Istanbul street bread · Molasses and sesame
Simit Recipe (Turkish Sesame Bread Rings)
Twist tightly. Molasses dip. Toasted sesame.
Recipe by Farwa ZeeshanTested in the NineFoods home kitchenSimit is the sesame crusted bread ring sold on every Istanbul street corner. Homemade ones are pale and the sesame falls off. The fix is dipping the twisted rings in diluted grape molasses, then in plenty of toasted sesame, and baking in a hot oven for a deep mahogany crust.
The 3 laws of simit
Why this recipe works
Loose rope
Gives the classic texture.
Egg wash
Colour, gloss and sesame grip.
Raw sesame
Nutty flavour.
Shopping and prep list
Ingredients
Dough
Coating
The NineFoods simit gauge
Is it baked?
Check the colour and tap the base.
Method · 3 stages
Step by step
Dough
- Knead dough smooth and rest 1 hour; divide into 8.
Shape and coat
- Roll each piece into two ropes, twist and join into a ring.
- Dip in molasses water, then press into sesame.
Bake
- Rest 15 minutes, then bake. Use the gauge above.
Chef's troubleshooter
What went wrong? Pick the symptom
Why
No molasses.
Fix next time
Dip in pekmez water.
Why
Dry dip.
Fix next time
Coat in molasses then press firmly into seeds.
Why
Under-proofed.
Fix next time
Let dough double.
Why
Overbaked.
Fix next time
Bake only until deep brown.
Swap smart
Ingredient roles and substitutes
| Ingredient | Job in the dish | Swap with |
|---|---|---|
| Grape molasses | Colour | Date syrup or honey |
| Sesame | Crust | No substitute |
| Bread flour | Chew | Plain flour |
| Oven | Baking | Pizza stone for extra crunch |
After the meal
Serve, store, reheat
Serve with
Turkish tea, white cheese, olives and tomatoes.
Store
Best same day; freeze 1 month.
Reheat
Warm oven 5 minutes.
How we tested this recipe
Tested in a home kitchen, not a studio
Recipe developed and tested by Farwa Zeeshan, who cooks and tests every NineFoods recipe on a regular home stove.
- Cooked from start to finish with the exact quantities above for 8 servings, using both the metric and US cup measures.
- Every one of the 3 stages was timed at the stove; heat levels and the 'look for' cues are what we saw in the pan.
- The doneness check (is it baked) and the troubleshooter come from batches that went wrong, and how we fixed them.
- Reheating and storage advice was checked on leftovers, not guessed.
Keep cooking
Related recipes and guides
Quick answers
Simit FAQ
What is simit?
A Turkish sesame-crusted bread ring.
Is simit a bagel?
It looks similar but is not boiled and has a crisper, sweeter crust.
What is pekmez?
Turkish grape molasses.
Can I freeze simit?
Yes, up to 1 month.