Sesame Bread Rings (Koulouri)

Name: Sesame Bread Rings (Koulouri)
Yield: 6
Ingredients: Bread flour (500 g / 1 lb 2 oz) — 4 cups; Active dry yeast — 2 tsp; Sugar — 1 tbsp; Warm water — 360 ml (1.5 cups); Salt — 2 tsp; Sesame seeds, for coating — 140 g (1 cup); Grape molasses or honey, diluted with water, for dipping — 60 g (1/4 cup)

The Quirky Foodster Team

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Servings

Ingredients

Bread flour (500 g / 1 lb 2 oz) — 4 cups
Active dry yeast — 2 tsp
Sugar — 1 tbsp
Warm water — 360 ml (1.5 cups)
Salt — 2 tsp
Sesame seeds, for coating — 140 g (1 cup)
Grape molasses or honey, diluted with water, for dipping — 60 g (1/4 cup)

Method

Dissolve the yeast and sugar in the warm water and let sit for 10 minutes until foamy.
Combine the flour and salt in a large bowl, then add the yeast mixture, kneading for 10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
Cover and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour, or until doubled.
Divide the dough into portions and roll each into a long rope, then join the ends to form a ring.
Dip each ring briefly in the diluted molasses or honey, then roll in sesame seeds to coat generously.
Place on a baking tray and let rise for a further 20 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F) and bake for 20–25 minutes until golden.

Introduction: Ring-shaped bread coated in sesame seeds, a beloved and enduring bread with roots in Byzantine Constantinople that continues as a popular street food today.

Cultural Background: Koulouri holds a remarkable place in culinary continuity, its ring shape and sesame coating documented from Byzantine times through to the present day, where it remains one of the most iconic and beloved street foods of modern Istanbul and Athens alike.

Tips: Dipping the dough in molasses or honey before coating helps the sesame seeds adhere generously. Roll thoroughly in the seeds for the traditional, generously coated exterior.

Variations: Adjust the ring size for smaller or larger portions. Serve fresh and warm for the best texture.

Storage: Store at room temperature in a paper bag for up to 2 days.

Reheating: Warm briefly in an oven at 180°C (350°F) for 5 minutes to refresh.

Nutrition: Per serving (approx., 1 ring): 320 kcal, 10 g protein, 8 g fat, 52 g carbohydrate.

FAQs:

Q: How far back does koulouri’s history go?

A: It has documented roots stretching back to the Byzantine era, making it one of the most enduring bread traditions in the region, still sold by street vendors in Istanbul and Athens today.

Q: Why are the rings dipped in sweetener before coating?

A: This helps the sesame seeds adhere thickly and evenly to the dough’s surface, a technique that has remained consistent across centuries.