Pastries and baking
Authentic Turkish Simit Recipe
An authentic, tried-and-tested homemade Turkish simit recipe. A wonderful, complete recipe to follow step by step.
Adjust servings
Ingredient quantities update instantly for your selected yield.
Recipe tags
Recipe story
Authentic Turkish simit recipe, step one: 1 cup warm water, 1 tablespoon instant yeast, 1 tablespoon sugar, 1/4 cup olive oil, 2 cups flour. In a bowl, combine the water, yeast, and sugar and leave for five minutes. Add the oil and flour and mix well. Step two: 1 cup warm water, 4 cups flour, 2 teaspoons salt. Then add the water, flour, and salt, knead well, and let rest for about two hours. Sesame mixture ingredients: 3/4 cup water, 2 tablespoons grape molasses or date molasses, 1 cup sesame seeds. Method: Mix the water, molasses, and sesame seeds and set aside. Divide the dough into two, then divide each part into 8 pieces depending on the size of each bun. Shape each piece of dough into a long rope about 40 cm long, then bring the ends together and seal them, twist, then join the ends again to form a thick ring. Dip each piece in the molasses and sesame mixture, gently stretching it as you go, and arrange in a baking tray lined with parchment paper until all the dough is used. Leave the simit for about 10 minutes, then bake in an oven at 180°C for about 25 minutes.
Ingredients and method according to each stage:
:First stage ingredients
1 cup warm water
1 tablespoon instant yeast
1 tablespoon sugar
1/4 cup olive oil
2 cups flour
Second stage ingredients:
4 cups flour
2 teaspoons salt
Then add the water, flour, and salt, knead well, and let rest for about two hours.
Sesame mixture ingredients:
3/4 cup water
2 tablespoons grape molasses or date molasses
1 cup sesame seeds
Mix the water, molasses, and sesame seeds and set aside for later use.
Divide the dough into two, then divide each half into 8 pieces depending on the size of each bun.
Stretch each of the eight dough pieces into a long rope about 40 cm long.
Then bring the ends together and seal them, twist, then seal the ends together again to form a thick ring.
Dip each simit in the molasses and sesame mixture, gently stretching it as you go.
Arrange in a baking tray lined with parchment paper.
Leave the simit for about 10 minutes, then bake in an oven at 180°C for about 25 minutes or until golden and cooked through, depending on your oven.
Authentic Turkish simit recipe from the cook and friend of Shou Tabbakheen Today:
Um Taha Al-Hamwi
Click on Um Taha’s name to visit her profile on our site and enjoy her wonderful recipes
To get Um Taha’s method for making the most delicious chocolate eclair, click this link: Custard-Filled Eclair
For more wonderful French dessert recipes, click the link: How to Make Chocolate Macarons
Ingredients
- 1 cup warm water (first stage)
- 1 tablespoon instant yeast
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 2 cups flour (first stage)
- 1 cup warm water (second stage)
- 4 cups flour (second stage)
- 2 teaspoons salt
- three quarters cup water (for the sesame mixture)
- 2 tablespoons grape molasses or date molasses
- 1 cup sesame seeds
Method
- In a bowl, mix 1 cup warm water with the instant yeast and sugar and leave for 5 minutes until the yeast activates.
- Add 1/4 cup olive oil and 2 cups flour to the yeast mixture and mix until a preliminary dough forms.
- Mix 1 cup warm water with 4 cups flour and 2 teaspoons salt, then add this over the first mixture and knead well until you have a smooth, elastic dough.
- Cover the dough and let it rise for about two hours or until it has doubled in size.
- Prepare the dipping mixture by mixing three quarters cup water with 2 tablespoons of the grape or date molasses, then stir in 1 cup sesame seeds and set aside.
- After rising, divide the dough into pieces according to the desired size (for example: about 50 small pieces, or 8–10 large pieces as preferred).
- Roll each piece into a long rope approximately 40 cm long, seal the ends together, then twist the rope to form a thick ring and secure the ends.
- Dip each ring into the molasses and sesame mixture, gently stretching it a little to help the sesame cover the surface.
- Arrange the simit rings on a baking tray lined with parchment paper and let them rest for about 10 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 180°C, then bake the simit for about 20–25 minutes or until the tops are browned and they are cooked through, adjusting for your oven's strength.
- Remove the simit from the oven and let them cool slightly before serving.
Notes and serving ideas
- Custard-Filled Eclair
- How to Make Chocolate Macarons
