Koulouri/ Greek Politiko Simiti

The Baking Eggless group has completed two years and is entering the third successful year. For the last 24 months, in the group we have done so many experimenting and have prepared 24 dishes without eggs. We have done so many cakes and desserts. And for this year, we just want to stay away from cakes. To start it, this bread recipe suggested by Priya of Priya’s Versatile Recipes is perfect. I have seen so many bread recipes which uses eggs for giving the softness. But according to the group, we can make soft bread without eggs. And here is the result to prove us right. Sesame covered ring shaped bread is a famous street food in Turkey and Greece. In turkey it is called as Simit ( I have already posted the recipe here) and in Greece it is called as Simiti/ Koulouri. The traditional Simiti is like simit, a ring shaped bread covered with sesame seeds but Politiko Simiti is a braided version of the simiti.  

The bread rings are usually covered with white sesame seeds but I noticed at the time of baking that I had only half the quantity of white sesame seeds. So I mixed black sesame seeds and made the rings. The simiti was bursting with sesame flavour and it tasted great when fresh out of oven with crispy crust and chewy centre. The next day it went completely soft but still it was delicious. With chocolate spread, it was the perfect breakfast. One ingredient which the traditional bread uses is the grape must syrup. It is a concentrated version of the grape juice which is not available here. Even though I had a recipe for the syrup, I didn’t prepare it as it takes lots and lots of hours on stove. I used diluted honey instead. Linking this to Yeastspotting.

Instant Yeast-3 tsp

Flour/ Maida-5 cups

Caster Sugar-2 tbs

Lukewarm Milk-1 cup

Lukewarm Water-1 cup

Olive Oil-2 tbs

Salt-1 tsp

Sesame Seeds-1 1/2 cups

Honey-1/3 cup

Water-1/4 cup

Procedure:

1. In a large bowl, mix together flour, salt, sugar, yeast and oil.

2. Add water and milk to make a soft ans slightly sticky dough.

3. Take the dough to the counter and knead for 10 minutes until soft and elastic.

4. Place inside an oiled bowl, cover with cling wrap and allow it to double for 1 hour.

5. In a pan add the sesame seeds and roast them until slightly brown and aromatic. Remove and cool.

6. In a bowl mix together honey and water.

7. Deflate the dough and divide into 10 equal portions. 

8. Divide each portion into two and roll each portion into a 30 cm long rope.

9. Twist both together to form a braid. Bring together the ends and seal to form a braided ring.

10. Dip the ring in honey and place it on the sesame seeds.

11. Coat the ring completely with the seeds.

12. Place the coated ring on a baking tray.

13. Complete all the rings. You may need to bake it in two batches of 5 each.

14. Preheat oven to 200C.

15. Once the shaping and coating is complete, the rings may go into the oven. It doesn’t need the second proofing.

16. Bake for 20-25 minutes until nicely browned.

17. Remove from oven and serve it hot or warm. Just slather butter, jam or chocolate spread and enjoy!!

Mix the flour with other ingredients.

Add water and mix.

Make a slightly sticky soft dough.

Knead for 10 minutes until smooth and elastic.

Set it aside for an hour or until double.

Divide into 10 equal portions.

Divide each into two and roll into a 30 cm rope.

Twist both together.

Seal both the ends to form a ring.

Mix together honey and water.

Dip the ring in honey.

Toast the sesame seeds.

Coat the ring with the seeds. Can you find the ring in this??

Place on greased baking tray.

Bake until golden brown.

I loved the way it looked.

Slather with chocolate spread..

Enjoy!!!!