SIMIT

This recipe is special because it is one passed down from my mother to me. When we first came to Canada in 1975, Simit was one of the foods we missed the most. Of course we tried bagels but it was not the same. Everyone was trying their best to find a recipe that tasted just like Simits at home. My mon’s was the favorite among all of their friends. From then on, this was our special family recipe. Everyone who came over or we went to visit asked that we provide Simit.

Dough
5 cups flour
½ cup oil (I used mazola corn oil)
2 teaspoons salt
1 package yeast (approx. 2 teaspoonful)
½ cup lukewarm water
1 teaspoon sugar

Glaze:
1 egg
2/3 cup milk
1 full tablespoon pekmez (this is is a special Turkish syrup – looks like thick and dark maple syrup made from grapes)

Sesame seeds (2 cups but may need more)

• Put 1/2 cup of luke warm water in a tall glass. Add sugar and yeast and mix well. Allow yeast to rise (15 to 20 minutes)
• In a big mixing bowl, mix together, 4.5 cups flour, salt, oil and yeast and work into a dough.
• You can use remaining ½ cup of flour as you knead the dough so it does not stick to your hands.
• Let the dough rest for 2 hours.
• Make multiple small “balls” from the dough and roll each one to a long stick (see picture below).
  
  
  
• Roll the sticks around each other for “braided” look and attach the ends in a circle. You can use a bit of water to make the ends stick together. See pictures

• In a large bowl make the glaze by mixing all of the ingredients together.
• Get your cooking pan ready by lining with cooking paper so it does not stick to the bottom when cooking
• Dip each simit in the glaze first and then in sesame seeds and make sure all sides are covered in sesame seeds
• Cook at 350 degree oven