simit

Simit is a circular, sesame-covered bread that is central to Turkish cuisine. The dough is typically made from wheat flour, water, yeast, and salt, and may include a small amount of sugar or oil. The dough is rolled into a long strand, shaped into a ring, and then moistened and rolled in sesame seeds so the seeds adhere before baking. Simit is baked in stone or deck ovens at high temperatures, producing a chewy interior and a crisp, sesame-coated crust. Modern production also occurs in industrial ovens for mass distribution.

In Turkey, simit is a common breakfast item and street food, often enjoyed with black tea. It is usually eaten plain or with accompaniments such as cheese, tomatoes, cucumbers, jam, or yogurt. Simit vendors, known as simitçiler, are a familiar sight in cities and markets. In neighboring regions, similar sesame-ring breads exist, such as the Greek koulouri, and various Levantine and Balkan breads share the general form.

Origins and regional context place simit within the broader bread traditions of the Ottoman Empire. The modern form is associated with late medieval and early modern culinary developments in the region, though sesame-coated rings appear in related bread traditions across the area. Today, simit is produced commercially and by home bakers throughout Turkey and in many diaspora communities.