• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Más Ligeras
  • Recetas
  • Quienes Somos
  • Tienda
  • Español

El Mundo Eats

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Easter
  • Recipe Index
  • Newsletter
  • About Us
  • eBook
  • Español
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Easter
    • Recipe Index
    • Newsletter
    • About Us
    • eBook
    • Español
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
  • ×

    El Mundo Eats » Bun

    Published: Jul 29, 2018 · Updated: Mar 14, 2023 by Bea & Marco · This post may contain affiliate links · 4 Comments

    Turkish Sesame Bread (Simit)

    Jump to Recipe
    Stacked Turkish-Sesame-Bread

    Background

    It is a circular bread ring, usually coated with sesame seeds and sunflower seeds. Its other name is Simit or in Arabic the word comes from samid which means white bread. In the United States it's known as Turkish bagels.

    Simit is a famous street food in Istanbul. It's usually eaten plain or some would serve it with tomato, feta cheese and olives. It's eaten more as a savoury bread than sweet.

    Sesame-and-Cumin-Seeds

    Simit vs Bagels

    As I mentioned earlier in the United States it's known as Turkish bagels. Some would say that's not accurate. Why?

    Bagels needed to be boiled with either some sugar or honey, before being baked in the oven. Boiling is not needed in Simit. Instead you dip it in molasses mixture, coat it with sesame seeds and then bake. That's the different between the two of them.

    Nevertheless, it's just a reference of name. They both taste amazing.

    Turkish-Sesame-Bread-Raw

    Making Them

    I LOVE making bread! The smell of freshly baked bread is the best (well next to recently cooked jasmine rice). The taste of freshly baked bread is just unbelievable. Don't you think?

    I haven't been to Turkey. I would love to visit it one day. I first found out about the existence of this amazing bread from Mark Wiens Youtube channel when he went to Turkey and started to chew down on Simit on the streets. The shape and beautiful looks of the bread was what attracted me to the bread in the first place.

    Then I started to make my own Simit, and the taste.... is just delicious! It's chewy on the outside and soft in the inside. It has this slight sweet taste as you bite into it. This is because the use of molasses (which I'll talk about a bit later).

    You would think it's difficult to make Simit looks like Simit, right? That twisted ring shape fully coated with sesame seeds look. Well it's not.

    Holding Turkish Sesame Bread Simit

    As you can see in the video below, you basically just need to make a long rope out of your dough, fold it in half and start twisting on both ends. Then make a ring shape and pinch the seams.

    What makes all the sesame seeds stick to the bread is the molasses.

    Substitution to Pekmez

    Originally, the twisted ring is dunk into pekmez mixture before baking. Pekmez is a molasses type thick syrup that's made from fruit and is a common thing in Turkey.

    I don't have pekmez. So I go to the next best thing. Molasses. For me they both have similar texture and though the taste might not exactly be the same, they do serve the same purpose in this recipe.

    Which is to act as a sweet layer on the outside surface of the dough, enabling the sesame seeds to stick and to bring that slight darker color to the bread skin when baked.

    Doable, right? Do give this a try.

    More Bread Recipes

    • Beef Turkish pide
    • Spinach and feta gozleme
    • Pesto bread rolls
    • Soft & fluffy milk buns
    • Salmon piroshki

    Video

    📖 Recipe

    Holding Turkish Sesame Bread Simit

    Turkish Sesame Bread (Simit)

    My take on the famous street food, Turkish sesame bread or also known as Simit. The recipe is super simple and the result is delicious!
    Author: Bea & Marco
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Servings: 4 pieces
    Prep Time30 mins
    Cook Time15 mins

    Ingredients  

    The Seeds

    • ½ cup sesame seeds (70 gr)
    • 2 tablespoon black sesame seeds
    • 1 tablespoon cumin

    The Molasses Syrup

    • ⅓ cup molasses (80 ml)
    • ¼ cup water (60 ml)

    The Bread

    • ¾ cup water (190 ml)
    • ½ teaspoon sugar
    • 1 ½ teaspoon dry yeast (5 gr)
    • 2 cups bread flour (260 gr)
    • ¾ teaspoon salt
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    The Seeds

    • Toast the seeds together in a pan on medium heat for a few minutes until slightly brown. Set aside in a place to cool completely.

