Turkish Simit Recipe

Introduction

Simit is a beloved Turkish bread ring, famous for its crisp crust coated in sesame seeds and soft, chewy interior. It’s perfect for breakfast or a snack, enjoyed plain or with cheese and tea. This recipe walks you through making authentic simit at home with a sweet molasses coating and plenty of toasted sesame seeds.

Ingredients

• 500 g flour
• 2 teaspoons dry instant yeast
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 300 ml lukewarm water
• ½ cup molasses (grape or date)
• ¼ cup water
• 1 tablespoon flour
• 300 g toasted sesame seeds

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, dry yeast, and salt. Gradually add the lukewarm water, mixing with your hand until a dough forms. Knead for about 5 minutes until smooth, elastic, and non-sticky. Alternatively, use a stand mixer with a dough hook.
2. Step 2: Cover the dough and let it rise for about 1 hour, until it doubles in size.
3. Step 3: While the dough rises, prepare the coating by whisking together molasses, water, and flour in a medium bowl. Place the toasted sesame seeds in a separate bowl.
4. Step 4: Once risen, punch down the dough and transfer to a floured surface. Shape it into a log and cut into 6 equal pieces, then cut each piece in half to get 12 pieces total.
5. Step 5: Take two pieces and roll each into a 20-inch (50 cm) rope. Place them side by side and pinch the ends together. Twist the ropes in opposite directions to braid, then pinch the ends together to form a ring. Repeat with remaining dough.
6. Step 6: Preheat the oven to 220°C (425°F). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
7. Step 7: Dip each simit ring first into the molasses mixture, then coat it well in the sesame seeds. Place on the prepared baking sheet.
8. Step 8: Bake for 15–20 minutes until golden and crisp. Let cool slightly before serving.

Tips & Variations

• If you only have raw sesame seeds, toast them lightly in a dry pan before use for extra flavor.
• Try substituting grape molasses with date molasses for a slightly different sweetness.
• For a softer crust, brush the simit with a little olive oil after baking.
• This dough can also be shaped into smaller rings for bite-sized treats.

Storage

Store simit in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. To refresh, warm it briefly in a preheated oven at 180°C (350°F) for 5 minutes. Simit can also be frozen before baking; thaw and bake as usual.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use active dry yeast instead of instant yeast?

Yes, but activate it first in warm water with a pinch of sugar until bubbly before adding to the flour.

What if I can’t find molasses for the coating?

You can try mixing honey or maple syrup with a bit of water as a substitute, though the flavor will be different from traditional simit.

Turkish Simit Recipe

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★★★★★

4.7 from 51 reviews

This Turkish Simit recipe offers a deliciously crisp and chewy sesame-crusted bread ring that is a popular street food and breakfast staple in Turkey. Made from simple ingredients like flour, yeast, and molasses, these simits are hand-shaped, coated with a sweet molasses mixture and toasted sesame seeds, then baked to golden perfection. Perfect with tea or as a sandwich base, simits bring a delightful crunch and subtle sweetness to your table.

• Author: Isla
• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 15-20 minutes
• Total Time: 1 hour 35 minutes
• Yield: 12 simits 1x
• Category: Bread
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: Turkish

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

For the Dough:

• 500 g flour
• 2 teaspoons dry instant yeast
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 300 ml lukewarm water

For the Coating:

• ½ cup grape or date molasses
• ¼ cup water
• 1 tablespoon flour
• 300 g toasted sesame seeds

Instructions

1. Make the dough: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, instant yeast, and salt. Gradually pour in the lukewarm water and mix by hand until combined. Knead the dough for about 5 minutes until it becomes smooth, elastic, and non-sticky. Alternatively, use a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook to knead the dough. Cover the dough and let it rise at room temperature for about 1 hour, or until it doubles in size.
2. Prepare the coating: In a medium bowl, whisk together the grape or date molasses, water, and flour until smooth. Set this molasses mixture aside. In another bowl, place the toasted sesame seeds ready for coating the dough rings.
3. Shape the simit dough: Once the dough has doubled in size, punch it down and transfer it onto a floured surface. Shape the dough into a log and cut it into 6 equal pieces. Then cut each piece into two, resulting in 12 pieces total. Take two pieces and roll each into a rope about 20 inches (50 cm) long. Place the two ropes side by side and pinch the ends together. Twist the ropes in opposite directions to create a braid, then join the two ends by pinching them together to form a ring. Repeat this braiding and ring formation for the remaining dough pieces.
4. Coat the simit dough and bake: Preheat the oven to 220°C (425°F) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Dip each simit ring first into the molasses mixture, ensuring it is well coated, then roll it in the toasted sesame seeds until evenly covered. Place the coated simit rings onto the prepared baking sheet. Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, or until the simits turn golden brown and crisp. Remove from oven and let cool slightly before serving.

Notes

• Use lukewarm water to activate the yeast properly for good dough rise.
• Toasting raw sesame seeds enhances their flavor; if your sesame seeds are pre-toasted, you can skip this step.
• For extra crispiness, you can bake the simits on a pizza stone if available.
• Serve simits fresh and warm with tea, cheese, or jam for an authentic experience.
• You can store leftover simits in an airtight container for 1-2 days; reheat in the oven to crisp up again.

Keywords: Turkish simit, sesame bread ring, Turkish bread recipe, bakery style simit, homemade simit, sesame-coated bread