All across Turkey you will be treated to the same breakfast - freshly baked sesame-coated simit bread rounds, a fruit jam and white cheese, a mezze platter of olives, tomatoes, cucumber and boiled eggs and, depending on the season, fresh or dried figs and dates, all washed down with a strong black sweetened tea (cay).
Often termed Turkish bagels, simit is freshly baked and sold by street peddlers, off carts or most often from trays held aloft on street corners. The coating of grape or
pomegranate molasses imbedded with sesame seed makes for a crunchy outside and chewy inner which is great with a cherry or berry jam, torn off in chewable hunks. You will need to be up early to get these in time for breakfast!
Makes 8 simit
• 1 Tbsp dry yeast
• ¼ tsp sugar
• ¼ cup warm water
• 2 cups high grade flour
• 1 tsp salt
• ¾ cup warm water
• ½ cup fruit molasses
• ½ cup water
• 1 cup white sesame seeds
1. Dissolve the yeast and sugar in ¼ cup warm water and leave to stand until frothy, approximately 10 minutes.