    The Molasses Syrup

    • Add molasses and water into a wide bowl, mix and set aside.

    The Bread

    • Add sugar into the warm water and mix. Then sprinkle the yeast and mix. Leave to activate for 3-5 minutes.
    • Add the rest of the ingredients into a standing bowl mixer including the yeast mixture. Mix to incorporate and then knead for 10 minutes. Place the dough into a greased bowl and cover it tightly with a cling film. Leave to double in size in a warm and draft free place.
    • Sprinkle some flour on the working surface and place the dough. Lightly knead it into a log. Then cut it into 4 equal pieces.
    • Take a piece and then roll it into a 20 inch (50 cm) rope. Fold it in half and twist both ends on the opposite direction. Form into a ring and pinch the seams together. Dunk into the molasses syrup mixture and then place it in the plate containing sesame seeds and coat it well with the seeds. Place it on a baking tray with a baking sheet. Repeat with the rest. Leave to puff up, around 30 minutes.
    • Bake in a preheated oven at 400ºF (200ºC) for 15 minutes. Enjoy!

    Nutrition Facts

    Calories: 483.7kcal, Carbohydrates: 78.7g, Protein: 14.3g, Fat: 13.7g, Saturated Fat: 1.9g, Sodium: 465.3mg, Potassium: 681.9mg, Fiber: 5.8g, Sugar: 23g, Calcium: 321.2mg, Iron: 6.6mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @elmundoeats and tag #elmundoeats!

    More Bun Recipes

    • Softest Tuna Cheese Rolls in Air Fryer
    • Skillet pull apart whole wheat buns
      Skillet Pull Apart Whole Wheat Buns (With Cheese Dip)
    • raspberry twisted buns view from top.
      Raspberry Twisted Buns
    • Pan-fried meat buns on a plate
      Quick Pan-Fried Meat Buns (No Yeast And No Knead)

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Comment Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Have you made this recipe? Please leave a comment and rate it, thanks!




      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    1. Patricia Aleesawy says

      September 13, 2020 at 7:04 pm

      I love it ... very simple receipe and it tastes so good
      I didnt use molasses I used date syrup....

      Reply
      • Bea says

        September 14, 2020 at 1:55 pm

        I'm happy you liked it!

        Reply
    2. MSgt Doug says

      February 09, 2019 at 12:03 am

      Marhaba! I lived in Turkey way back in 1981, tried many different things... Pekmez can be ordered (probably from Amazon... they have virtually everything else under the sun!)

      However, you could also use pomegranite molasses, much easier to find!

      Reply
      • Bea says

        February 10, 2019 at 8:40 pm

        Hi! Awesome, we ourselves would love to visit Turkey one day. Thanks for the info about the pomegranite molasses! 🙂

        Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Bea and Marco from El Mundo Eats

    Hi! We're Bea & Marco, the married couple behind this food space. I cook, he takes photos & videos. Malaysian & Argentine living in Spain. All eaters welcome!

    More about us →

    Easter Recipes

    • A slice of cake on a plate.
      Carrot Cake With Pineapple
    • Spinach and Ricotta Pie
      Easy Spinach and Ricotta Pie
    • Lemon Meringue Pie
      Lemon Meringue Pie
    • Coconut macaroons on a cooling rack
      Coconut Macaroons
    • Slices of cake on a wooden cutting board.
      Lemon Loaf Cake With Icing
    • Healthy Carrot Cake Cookies

    Popular Recipes

    • Mini cheesecakes on a table
      Easy Mini Cheesecakes
    • Malaysian Flatbread Roti Canai
      Malaysian Flatbread (Roti Canai)
    • Whole Orange Blender Cake
    • tart shells on a cooling rack
      How To Make Tart Shells (Sweet And Savoury)
    • Nasi lemak with all its trimmings
      Rice With Coconut Milk (Malaysian Nasi Lemak)
    • Hokkaido cheese tarts
      Hokkaido Cheese Tart

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Featured in banner.

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Shop

    • Ebook
    • Amazon Storefront

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases

    Copyright © 2023 El Mundo Eats