Simit is a traditional Turkish pastry sprinkled with sesame seeds, shaped like a circle with a hole in the middle. It is characterized by its crunchy crust and soft crumb.
Simit: Traditional Turkish Pastry
Simit is an integral part of Turkish cuisine and culture, similar to bagels in North America (which originally come from Poland) or pretzels in Germany. It is commonly eaten for breakfast or as a snack throughout the day.
Origin and History of Simit
Simit is historically a very old pastry, widespread already during the Ottoman Empire. Simit has been baked in the region of present-day Turkey since the 16th century. The oldest known written mention of simit dates back to 1525, recorded in the archives of Istanbul’s city administration. The word “simit” originates from the Arabic word “samīd”, meaning fine flour.
The popularity of simit grew rapidly especially during the 17th and 18th centuries in Istanbul, where it was sold on the streets by mobile vendors called “simitçi”, who offered it directly from large baskets or carts. The traditional street sale of simit by street vendors is still alive in Turkey and is considered a cultural tradition.
Simit Recipe and Preparation
Traditional simit is prepared from a simple dough containing wheat flour, water, yeast, sugar, and salt. After thorough kneading, the dough is left to rise and then shaped by hand into long strands that are twisted into a circular shape.
The unique taste and texture of simit come from the preparation process right before baking. The shaped dough rings are first dipped into a mixture of water and molasses (grape or, less commonly, fig). This gives simit its typical dark golden to brown color and subtly sweet taste. The surface is then generously sprinkled with sesame seeds and baked in an oven. Traditionally, simits were baked in stone ovens heated with wood.
Significance of Simit
Simit is one of the most common foods in Turkey. It is typically eaten for breakfast accompanied by tea or ayran. Locals often combine simit with various ingredients such as cheese, olives, tomatoes, or butter.
In Istanbul and other Turkish cities, simit can be purchased almost everywhere, on streets, markets, ferries, and at bus stations. Street vendors selling simit and their calls “Simit! Taze simit!” (“Simit! Fresh simit!”) are among the characteristic sounds of Turkish cities.
Simit represents an affordable and filling meal for all social classes. Selling simit was and remains an important source of income for many people.
Variations of Simit
The basic recipe for simit is similar throughout Turkey, but there are variations. In bakeries, you can also come across Ankara simit or simit tereyağlı, into whose dough extra butter is added before baking.
How Much Does Simit Cost
Unfortunately, Turkey is suffering from high inflation, and simit has not escaped price increases. During my most recent visit to Turkey, one classic simit could be bought in the city of Konya for 13 TRY (0.30 EUR), one Ankara simit cost 15 TRY (0.35 EUR), and simit tereyağlı was 18 TRY (0.45 EUR).
Simit is one of the most prominent symbols of Turkish cuisine. Being in Turkey and not tasting a perfectly baked simit is impossible.
Bon appétit!
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