Traditional Turkish Bread Simit Recipe

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Try this crunchy sesame crusted bread Simit, which is quite popular in Middle Eastern countries. Here is how to make it.

Here are a few more Middle Eastern recipes that you can make at home – Mutabal, Ground Sumac Tea, Sumac Labneh, Tahini Paste, Greek Omelette, Baba Ganoush, Lavash Crackers and Tzatziki Sauce.

Turkish Bread Simit is a tender bread encrusted with sesame seeds which is served with salad, feta cheese, tea and can be eaten just as it is!

About This Recipe

Encrusted with sesame seeds, Simit is also known as Sesame Kebab, Turkish Bagel, Gevrek and Koulouri. It is a circular ring shaped bread prepared with all purpose flour, wheat gluten, active dry yeast and a few more simple ingredients.

It is crusty on the outside, soft from inside and is highly addictive. It is prepared differently in the different regions, but this recipe is my absolute favourite way of making it at home.

Quite popular across the Middle Eastern countries, it is sold on the streets like hot cakes in Turkey and Istanbul. Serve it for breakfast or snack with feta cheese and fresh cucumbers.

Ingredients

Flour – I have used all purpose flour, but you can use bread flour as well. You can also make it with whole wheat flour to give it a healthy twist, but it won’t be as soft as the bread flour or all purpose flour one.

Active dry yeast – Activate it in warm water and then add in the flour mixture. It helps to bread to get soft and fluffy texture.

Wheat gluten – It helps create elasticity and creates a better crumb in the bread.

White sesame seeds – It adds a crusty layer on top, making the bread even more crunchy from outside.

Brown sugar – It adds a slight brown colour to the bread along with a hint of sweetness. You can also use molasses instead.

Others – You will also need salt, vegetable oil, lukewarm water and sugar to make this bread recipe.

Frequently asked Questions:

Bagels v/s Simit?

The only similarity between the two is that they are circular in shape and prepared with all purpose flour or bread flour.
Bagels are thicker and not as crusty from outside as Simit.
Simit is fully covered with sesame seeds from the outside, whereas bagels are not.

Why my simit is hard from inside?

Using extra flour can give you tough or hard bread from inside, so make sure that you measure the quantity properly and mix in with other ingredients.

Serving Suggestions

It is best served for breakfast along with fresh cucumbers and feta cheese or Sumac Labneh with a side of piping hot tea.

Have it as a snack with a cold glass of Ayran(Turkish yogurt drink)

Make Simit sandwiches with a stuffing of mozzarella cheese and tomatoes.

You can also serve it on the side with your soups, Turkish eggs, omelette, baked eggs, salads etc.

You can also enjoy it with jam, butter or nut butters of your choice.

Storage Suggestions

Have it fresh for the best taste! Store leftovers in an air tight container for 2-3 days in the fridge or at room temperature, depending upon the climate. You can also store it in a closed plastic bag or wrapped in a cloth in a bread box.

You can eat it at room temperature or heat it in microwave for a few seconds to warm it up.

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Dutch Crunch Bread

Marinated Feta