Best 3 Simit Turkish Sesame Bread Rings Recipes
**Explore the Delightful World of Simit: Turkish Sesame Bread Rings**
Embark on a culinary journey to Turkey and discover the irresistible simit, a traditional bread that holds a special place in Turkish cuisine. These delectable bread rings, generously coated in sesame seeds, are a staple of Turkish breakfast and street food, captivating taste buds with their distinctive flavor and texture. In this comprehensive guide, we present a collection of simit recipes, each offering unique variations on this beloved bread. From classic simit to innovative takes infused with different flavors and fillings, these recipes cater to diverse tastes and preferences. Whether you're a seasoned baker or a novice in the kitchen, our step-by-step instructions and expert tips will guide you towards creating perfect simit that will transport you to the vibrant streets of Turkey.
SIMIT - TURKISH SESAME BREAD RINGS
Steps:
- Place a baking or pizza stone in the oven (if you have one) and preheat the oven to 250 C (480 F).
- Mix the yeast and water. Leave for a few minutes for the yeast to activate.
- Mix the flour and salt. Add the water and yeast mixture. Mix well and knead until the dough keeps together well, 5-6 minutes. The dough should be smooth, but not as soft as a regular bread dough. Cover and set aside to proof for 30 minutes.
- Mix the grape molasses, water and 1 Tbsp white flour in a large, flat bowl. Prepare a plate of toasted sesame seeds. If you only have white (raw) sesame seeds, toast them in a dry pan until golden, stirring or shaking the pan regularly, taking care not to burn any of the seeds. This only takes a few minutes.
- Cut the dough into 12 equally sized pieces. Roll each piece into long sausages. I don't use extra flour for this purpose, but if you find the dough too sticky, sprinkle a thin layer of flour on the surface.
- Take two dough sausages and place them alongside one another. Squeeze the ends together and roll the ends in opposite directions, causing the two sausages to braid and intertwine. Squeeze the two ends together to form a ring. Repeat with the remaining dough sausages.
- Dip the simits into the grape molasses mixture until covered all over. Cover with sesame seeds until you cannot get another seed to hang onto it. Stretch the dough a little as you do this to ensure the simit is as even as possible. Place the ready simits on a piece of baking parchment.
- Flatten the simits ever so slightly before placing in the hot oven. Bake in two rounds until cooked through and golden brown on the outside, 12-15 minutes, a little longer if you don't have a baking or pizza stone. Keep watching and turn the heat down if the simit looks like it might burn.
- Leave to cool on a cooling rack, but not for too long! Unlike bread, simit is best when eaten while still warm.
WHOLE WHEAT SESAME RINGS (SIMIT)
These look like bagels with bigger holes, but the bread is denser and defined by the thick coating of sesame seeds that gives them their delicious flavor. I first encountered simit in Athens, then in Egypt, where they are a popular street food, as they are in Turkey. In the past I have dipped the rings into beaten egg before coating with sesame seeds. But I've been looking at various recipes lately and see that many Turkish bakers dip their rings into grape or pomegranate molasses diffused with water before coating. I like this method because it enhances the browning effect during baking and leaves a slightly sweet flavor on the surface of the breads. Turkish bakers also sometimes add a ground mahlab (sour cherry kernels) to their dough for added flavor. One way to ensure that most of the sesame seeds will continue to adhere to the breads after they cool is to brush with egg white when you rotate the pans after 20 minutes of baking. The version I am giving you is made with a combination of semolina, all-purpose and (mostly) whole wheat flour, which is totally inauthentic but nevertheless, delicious. If you want a less dense bread, use half unbleached all purpose flour.
Provided by Martha Rose Shulman
Categories breakfast, brunch, dinner, lunch, snack, breads
Time 5h
Yield 8 to 10 rings
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Combine flours, salt and optional mahlab in a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle and stir together or mix at low speed until combined. Dissolve yeast in water. Add agave syrup or honey and stir together.
- At low speed, add water and yeast mixture to flour and mix for 1 minute. Remove paddle and let sit for 5 minutes. Change to dough hook and mix dough (or knead by hand) for about 5 minutes. Dough will be stiff and slightly sticky. Let sit for 5 minutes.
