You can have Turkish simit, a delicious sesame-crusted bread, for breakfast. Simit is a Turkish round bread with a sesame crust. This crusty bread, often referred to as Turkish simit, Gevrek, or Koulouri, is likely the most popular bread in Turkey. It’s generally served for breakfast and always has a ring shape. Simit is typically sold in carts in Istanbul and the people selling them are called “simitçi”.
What Is Turkish Simit?
It is normally covered in sesame seeds; however, it can also be made with poppy, flax, or sunflower seeds. The crunch, size, chewiness, and other qualities of simit differ slightly depending on the area. In the United States, it is frequently referred to as a Turkish bagel.
Traditional Simit Ingredients
You ask how to make Turkish simit, and we will tell you what you need to prepare. A recipe for Turkish simit calls for the same components as many other bread recipes:
- You can use bread flour or all-purpose flour. We don’t advise using whole wheat flour because it would make the simit a little rough.
- Yeast: Just mix quick yeast with the dry ingredients if using. But, you must activate active dry yeast in warm water if you are using it. Add kosher salt or table salt together with granulated sugar.
- Vegetable oil: Canola oil is another option.
- Before baking, the simit is coated with molasses and sesame seeds.
Tips & Tricks For Making Simit
Use a stand mixer if you have one for this recipe for Turkish simit. To make simit, though, all you need is a sizable bowl, a wooden spoon, and later, your hands if you don’t have one. For this traditional Turkish bread recipe, both methods are effective. If you search for Turkish simit near me in Turkey, you can find it everywhere. If you are not in Turkey when you search for Turkish simit near me, the best restaurant in Canada is of course, Mama Fatma.
How Is Turkish Simit Different From Bagels?
Although it may have a donut or bagel appearance, it tastes different. It has a crunchy outside and a soft interior that is chewy and soft, and roasted sesame seeds on top give it a nutty flavor. Do you wonder about Turkish simit calories? Simit, baked bread contains 275 Turkish simit calories in total. The Percent Daily Values depend on a 2,000-calorie diet, so depending on your calorie requirements, your values may vary.
How To Make Turkish Simit? Instructions
So, how to make Turkish simit? In a stand mixer bowl, combine 4 cups of flour, yeast, salt, and sugar. Add vegetable oil and warm water. Until the bread comes together and becomes little sticky, stir with the dough hook. It’s time to knead the dough once it has come together and become slightly sticky. Test on the simit bread at the 1.5-hour mark; it should have doubled by then.
Two of the dough parts should be rolled out into 25-inch tubes apiece. Each twisted piece of dough should be covered on both sides after being dipped in the sugar and water mixture. After that, cover them completely with toasted sesame seeds by dipping them in them. Give the dough circles another 20 minutes to rest. The simits should be thoroughly roasted and browned after 12 to 15 minutes in the oven. Put a baking sheet in the oven and preheat it to 400 degrees. The simits should be thoroughly roasted and browned after 12 to 15 minutes in the oven.
Serving Suggestions
Simit is commonly had for breakfast either simple or with tea, jam, cheese, or ayran. It is customary to simit with tea. In Turkey, simit is sold by street food vendors who either have a trolley for simit or carry the simit on their heads on a tray.
How To Store Simit?
Bread storage is crucial, particularly when it comes to handcrafted loaves. Homemade loaves of bread can quickly spoil if they are not stored correctly because they don’t include any preservatives. To store simits, use a plastic bag.
To ensure that there is no contact with air put the leftover simits in a plastic bag and secure it with a knot. They can also be placed in a bread box after being wrapped in a cloth. Simit typically lasts for two to three days, but we like it fresh. Before serving, you can also reheat the leftover simit in the oven.
Can I Make This Bread Without Sesame Seeds?
Use a lot of it because the major flavor of this bread is sesame. Sesame seeds that are left over can always be stored and used. Although you may now get simits covered with oats or sunflower seeds, sesame seeds are still the standard.
Are Simits Vegan?
Yes. To have the proper flavor in simit, the protein content of the flour must be 13 or above. It was difficult for us to find the appropriate flour in the market, so we had to visit a few before we discovered one with 14.
Is Simit A Bagel?
The fact that both simit and bagels are circular is probably their only similarity. Simit is not as deep and it’s scruffier than the bagel. What makes this Turkish bread distinct from any other loaf out there is that it’s soaked in a molasses and water mixture prior to being rolled in a pool of sesame seeds. As we have done in the past, you can use whole grain bread in this recipe for simit.
Can I Freeze Them?
The primary cause might be that you added more flour than was necessary. Beginning with 4 cups of all-purpose flour, add up to 1 cup at a time by adding a tablespoon at a time.
What Makes A Simit A Simit?
The most popular bread in Turkey is typically served for breakfast with a cup of tea, usually plain (without any spreads or fillings). It tastes the best pure since sesame and molasses combine to make a delicious flavor, and there is no need for additional ingredients.
