. Everything needs to simmer together for about ten minutes so the chickpeas can absorb some of the sauce. The spinach goes in last with the lid on, which steams it down in about five minutes.
The couscous is straightforward. You pour hot vegetable stock over it with some lemon zest, cover it, and leave it for five minutes. A fork fluffs it up nicely, and a drizzle of olive oil stops it clumping together.
The lemon juice brightens up the whole curry at the end, bringing everything together and balancing the earthy chickpeas.
This keeps well in the fridge and actually tastes better the next day when the flavours have had time to settle. You can reheat it gently on the hob or in the microwave. It works fine on its own or as part of a bigger spread if you're doing a curry night. Takes about thirty minutes from start to finish, and most of that is just letting things cook while you get on with other bits.
Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheats well on the hob or in the microwave. The flavours improve overnight.
Serving Suggestions
Serve with warm naan bread and a dollop of natural yoghurt. Works brilliantly as part of a curry spread with rice and sides.
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