Simit Turkish sesame bread rings

Name: Simit Turkish sesame bread rings
Total time: 2 h
Cuisine: Turkish
Ingredients: 500g strong white bread flour; 1 tsp fast action dried yeast; 1 tsp salt; 1 tbsp olive oil; 300ml warm water; 3 tbsp grape molasses; 100ml water; 100g sesame seeds

Chewy golden rings coated in toasted sesame seeds, the classic Istanbul street breakfast.

Time2 hr
LevelMedium
Costabout £0.46 a head
Oven220°C (200°C fan)

Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.

6 servings

Ingredients

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500 gstrong white bread flour
1 tspfast action dried yeast
1 tspsalt
1 tbspolive oil
300 mlwarm water
3 tbspgrape molasses
100 mlwater
100 gsesame seeds

Method

1
Mix the flour, yeast and salt. Add the oil and warm water and knead for 10 minutes into a soft, smooth dough. Cover and rise for 1 hour.
60 min
2
Heat the oven to 220°C (200°C fan). Mix the molasses with the 100 ml water in a shallow dish. Spread the sesame seeds on a plate.
3
Divide the dough into 6. Roll each into a 60 cm rope, fold in half and twist the two halves together. Join the ends into a ring.
4
Dip each ring into the molasses water, then press into the sesame seeds to coat well.
5
Place on lined trays and bake for 18 to 20 minutes until deep golden.
19 min
6
Cool on a wire rack. They are best eaten the same day with cheese and tea.

Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.