Twisted Sesame Bagel

Today I want to share the a bagel recipe that is different from traditional bagel.  I called it bagel, but its original name is 'simit' and is a street food item in Turkey and some Eastern Europe countries. It has a history based 16th century, as it was produced and consumed during Ottoman Empire in Istanbul.

Note: You can make 7 small bagels with this recipe.

Ingredients

• 3 1/2 cups of all purpose flour
• 1 dessertspoon dry yeast
• 1/2 cup of milk
• 1 dessertspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1/2 cup vegetable, canola or sunflower oil
• 1 cup of sesame
• 1/4 cup of grape molasses (optional)

Preparation

In a small bowl mix, dry yeast, warm milk and sugar, keep it in a warm place until it rises. In a large bowl combine flour, salt, oil and yeast mixture and knead it by adding some water until it does not stick your hand. Put it in a warm place and wait until it rises and doubles its size. 

Take a pan and roast sesame until it changes color.Remember, you need to stir it continuously, otherwise it will burn very easily. 

Take the dough, make a roll out of it and cut into seven pieces. If you want your bagels bigger, you can cut it into five pieces. 

Take one piece and start rolling, then cut it into two pieces and roll again.

Combine the edges of two bands and twist them together and combine the edges again to make a ring. 

Put grape molasses in a small bowl, add some water and mix. Apply it to the bagel with the help of a brush.You can find grape molasses in Middle East shops, but you can use maple syrup or just water instead of it. 

Put roasted sesames in a large tray.Take bagel and put it in the tray with sesame. It should be all covered in sesame. 

Cover the grille in the oven with an aluminium foil and apply some oil on the surface.Preheat oven to 400 F and turn it off. Then, put all bagels on the foil in the oven and wait 15 minutes. Then take them out. They should rise more.

Preheat oven to 500 F and bake them another 10 minutes. Your bagel is ready.

Enjoy!