Turkish Simit Recipe

If you have ever visited Turkey or are a fan of Turkish food, you know our version of a bagel, Turkish Simit bread. It is one of those iconic Turkish recipes, right up there with Turkish Coffee, Borek, and Turkish Bulgur Pilaf.

Usually served with feta cheese, olives, and Turkish tea or ayran (aka Turkish Yogurt Drink), simit has been a breakfast staple in every Turkish household for centuries. Sadly, for those of us living outside of Turkey, it is not easy to find (unless you are living in a town with a great Turkish restaurant.) The good news is that making simit at home is easy with my foolproof method.

What Is Simit?

Simit also referred to as gevrek or gjevrek, is a sesame-bathed, circular Turkish bread. It is similar to an American bagel in how it looks but crustier on the outside and softer on the inside.

Because it is mainly served for breakfast, I’ve heard some people in the US refer to it as “Turkish Bagel” or “Turkish Pretzel.”

Traditionally sold by street vendors on the streets of Turkey for no more than $0.50, it is usually made by twisting simit dough and dipping it in molasses and toasted sesame seeds before baking it in the oven.

Simit Ingredients:

To make it easier, I will divide the Turkish Sesame Bread ingredients into three parts.

The Yeast & Milk Mixture:

• Water at 110 Fahrenheit degrees (43 Celsius degrees)
• 1 cup whole milk (or heavy cream) at room temperature: You can use milk and heavy cream interchangeably in this recipe. The version of Simit bagel made with heavy cream is richer due to the higher fat content of heavy cream. Still, if you can’t find it, you can substitute it with whole milk. I would not recommend substituting plant-based milk in this recipe.
• 2 tablespoons or 3 (1/4 oz.) packets of active dry yeast (I used Fleischmann’s)
• Granulated sugar

The dough of the ingredients:

• All-purpose flour: I tested this recipe with several all-purpose flour brands, and the results were similar. I personally like King Arthur Flour as it has a higher amount of protein which is ideal for making bread. The recipe below starts with 5 cups, but you will need at least 1 to 1 ½ cups or more flour to use on the surface as you are kneading the simit dough.
• Large egg
• Kosher salt
• Vegetable oil (avocado oil, canola oil, or grapeseed oil would all work.)

The Sesame Coating

• Molasses (I used Grandma’s Molasses – affiliate link): Alternatively, you can also use pomegranate or grape molasses (this Turkish Molasses is my favorite) if you can get your hands on them, which is traditionally used in Turkey. Molasses coating helps sesame seeds stick to the dough and give the overall bread slight sweetness that its known for.
• White sesame seeds

How To Make Simit?

This Simit bread recipe below makes ten sesame breads. Even though the steps look like a lot, the process of making simit is quite simple.

1. Activate the yeast: Place water, milk, sugar, and active dry yeast into a measuring cup. Give it a quick whisk, cover it with stretch film, and let it sit on the counter for 10 to 15 minutes or until bubbles form on top.

2. Make the simit dough: Place 5 cups (700 grams) of all-purpose flour, kosher salt, oil, egg, and now-risen yeast-milk mixture in a large mixing bowl. Start mixing the sesame Turkish bread dough by hand until it comes together. Lightly dust the counter with flour and dump the dough onto the surface. Knead by hand to form a smooth and elastic dough until the dough is not sticking to your fingers. This may take around 15 to 17 minutes. Alternatively, you can do this in a stand mixer. I included the instructions for that in the recipe card below.

3. Let the simit dough rise: Lightly wet a kitchen towel with hot tap water and place it over the dough. Let it sit on the kitchen counter until it doubles in size, 30-45 minutes.

4. Toast sesame seeds: While the dough is rising, place sesame seeds in a large non-stick skillet over medium heat, stirring constantly, and toast until they turn golden brown, 20-25 minutes. Transfer to a large shallow plate to cool. 

5. Turn the dough into a cylinder: Fold the dough from each end onto itself towards the middle, gently pinch, and roll into a cylinder of roughly 20-inches (51 cm.)

6. Divide the now-risen dough: Using a sharp knife or a pastry scraper, divide the dough into 10 equal pieces and transfer onto a sheet pan (lined with parchment paper and sprinkled with flour.) Cover it with a clean kitchen towel (to prevent them from drying as you work on each piece.) 
7. Preheat the oven to 400 F degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

8. Shape each simit dough: Roll each dough ball into a roughly 40-inch (102 cm) long strand. Fold the string onto itself using your finger to hold it in the middle. Twist the dough in the opposite direction to form a spiral rope. Roll it into a 5-inch diameter ring and gently pinch the end to seal. 

9. Let them rest: Transfer the now-shaped dough onto the parchment-lined baking sheet. Repeat the same process for the rest of the dough balls. Let them rest until they rise for 30 minutes. How much they rise depends on the temperature of your kitchen. (You can learn more about this in the tips section below)

10. Dip simit into molasses and sesame seeds: Mix together molasses with water in a large shallow plate. Bring in the sesame seeds. First, dip simit into the molasses mixture (on both sides) and then into the sesame seeds making sure that all sides are fully covered with sesame seeds. Transfer the sesame-seeded bread onto a baking sheet and repeat the same process for the rest of the limit. Do not skip this part as sesame seeds add a nutty flavor and crunch texture to simit, which makes this bread so special.

11. Bake: Bake both sheets in the oven for 18-20 minutes or until golden brown, making sure to rotate them from top to bottom halfway through the baking process. Let them cool for 5 minutes and serve while still warm.

What To Serve with Turkish Simit Bread?

Traditionally, we serve simit bread for breakfast with feta cheese, olives, sliced tomatoes, cucumbers, Turkish eggs (aka Menemen) and Turkish tea or Ayran. With that being said, you can serve it with any cheese and even with your favorite jams or preserves.

Alternatively, you can make a simit sandwich by slicing it horizontally in half and place cheese, sliced tomatoes, and cucumbers in the middle. You can also do a simit toast by toasting each slice in a toaster.

How To Make Ahead, Store, and Freeze?

The best part of this Turkish bread recipe is that it can be made ahead. So, you can easily make a batch, eat some right away, and freeze the rest for later.

• Make Ahead: Whenever I am serving simit for breakfast, I make the dough a day before (up to 12 hours before), store it in the fridge, and bake it fresh in the morning. To do so, make the recipe until the step right before dipping the braided dough into sesame seeds. Place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet and store them in the fridge. In the morning, remove them from the fridge, let them come to room temperature for about 15-20 minutes, and follow the recipe as written.
• To store leftovers: Bring simit to room temperature, place in a plastic bag, remove the air out as much as you can, and store at room temperature. It should be fresh for up to 2 days. You can toast it for a few minutes before serving.
• To freeze: Repeat the same process but place in the freezer instead. When ready to serve, let it thaw for 10 minutes on the counter, and then heat it in a preheated 300 F degree oven for 10-12 minutes.