SIMIT TURKISH SESAME BAGEL
A round, sesame-studded bread known by many names
(Koulouri in Greece, Covrig in Romania, Bokegh in Armenia, and
Gevrek in Serbia, Macedonia, and some areas of Turkey).
What makes these ringed breads special isn’t just their long history
(as early as the 1630s there were as many as 70 speciality
Simit bakeries in Istanbul), it’s how they’re made.
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SERVINGS
8
INGREDIENTS
• ⅓ cup sesame seeds
• 1 egg yolk
• 1½ oz fresh yeast
• 1¼ tbsp olive oil
• 1 cup water
• 1 tbsp dried mint
• 3¼ cups flour
• 1 clove garlic
• 1¾ tbsp unsalted butter
• 1¾ oz feta cheese
• 1 tsp salt
• 3½ oz full-fat Greek yogurt
HOW TO MAKE IT
- Add yeast to a bowl with water and mix to combine. Add flour, butter, and salt. Knead until dough is smooth and shiny. Cover and let rise for 1 hr.
- Divide dough into 16 pieces and roll into long, thin strands. Gently braid two strands around each other, then form into a circle and press the ends together firmly.
- Preheat the oven to 230°C/445°F.
- Whisk egg yolk with a little bit of water in a wide, rimmed dish. Dip each ring into the egg yolk-water mixture, then transfer to a wide, rimmed dish of sesame seeds.
- Transfer to a parchment lined-baking sheet and let rise for approx. 15 min.
- Bake for approx. 15 min. Heat olive oil and mint in a small frying pan over medium heat for approx. 1 min., and set aside.
- Crush garlic with a pinch of salt in a mortar and pestle to form a paste. Add the warm mint oil, garlic paste, and feta to a bowl with yogurt and mix to combine.
- Serve simit with garlic-mint dip and enjoy!
