Simit (Turkish Sesame Seed Bagel) vs Koulouri Thessalonikis: Traditional Greek Sesame Bread Ring

Both rings start from a near-identical yeasted dough, with sugar there mainly to wake the yeast, so the real differences lie on the surface and in the shaping. Simit is twisted into a double helix and dipped in a grape molasses and water bath before its heavy coat of toasted sesame, giving a deeply golden crust with a sweet, fruity edge. Koulouri Thessalonikis is a simple smooth ring dipped in water with a splash of olive oil, so its sesame crust tastes cleaner and more savory over a soft, supple crumb.