Quarantine diaries with delicious sesame bagels. otherwise known as simitia or koulouri Thessalonikis by Jenny from trEat Greek.
Head straight to the recipe.
A few words about you and where did the quarantine find you?
The quarantine found me in Stratford Upon Avon. the town I have been living in for almost 5 years now. Stratford is the place where Shakespeare was born and raised so all year round the place is full of tourists. Unfortunately the lockdown has turned this beautiful town in a quiet place totally different to what it was. But I still love it. You can find information about stratford Upon avon on my blog, treatgreek here.
What did it change for you ?
A lot. I am a sociable person who loves going out and about, meet friends, going to the gym etc. Now I am locked up in my house with my children and husband but we still enjoy walks on the countryside, rides with the cars on the beautiful cotswolds that are very close to stratford and rather than that currently I am working from home like the majority of employees here in the UK.
How many loo-rolls can you count in your cupboards?
When lockdown was imposed I was lucky enough to have bought a big pack of toilet rolls so i didn’t panic at that time. The problem is not the toilet roll though but the yeast and flour I can’t find easily. It seems that the whole UK is baking at the moment.
Comfort food: sesame bagels
Pastichio is my favorite comfort food and I am proud to say that is one of my specialities. But the recipe I am sharing with you today is koulouria Thessalonikis. Koulouria is a snack that you can find everywhere is my home town Thessaloniki. When I moved to the UK I had to learn to make them as you can’t find them here. So here is my recipe.
Sesame Bagels, koulouria Thessalonikis
Ingredients
- 500 gr of plain flour
- 2 tsp of yeast
- 2 tbsp of sugar
- 2 tbsp of salt
- 2 tbsp of olive oil
- 250 gr warm not hot water
- Sesame seeds
Instructions
- Put the flour in a large bowl.
- Add all the ingredients and at last put the warm water on the mixture.
- Knead the dough until smooth and soft and not sticky in to your hands.
- Let it rest in a warm place by wrapping the bowl with the dough in a clean kitchen towel. You can leave it rest as long as you like or until the dough has doubled its size ( it usually takes more than an hour) After the dough is ready you need to form smooth balls and knead each one of them by hand in to a long roll, bring the two edges together to form a circle.
- Put in a bowl warm water and use another for the sesame seeds
- Deep each bagel in to the bowl with water and straight after in to the sesame seeds, the water helps the sesame seeds to stick in to the dough.
- Place them in a baking tray that have been lined with baking paper, so they won’t stick.
- Bake for 30 min at 180C or until brown (depends on the oven).
How do you cope?
I can admit there are times and days when I am struggling with the lockdown and the fact that I am far away from my country, even more the possibility that we may not even be able to go in the summer. But I am trying to be positive and look on the bright side what ever that is. Like small little things, a walk, a nice meal, a chat with a friend, anything that makes me happy really.
Where will you go eat once this madness is over?
Greeeeeeece. Thessaloniki and Halkidiki
Share a wish, just so we can finish on a happy note.
Do not be afraid of tomorrow, because basically today is the day that scared you yesterday.” –
From Stratford Upon Avon with love,
Jenny
by 
These delicious koulouria are a traditional food you can find all over Greece, but especially in Thessaloniki. They resemble sesame bagels, but they are slightly different in texture from those.
Yes koulouria are a bit different and although a simple food, very satisfying! Especially as you stroll around Greece, the perfect little street food. 🙂