Turkish Sesame Bread (Simit) Recipe | El Mundo Eats (2024)

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Turkish Sesame Bread (Simit) Recipe | El Mundo Eats (1)

Background

It is a circular bread ring, usually coated with sesame seeds and sunflower seeds. Its other name is Simit or in Arabic the word comes from samid which means white bread. In the United States it's known as Turkish bagels.

Simit is a famous street food in Istanbul. It's usually eaten plain or some would serve it with tomato, feta cheese and olives. It's eaten more as a savoury bread than sweet.

Turkish Sesame Bread (Simit) Recipe | El Mundo Eats (2)

Simit vs Bagels

As I mentioned earlier in the United States it's known as Turkish bagels. Some would say that's not accurate. Why?

Bagels needed to be boiled with either some sugar or honey, before being baked in the oven. Boiling is not needed in Simit. Instead you dip it in molasses mixture, coat it with sesame seeds and then bake. That's the different between the two of them.

Nevertheless, it's just a reference of name. They both taste amazing.

Turkish Sesame Bread (Simit) Recipe | El Mundo Eats (3)

Making Them

I LOVE making bread! The smell of freshly baked bread is the best (well next to recently cooked jasmine rice). The taste of freshly baked bread is just unbelievable. Don't you think?

I haven't been to Turkey. I would love to visit it one day. I first found out about the existence of this amazing bread from Mark Wiens Youtube channel when he went to Turkey and started to chew down on Simit on the streets. The shape and beautiful looks of the bread was what attracted me to the bread in the first place.

Then I started to make my own Simit, and the taste.... is just delicious! It's chewy on the outside and soft in the inside. It has this slight sweet taste as you bite into it. This is because the use of molasses (which I'll talk about a bit later).

You would think it's difficult to make Simit looks like Simit, right? That twisted ring shape fully coated with sesame seeds look. Well it's not.

Turkish Sesame Bread (Simit) Recipe | El Mundo Eats (4)

As you can see in the video below, you basically just need to make a long rope out of your dough, fold it in half and start twisting on both ends. Then make a ring shape and pinch the seams.

What makes all the sesame seeds stick to the bread is the molasses.

Substitution to Pekmez

Originally, the twisted ring is dunk into pekmez mixture before baking. Pekmez is a molasses type thick syrup that's made from fruit and is a common thing in Turkey.

I don't have pekmez. So I go to the next best thing. Molasses. For me they both have similar texture and though the taste might not exactly be the same, they do serve the same purpose in this recipe.

Which is to act as a sweet layer on the outside surface of the dough, enabling the sesame seeds to stick and to bring that slight darker color to the bread skin when baked.

Doable, right? Do give this a try.

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Video

📖 Recipe

Turkish Sesame Bread (Simit) Recipe | El Mundo Eats (5)

Turkish Sesame Bread (Simit)

My take on the famous street food, Turkish sesame bread or also known as Simit. The recipe is super simple and the result is delicious!

Author:

5 from 1 vote

Print Pin Rate

Servings: 4 pieces

Prep Time30 minutes mins

Cook Time15 minutes mins

Ingredients

The Seeds

  • ½ cup sesame seeds (70 gr)
  • 2 tablespoon black sesame seeds
  • 1 tablespoon cumin

The Molasses Syrup

  • cup molasses (80 ml)
  • ¼ cup water (60 ml)

The Bread

  • ¾ cup water (190 ml)
  • ½ teaspoon sugar
  • 1 ½ teaspoon dry yeast (5 gr)
  • 2 cups bread flour (260 gr)
  • ¾ teaspoon salt

Instructions

The Seeds

  • Toast the seeds together in a pan on medium heat for a few minutes until slightly brown. Set aside in a place to cool completely.

The Molasses Syrup

  • Add molasses and water into a wide bowl, mix and set aside.

The Bread

  • Add sugar into the warm water and mix. Then sprinkle the yeast and mix. Leave to activate for 3-5 minutes.

  • Add the rest of the ingredients into a standing bowl mixer including the yeast mixture. Mix to incorporate and then knead for 10 minutes. Place the dough into a greased bowl and cover it tightly with a cling film. Leave to double in size in a warm and draft free place.

  • Sprinkle some flour on the working surface and place the dough. Lightly knead it into a log. Then cut it into 4 equal pieces.

  • Take a piece and then roll it into a 20 inch (50 cm) rope. Fold it in half and twist both ends on the opposite direction. Form into a ring and pinch the seams together. Dunk into the molasses syrup mixture and then place it in the plate containing sesame seeds and coat it well with the seeds. Place it on a baking tray with a baking sheet. Repeat with the rest. Leave to puff up, around 30 minutes.

  • Bake in a preheated oven at 400ºF (200ºC) for 15 minutes. Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 483.7kcal, Carbohydrates: 78.7g, Protein: 14.3g, Fat: 13.7g, Saturated Fat: 1.9g, Sodium: 465.3mg, Potassium: 681.9mg, Fiber: 5.8g, Sugar: 23g, Calcium: 321.2mg, Iron: 6.6mg

Tried this recipe?Mention @elmundoeats and tag #elmundoeats!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

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  1. Patricia Aleesawy says

    I love it ... very simple receipe and it tastes so good
    I didnt use molasses I used date syrup....

    Reply

    • Bea says

      I'm happy you liked it!

