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Turkish Simit (Sesame Bread Rings) Recipe

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4.1 from 1 review

Turkish Simit is a traditional sesame-covered bread ring, delightfully crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside. Made from a simple yeast dough enriched with grape molasses and generously coated in toasted sesame seeds, simit is a beloved street food and breakfast staple in Turkey. This recipe guides you through creating authentic simit with a golden crust and a tender crumb, perfect for enjoying with cheese, tea, or your favorite spreads.

  • Total Time: 2 hours 10 minutes
  • Yield: 8 servings (8 simit rings)

Ingredients

Dough

  • 4 cups all-purpose flour (sifted)
  • 1 tbsp sugar
  • 2 tsp instant yeast
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • 1 1/2 cups warm water (plus 1–2 tbsp more if needed)
  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil

For Dipping and Coating

  • 1/4 cup grape molasses
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 2 cups toasted sesame seeds

Instructions

  1. Combine Dry Ingredients: In the bowl of a stand mixer, sift the flour and add sugar, instant yeast, and kosher salt. Make a small well in the center for the wet ingredients.
  2. Add Wet Ingredients and Mix: Pour warm water and vegetable oil into the well. Using a dough hook, mix until the dough begins to come together. Adjust texture by adding more water if too dry or more flour if too wet.
  3. Knead the Dough: Knead with the dough hook for about 8 minutes until the dough is smooth, no longer sticky, and pulls cleanly away from the sides of the bowl.
  4. First Rise: Cover the bowl with a linen towel and allow the dough to rise for 1 hour until it doubles in size.
  5. Prepare Coatings: In a shallow dish, place the toasted sesame seeds. In a separate bowl, whisk together grape molasses and water to make the molasses dipping mixture.
  6. Shape the Simit: Punch down the risen dough and divide it into 16 equal pieces. Take two pieces and roll each into 20-inch long tubes. To achieve this, form each piece into a rectangle and stretch by pressing and rolling with your fingers repeatedly until long and thin tubes form.
  7. Create Twisted Rings: Lay the two tubes parallel, pinch one end together, then twist each tube in opposite directions to form a spiral. Connect the loose ends to form a ring and pinch to seal. Place the rings on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining dough pieces to make 8 rings total.
  8. Dip and Coat: Using one hand, dip each ring thoroughly into the molasses mixture, ensuring it is fully coated, then immediately roll in the sesame seeds to cover completely. Place the coated rings back on the baking sheet.
  9. Second Rise: Loosely cover the rings with a linen towel and let them rise for another 20 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
  10. Bake the Simit: Bake in the preheated oven for 14 minutes or until the rings turn golden brown and crispy on the outside.
  11. Cool and Serve: Let the simit cool slightly before eating, or cool completely and store in an airtight container or sealed bag to maintain freshness.

Notes

  • Use grape molasses for authentic flavor and glossy coating; if unavailable, pomegranate molasses can be a substitute though it alters flavor slightly.
  • Make sure sesame seeds are toasted to bring out their nutty flavor and create a crisp coating on the simit.
  • Simits are best enjoyed fresh but can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
  • You can freeze baked simit and reheat in the oven to refresh the crust.
  • Author: Maya
  • Prep Time: 30 minutes
  • Cook Time: 14 minutes
  • Category: Bread
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: Turkish

Find it online: https://recipeteach.com/turkish-simit-sesame-bread-rings-recipe/