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Turkish Simit Recipe

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4.1 from 78 reviews

Traditional Turkish Simit, a sesame-crusted bread ring, perfect as a snack or breakfast treat. This recipe features a slightly sweet, chewy dough dipped in molasses water and coated with toasted sesame seeds, then baked to golden perfection.

  • Total Time: 1 hour 35 minutes
  • Yield: 8 servings

Ingredients

Dough Ingredients

  • 2 tsp instant yeast
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tbsp granulated sugar
  • 4 cups all purpose flour (plus 2-3 tbsp more if needed)
  • 1 1/2 cup warm water
  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil

Topping Ingredients

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

Instructions

  1. Prepare the dough: In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the sugar, instant yeast, 4 cups of flour, and salt. Mix briefly to combine the dry ingredients evenly.
  2. Add liquids: Pour in the warm water and vegetable oil. Using the dough hook attachment, mix until the dough forms and feels slightly sticky. If the dough does not come together, gradually add 2-3 tablespoons more flour as needed.
  3. Knead the dough: Continue kneading the dough with the dough hook for around 8 minutes until it becomes smooth and no longer sticky. Cover the bowl and let the dough rise in a warm place for 1.5 hours or until it doubles in size.
  4. Toast sesame seeds and prepare molasses soak: While the dough is rising, toast the sesame seeds in a dry pan over medium heat until golden and fragrant. In a separate bowl, mix the grape molasses with 1/2 cup water to create the dipping liquid.
  5. Shape the simits: Once the dough has doubled, punch it down to release the air. Divide the dough into 16 equal pieces. Roll out two pieces each into long tubes about 25 inches in length and place them parallel to each other.
  6. Twist the dough: Twist the two tubes in opposite directions to form a tight rope, then bring the ends together and pinch them to create a ring. Repeat this process with the remaining dough pieces to form 8 rings in total.
  7. Coat the rings: Dip each dough ring into the molasses-water mixture, then immediately coat it with toasted sesame seeds. Place the coated rings on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
  8. Second rise: Cover the rings loosely with a towel or plastic wrap and let them rise for another 20 minutes to develop a light, airy texture.
  9. Preheat the oven: While the dough is rising, preheat your oven to 400°F (204°C) to ensure it’s ready for baking.
  10. Bake the simits: Bake the sesame-coated dough rings in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes, or until they turn golden brown and are cooked through. Remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly before serving.

Notes

  • Use warm water to activate the yeast properly; water that is too hot can kill the yeast.
  • To toast sesame seeds evenly, stir constantly over medium heat to avoid burning.
  • For extra flavor, try using grape molasses or pomegranate molasses as the dipping liquid.
  • If the dough is sticky after initial mixing, add flour sparingly to avoid making the bread dense.
  • Simit is best enjoyed fresh but can be stored in an airtight container for up to 2 days or frozen for longer storage.
  • Author: Madelynn
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Category: Bread
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: Turkish

Find it online: https://allyumcooks.com/turkish-simit-recipe/