      Reply

  2. MSgt Doug says

    Marhaba! I lived in Turkey way back in 1981, tried many different things... Pekmez can be ordered (probably from Amazon... they have virtually everything else under the sun!)

    However, you could also use pomegranite molasses, much easier to find!

    Reply

    • Bea says

      Hi! Awesome, we ourselves would love to visit Turkey one day. Thanks for the info about the pomegranite molasses! 🙂

      Reply

Turkish Sesame Bread (Simit) Recipe | El Mundo Eats (2024)

FAQs

What is simit bread made of? ›

Simit
Alternative namesrosquilla (France & Spain), bokegh (Armenia), Đevrek (Bosnia, Serbia), koulouri (Greece), covrig (Romania), gevrek (Bulgaria and North Macedonia), and Turkish bagel (United States)
Main ingredientsDough (flour, water, yeast, salt), sesame seeds
VariationsAlso called Shureik, Ka'ak, and Sameet
4 more rows

What do you eat with Turkish simit? ›

Today, simit is still the center piece of every traditional breakfast table in Turkey. It is typically served with cheese, usually feta cheese, black olives and black tea in small cups made of thin glass on the side. Many bakeries sell stuffed and toasted simit.

Is simit a bagel? ›

Simit is an easy-to-make Turkish bread coated in sesame seeds. Sometimes called a Turkish Bagel, this simit recipe is delicious on its own, or sliced in half to make a sandwich. Serve it as part of a breakfast, lunch or brunch spread.

Is simit a pretzel? ›

Crispy on the outside chewy and flavorful on the inside. This bread is dipped in a light molasses syrup and then coated with toasted sesame seeds prior to baking.

What does simit mean in Turkish? ›

Simit, also known as Turkish bagel, is the most famous street food in Turkey. It is crunchy and nutty on the outside and soft and a little chewy on the inside. Freshly baked simits make the best breakfast bread in this world!

What is a simit bread in English? ›

Simit, also known as Turkish bagel, is breakfast staple in country.

What does Turkish simit taste like? ›

They have a crispy exterior and a soft doughy interior, which can be created using a standard bread dough mixture. The distinctive taste of Simit comes from a combination of toasted sesame seeds and a grape molasses glaze.

What is the most popular Turkish meal? ›

What are the most popular Turkish foods?
  • Doner Kebab. Doner Kebab is a beloved dish in Turkish cuisine, traditionally made from meat cooked on a vertical rotisserie. ...
  • Baklava. ...
  • Manti. ...
  • Lahmacun. ...
  • Pide. ...
  • Simit. ...
  • Borek. ...
  • Kofte.
Mar 13, 2024

What is the meaning of simit in Arabic? ›

Borrowed from Ottoman Turkish سمید (simit), from Persian سمید (semid, “semolina”), from Arabic سَمِيد (samīd, “semolina”), from Aramaic סְמִידָא / ܣܡܻܝܕܳܐ (səmīḏā), from Akkadian 𒆠𒅔𒆠𒅔𒄯𒄯 (/⁠samīdu⁠/, “a type of fine groats, coarse flour, semolina”), related to Akkadian 𒀀𒊏𒄯𒄯 (/⁠samādu⁠/, “to grind fine”).

Does simit contain milk? ›

i. May contain trace amounts of eggs, mİlk products, soy products, walnuts, hazelnuts, pistachio.

How many calories are in a Turkish simit? ›

Do you wonder about Turkish simit calories? Simit, baked bread contains 275 Turkish simit calories in total. The Percent Daily Values depend on a 2,000-calorie diet, so depending on your calorie requirements, your values may vary.

How much does simit cost in Turkey? ›

The price of a simit has increased from 3 to 5 liras (0.16 to 0.27 U.S. dollars) following a price hike in sesame seeds and flour, two vital ingredients in the most preferred street food for Turks, said a simit baker from a residential neighbourhood of Ankara with the first name of Ihsan.

Is simit vegan? ›

Dish 1: Simit

This naturally vegan, round bread is served warm, and encrusted with sesame seeds. Sometimes you'll see it served with butter, cream cheese, or Nutella - but it is often just served on its own too.

Does simit have nuts? ›

They resemble bagels in that they are a yeasted dough, round, and dipped in seeds or nuts before baking. However, where bagels are boiled a bit in water, simit is dipped in Pekmez, grape molasses. After dipping in pekmez, they are drenched in sesame seeds and baking in a fire oven.

What is the difference between Turkish bread and normal bread? ›

Central to the Turkish bread-making tradition is the use of a delicate, highly hydrated dough. This type of dough is not only soft and pliable but is also pivotal in capturing the essence of Turkish bread's unparalleled texture. The distinctive taste and character of Turkish bread can be attributed to its fermentation.

Is simit Turkish or Greek? ›

Simit is a circular bread encrusted with sesame seeds, which is common to the cuisines of the former Ottoman Empire and the Middle-East. It is widely known as a Turkish bagel in the USA and Koulouri in Greece.

What is Samoon bread made of? ›

6 cups all-purpose flour. 5 tablespoons powdered milk. 2 tablespoons instant yeast. 2 tablespoons white sugar.

Where is simit bread from? ›

Simit are a popular Turkish street food. Instead of being boiled like a bagel, the twisted circles of dough get a quick dip in sweetened water before dredging in sesame seeds. The result is a crisp exterior and a light, delicate, and tender interior.

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