During Ottoman era, çilbir was simply the generic term for poached eggs prepared in a variety of ways. Over centuries, as the imperial cooks were improving different recipes, this particular variation supposedly became a favorite of the early 20th-century sultan Abdul Hamid II. The recipe became the gold standard across the empire, and even today çilbir stands for poached eggs doused in garlic-flavored yogurt. The dish is sprinkled with red pepper flakes and ground paprika, and typically served sided with pide bread.
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