- Lightly oil work surface and shape dough into a ball. Clean, dry and lightly oil mixing bowl and place dough in it, rounded side down first, then rounded side up. Cover bowl with plastic (plastic should not be touching dough) and let rise at room temperature for about 3 hours, until doubled.
- Line 2 baking sheets with parchment and lightly oil parchment. In a wide bowl, combine pomegranate or grape molasses and 1/4 cup water and stir together, or beat egg with 2 tablespoons water.
- Turn dough onto a lightly oiled work surface and shape into a ball. Divide into 8 to 10 equal pieces and shape each piece into a ball. Cover loosely with plastic and let sit for 20 minutes. Roll out each piece into a rope, approximately 12 to 14 inches long. Holding one end of the rope, twist it a few times, then join ends together, overlapping by about an inch and pinching together so they stay connected. The hole should be about 2 to 2 1/2 inches. Dip into molasses solution or egg, coating both sides well, then dip into sesame seeds, flip over and coat other side. Place on baking sheets, allowing at least 1 inch of space between rings. Cover loosely with plastic and let rest for 20 to 30 minutes. Meanwhile heat oven to 400 degrees with the rack arranged in the middle. Place a pan on the bottom of the oven.
- Carefully pour 1 cup of water into the tin on the floor of the oven. Bake each sheet on the middle rack of the oven for 30 to 35 minutes (you can refrigerate the second baking sheet while the first one is baking to prevent the rings from rising too much), flipping the rings over so they don't brown too much on one side after 15 to 20 minutes, and if desired, brushing with egg white halfway through. Another way to prevent too much browning on the bottom is to slide another baking sheet under baking sheet (if you have enough of them to spare). Remove pan of water after 10 minutes. Rings should be dark brown and respond to tapping on the bottom with a hollow sound. Remove from heat and cool before eating.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 246, UnsaturatedFat 5 grams, Carbohydrate 42 grams, Fat 6 grams, Fiber 5 grams, Protein 8 grams, SaturatedFat 1 gram, Sodium 233 milligrams, Sugar 3 grams
SIMIT (TURKISH BREAD RINGS)
Simit is a ring-shaped unleavened bread, which is a popular street food in Turkey. The recipe comes from "The Country Kitchen" by Jocasta Innes, but I use butter instead of the recommended margarine, and sometimes substitute poppy seeds for the recommended sesame seeds.
Provided by Syrinx
Categories Breads
Time 45m
Yield 4-6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 400F (200C).
- In a bowl, mix the flour and salt together, and make a well in the middle.
- Melt the margarine/butter, then mix with the oil, milk, water and egg.
- Pour the egg mixture into the well in the flour, and mix well to form a dough.
- Shape the dough into rings about 4" in diameter.
- Grease baking sheet, and lay the rings on it.
- Brush the rings with milk and sprinkle with sesame seeds.
- Bake in the preheated oven for about 30 minutes, or until golden brown.
- I think these are best eaten hot or while still warm.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 399.4, Fat 20.2, SaturatedFat 3.9, Cholesterol 47, Sodium 736.7, Carbohydrate 45.3, Fiber 2.4, Sugar 0.2, Protein 8.9
Tips:
- Use high-quality ingredients, especially the flour and yeast. This will make a big difference in the final product.
- Make sure the water is lukewarm (110-115°F) before adding the yeast. This will help the yeast activate and produce carbon dioxide, which is what gives the bread its rise.
- Knead the dough until it is smooth and elastic. This will help develop the gluten in the flour, which will make the bread strong and chewy.
- Proof the dough in a warm place for about an hour, or until it has doubled in size. This will give the yeast time to work and produce carbon dioxide, which will make the bread light and airy.
- Shape the dough into rings and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Make sure the rings are not touching each other, as they will expand during baking.
- Brush the rings with egg wash and sprinkle them with sesame seeds. This will give the bread a golden brown color and a delicious nutty flavor.
- Bake the rings in a preheated oven at 375°F for about 25-30 minutes, or until they are golden brown and cooked through.
Conclusion:
Simit are a delicious and versatile bread that can be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. They are also a great snack or mezze. Serve them with your favorite toppings, such as butter, jam, cheese, or eggs. You can also use them to make sandwiches or wraps. No matter how you choose to enjoy them, simit are sure to be a hit.
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