The Turkish ring-shaped bread covered with sesame seeds is simit.
Simit is a circular bread made from yeast dough that is dipped in water or grape molasses and then coated generously with sesame seeds before baking. The result is a crisp, deeply browned exterior and a bread-like interior.
Simit is strongly associated with Istanbul, where street vendors have sold it for centuries. It is commonly eaten for breakfast or as a snack, sometimes with cheese, olives, tomatoes, tea, or jam.
The exact recipe and texture vary across Turkey and neighboring regions. Similar sesame-covered breads appear in other cuisines under related names, but simit is the standard Turkish term. It is sometimes loosely called a Turkish bagel, although its dough, coating, and preparation are not identical to those of a bagel.