Simit: Sesame-Encrusted Turkish Bread Rings
With a soft inside and a golden sesame crust, this classic Turkish bread makes a tasty snack or side to a wider meze spread.
Introduction
I adore simit and it really is the most quintessential Turkish snack. You can have simit for breakfast with a cup of çay (Turkish tea), sliced cucumber, tomatoes, beyaz peynir (our feta) and olives, or you can enjoy them for a mid-morning or afternoon snack. Turks mostly prefer savoury accompaniments to simit, although I must say it is also lovely with some butter and jam. Simit has always been so widely available that no one really attempted to make it at home, especially while I was growing up. Moving abroad in my late twenties, I greatly missed simit and was delighted to come across dear Leanne Kitchen’s recipe in her beautiful book, Turkey: Recipes and Tales From the Road. I have adapted Leanne’s simit recipe and have been making simit successfully thanks to her for over 13 years. Each time it brings a huge dose of home and joy back to me. It really is easy to make once you get the hang of the shaping – a popular one at my cookery classes.
Ingredients
| ¼ tsp | sugar |
| 60ml (2 fl oz/¼ cup) | lukewarm water (1st stage) |
| 1 tbsp | dried yeast |
| 310ml (10 ¾ fl oz/ generous 1¼ cups) | lukewarm water (2nd stage) |
| 500g (1 lb 2oz/4 cups) | plain (all-purpose) flour, plus extra for dusting |
| 2 tsp | sea salt |
| olive oil, for greasing | |
| FOR COATING | |
|---|---|
| 140ml (4½ fl oz/generous ½ cup) | grape molasses |
| 60ml (2 fl oz/¼ cup) | water |
| 155g (5 oz/1 cup) | sesame seeds |
Method
Combine the sugar and 1st stage quantity of lukewarm water in a small bowl, then sprinkle over the dried yeast, and mix well with a small spoon. Set aside for about 8 minutes, or until foamy.
Next add the 2nd stage quantity of lukewarm water to the yeast mixture and combine well.
Combine the flour and salt in a large bowl and make a well in the middle. Pour in the yeast mixture and stir to form a rough dough. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for
about 5 minutes, or until the dough is smooth and elastic. Roll the dough into a ball and place in a lightly oiled bowl, turning to coat. Cover with cling film (plastic wrap) and leave to rise in a warm, draught-free place for 45 minutes–1 hour, or until doubled in size.
Preheat the oven to 200°C fan/220°C/425°F/gas 7 and line 2 large baking sheets with baking paper. For coating, combine the grape molasses with the water in a large bowl and mix well. Place the sesame seeds on a large, flat plate.
Knock back the dough on a lightly floured, clean work surface and divide it into 8 even-sized pieces. Working with one piece of dough at a time, use your hands to roll the dough out to a 60 cm (24 in) rope. Fold in half so the two ends align and twist into a two-stranded rope. Join the ends together to make a circle, pressing firmly to seal and rolling the ends with your palm to make a neat ring shape. Repeat with the remaining dough to make 8 rings.
Dip each ring into the grape molasses mixture, immersing completely to coat, then let any excess drip off into the bowl. Next, toss in the sesame seeds, turning gently to coat both sides. Transfer to the prepared baking sheets and gently stretch to make neat rings. Set aside at room temperature for about 10 minutes until puffed slightly. Bake for 17–18 minutes, or until deep golden and cooked through. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.
Serving suggestions: Enjoy simit with eggs, with meze, or as an all-day snack. It is delicious with Çılbır (page 61 of Sebze), as well as with Unscrambled Menemen (page 62), where you can gently reheat simit pieces in the pan, soaking up the flavours. Also try simit with butter and Kuru İncir Reçeli (page 242) – it is divine.
Note: Grape molasses, üzüm pekmezi, is traditionally used in making simit. If you can’t get grape molasses, date, fig or carob molasses would work, too.
Reviews
Have you tried this recipe? Let us know how it went by leaving a comment below.
Our team will respond to any queries as soon as we can - this may take longer over weekends. You do not need to resubmit your comment.
Please note: Moderation is enabled and may delay your comment being posted. There is no need to resubmit your comment. By posting a comment you are agreeing to the website Terms of Use.
