Visitors to Turkey are already familiar with “simit”, the bread ring covered in sesame seeds and sold on street corners. Now this simple, tasty food is well on its way to becoming a global brand as its fame spreads. The entry of the word “simit” into the Oxford English Dictionary has given it a fresh boost on its journey.
Those familiar with simits will tell you they are an essential part of any good breakfast, tea-time snack, a perfect accompaniment for cheese, tomatoes and cucumber, whether you live in luxury or poverty. For those unfamiliar, the delicious simits are the Turkish equivalents of America’s bagels. After being prepared with special dough, then it is dipped in molasses and covered in sesame seeds before being baked at a high temperature in a stone oven.