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Açma
Açma: soft, buttery Istanbul breakfast rings sold beside the simit carts
Every simit seller's glass cart in Istanbul has a softer cousin stacked beside the sesame rings: açma, a pillowy, slightly sweet ring of enriched dough that commuters tear apart on the ferry with a glass of tea and a wedge of white cheese. The crumb is close to brioche but lighter, with a shiny golden crust and black nigella seeds on top. Plain ones are best warm; some bakers fold olives or cheese into them. Chef's tip: rest the rolled ropes for ten minutes before shaping, so the gluten relaxes and the rings keep their shape instead of shrinking back.
- Total time
- 52 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 10
Ingredients
For the dough
For the top
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Method
0/7 doneStep 1: Mix 1 ⅛ lb strong white bread flour, ¼ oz instant dried yeast, 2 tbsp caster sugar and 1 tsp salt in a large bowl. Add ¾ cup whole milk, 2 ⅛ oz plain yoghurt, 1 egg and ¼ cup sunflower oil and bring together into a soft dough.
Step 2: Knead for 8–10 minutes, until smooth and slightly tacky. Cover and leave in a warm place for about 1 hour, until doubled.
70 minStep 3: Knock the dough back and divide into 10 pieces. Roll each into a 35 cm rope and brush with a little of the 1 ¾ oz butter. Rest for 10 minutes.
10 minStep 4: Fold each rope in half, twist the two strands together loosely, then curl into a ring and pinch the ends firmly together.
Step 5: Set on two lined trays, cover loosely and prove for 30–40 minutes, until puffy. Heat the oven to 375°F (350°F fan).
35 minStep 6: Brush with 1 egg yolk and sprinkle with 1 tsp nigella seeds and 1 tbsp sesame seeds. Bake for 18–22 minutes, until deep golden and hollow-sounding underneath. Common mistake: pulling them out pale; the crust should be shiny and well browned.
22 minStep 7: Brush the hot rings with the rest of the butter so the crust softens, and cool for 10 minutes before eating.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 290 kcal
- Protein
- 8 g
- Carbs
- 41 g
- Fat
- 11 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does açma take?
- About 52 minutes in total: 30 minutes to prepare and 22 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 10 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Can I make it ahead?
- Yes. It keeps well, so you can cook it earlier in the day or the day before and reheat it.
- What can I use instead of strong white bread flour?
- Plain flour, same amount (the dough will be softer and rise a little less).
- What can I use instead of caster sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
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