Once you have tried Simit you will quickly understand how they have become so popular as a snack or quick breakfast on the go.
Throughout the streets of Turkish towns and cities, you will find vendors with literally hundreds of these round bagel-shaped bread loops that are crusted with a topping of roasted sesame seeds.
Unless you are fairly early the chances are that you could be disappointed as these are often sold out quickly, despite the huge amounts that are baked daily.
Below you will find my recipe for home-baked simit. Of course, they are not baked in a traditional wood-fired oven like in Turkey, and you will not be able to sit on a bench overlooking the Bosphorous Chanel while enjoying them, but if you close your eyes and use your imagination you might find yourself transported into the experience in your mind.
Simit Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Stand mixer
Ingredients
- 500 gr Sesame Seeds
- 500 gr Flour
- 1 tsp Salt
- 1 tsp Sugar
- 1 tsp Dry instant yeast
- 300 ml Warm water
- 1 tbsp Vegetable oil
- 1 Dollop Butter
Dip for Simit
- 1 to 2 tbsp Molasses
- 1 cup Warm water
- 1 tsp flour
Instruction Video (please like and subscribe)
Instructions
Sesame Seeds
- Gently roast the sesame seeds over a low heat until they turn a light brown color, Set aside and allow to cool.
Dough
- Add the flour, salt, sugar, and instant yeast to your mixing bowl and combine.
- Add the warm water and mix
- Add the oil
- Add the butter and continue to mix until well blended.
- Remove the dough once it is silky in texture. Allow to rest for 15 to 20 minutes
- Once rested, divide te dough into roughly 120 gr portions and make into a log shape.
- Allow the logs to rest for 10 minutes
Dip for Simit
- While dough is resting you can prepare the dip for the simit.
- In a small bowl add the molasses and water and mix together until the molasses is dissolved fully.
- Add the flour and combine
Making the Simit
- Roll the logs out into wider logs of approximately 1.5 cm thick. Double over and twist. Use the ends to thread through the loop and seal to create the circle. See the video for the full method.
- Once the Simit has been rolled into shape allow to rest for 10 minutes.
- Preheat your oven to 200℃
- Dip the simit into your molasses mixture and then gently stretch the simit to a slightly larger size.
- Dip and cover the simit in the roasted sesame seeds.
- Place in the oven and bake for 15 minutes at 200℃
- Remove from oven when baked and place on a cooling rack.
- Bona Appetit.
