Koulouri Thessalonikis – The Greek Sesame Bagel Recipe
Koulouri Thessalonikis is a traditional Greek sesame bagel known for its crunchy sesame coating and soft, chewy interior. This recipe guides you through making the dough from scratch, shaping the rings, dipping them in a sweetened water bath, coating them generously with sesame seeds, and baking until golden brown, resulting in an authentic, delicious snack perfect for breakfast or anytime craving.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
- Yield: 10 koulouria 1x
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Greek
Ingredients
Scale
For the Dough
- 16 g Dry active yeast (0.56 oz)
- 300 ml Water, lukewarm (10 fl.oz)
- 150 g Strong flour (bread flour) (5.3 oz)
- 350 g All-purpose flour (12.3 oz)
- 50 g Granulated sugar (1.8 oz)
- 10 g Salt (0.35 oz)
- Olive oil, enough to grease the bowl
For the Coating
- 500 ml Water (17 fl.oz)
- 2 Tbsp Granulated sugar
- 200 g Sesame seeds (7 oz)
Instructions
- Activate Yeast: In a bowl, combine 300 ml lukewarm water with 16 g dry active yeast. Let it rest for 5-6 minutes until foamy, indicating the yeast is active.
- Mix Dough Ingredients: Add 150 g strong flour, 350 g all-purpose flour, 50 g sugar, and 10 g salt to the mixing bowl. Using an electric stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, mix on medium/high speed for 7-8 minutes until the dough pulls away from the bowl.
- Hand Knead (Optional): If you don’t have a mixer, knead the dough by hand on a clean surface for about 15 minutes until soft and elastic and it pulls away from the surface.
- First Rise: Generously grease a bowl with olive oil, place the dough inside, cover with plastic wrap, and let it rest for 1 to 1 ½ hours until doubled in size.
- Preheat Oven: Set the oven temperature to 200°C (392°F) to prepare for baking.
- Prepare Coating Solutions: Dissolve 2 tablespoons of sugar into 500 ml water in a bowl. In another bowl, place 200 g sesame seeds for coating.
- Divide Dough: On a clean surface, cut the risen dough into approximately 10 equal pieces.
- Prepare Dough Balls: Lightly brush the surface with olive oil if dough sticks, then shape each piece into smooth balls. Cover with a towel to prevent drying.
- Shape Rings: Roll each ball into a long roll and join the ends to form rings of uniform size and shape.
- Dip in Sugar Water: Immerse each ring fully into the sugar water ensuring complete coating.
- Coat with Sesame Seeds: Immediately transfer the wet rings to the sesame seeds bowl and gently press and coat evenly using a spoon.
- Arrange on Baking Tray and Bake: Place 4 coated rings on parchment-lined baking trays. Bake in the preheated oven for 17-20 minutes until they turn a beautiful golden color. Monitor to avoid over-browning.
Notes
- Do not add extra flour when shaping the dough; use olive oil to prevent sticking instead.
- The sugar water bath helps the sesame seeds stick and gives a slight sweetness to the dough crust.
- The dough should be soft and elastic, which will yield a chewy interior texture after baking.
- Ensure proper proofing for the best texture and rise in the finished product.
- Use parchment paper to prevent sticking during baking and for easier cleanup.
Keywords: Koulouri Thessalonikis, Greek sesame bagel, Greek bread, sesame bagel, traditional Greek snack, baked sesame ring
