Description
Enjoy a tasty twist on classic Istanbul street food with these Simit Sliders featuring soft, sesame-coated bread buns filled with flavorful ground beef or lamb patties, topped with creamy tahini sauce and fresh parsley. Perfect for a hearty appetizer or a unique snack that brings vibrant Turkish flavors to your table.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Simit Slider Buns
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup warm water
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon active dry yeast
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
For the Meat Patties
- 1 pound ground beef or lamb
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
For the Tahini Sauce
- 1/2 cup tahini
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 1-2 tablespoons water (to thin)
- Salt to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Activate Yeast: In a large bowl, combine warm water, sugar, and yeast. Let it sit for about 5 minutes until the mixture becomes frothy, indicating the yeast is active.
- Make Dough: Add flour, salt, and olive oil to the yeast mixture. Stir until the dough begins to form, then knead on a floured surface for 5-7 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- First Rise: Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with a damp cloth, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour or until it doubles in size.
- Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 425°F (220°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prepare for baking the buns.
- Shape Buns: Punch down the risen dough and divide it into 8 equal pieces. Shape each piece into a small ball and flatten slightly to create the slider buns.
- Coat with Sesame: Mix sesame seeds with a tablespoon of water in a small bowl. Dip each bun into this mixture to coat evenly with sesame seeds, then place them on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake Buns: Bake the sesame-coated buns for 15-20 minutes or until they turn golden brown. Remove from oven and allow to cool slightly.
- Prepare Meat Patties: While the buns bake, combine ground beef or lamb with cumin, paprika, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne pepper if using. Form the mixture into 8 small evenly sized patties.
- Cook Patties: Heat a skillet over medium heat. Cook the patties 4-5 minutes per side until fully cooked and browned on the outside.
- Make Tahini Sauce: In a bowl, whisk together tahini, lemon juice, and water until smooth and creamy. Add salt to taste to balance flavors.
- Assemble Sliders: Slice each simit slider bun in half horizontally. Place a cooked meat patty inside, drizzle generously with tahini sauce, and garnish with fresh chopped parsley for a finishing touch.
Notes
- Warm water used for activating yeast should be around 105-110°F for best yeast activation.
- If you prefer a spicier slider, feel free to add more cayenne or a pinch of chili powder to the meat mixture.
- These sliders can be prepared with lamb for authentic flavor or ground beef as a milder alternative.
- To make the tahini sauce thinner, add water gradually until your desired consistency is reached.
- Leftover buns can be stored in an airtight container for up to 2 days and lightly toasted before serving.
