Turkish Simit (Sesame Bread Rings) Recipe
Turkish Simit are traditional sesame bread rings with a delightfully crisp crust and soft interior. These iconic street snacks are made from a slightly sweet yeast dough, coated in a grape molasses bath, and generously rolled in toasted sesame seeds before baking to golden perfection. Perfect for breakfast, snacking, or alongside cheese and tea.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 14 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 59 minutes
- Yield: 8 simit rings 1x
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Turkish
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Dough
- 4 cups all-purpose flour (sifted)
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 2 tsp instant yeast
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1 1/2 cup warm water (plus 1–2 tbsp more if needed)
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
Coating
- 1/4 cup grape molasses
- 1/4 cup water
- 2 cups toasted sesame seeds
Instructions
- Prepare the dough: In the bowl of a stand mixer, sift the flour then add sugar, yeast, and salt. Make a small well in the center and pour in the warm water and vegetable oil.
- Mix the dough: Using the dough hook, mix until the ingredients come together. Adjust by adding a tablespoon of water if the dough feels too dry or a tablespoon of flour if too wet.
- Knead the dough: Knead for about 8 minutes with the dough hook until the dough is smooth, no longer sticky, and cleans the sides of the bowl.
- First rise: Cover the bowl with a linen towel and let the dough rise for 1 hour until it doubles in size.
- Prepare the coating: In a shallow dish, place the toasted sesame seeds. In a separate bowl, whisk together the grape molasses and water.
- Divide and shape: Punch down the risen dough and divide it into 16 equal pieces. Roll two pieces at a time into 20-inch tubes, stretching the dough using your fingers to achieve length.
- Form the rings: Lay the two tubes parallel, pinch the ends together, twist in opposite directions to form a spiral, then bring the ends together to make a ring. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Repeat with remaining dough pieces to form 8 rings total.
- Coat the rings: Dip each ring into the molasses mixture, ensuring full coverage, then immediately coat in toasted sesame seeds. Transfer back to the baking sheet.
- Second rise: Loosely cover the rings with a linen towel and let them rise for another 20 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 400°F (204°C).
- Bake: Bake the simit rings for 14 minutes or until golden brown. Allow to cool slightly before serving, or cool completely before storing in an airtight container.
Notes
- Grape molasses is essential for authentic flavor and helps the sesame seeds stick. If unavailable, pomegranate molasses can be a substitute but will alter the flavor slightly.
- Toast the sesame seeds lightly before using to enhance their nutty aroma and crunch.
- Simit is best enjoyed fresh but can be stored at room temperature for a day or two when kept in an airtight container.
- Pressing and stretching the dough gently while rolling helps achieve the classic long breadstick shape needed for twisting.
Keywords: Turkish Simit, Sesame Bread Rings, Turkish Bread, Sesame Bagels, Grape Molasses Bread, Turkish Snack
