Do you want a more complex flavor to your bread? Then Semolina Bread with Sesame Seeds (locally known as ‘Pane Siciliano‘) has got you covered. You’ll get the nuttiness both from the semolina and the sesame seeds, plus the soft interior and crunchy exterior in every slice!
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If you want an authentic Italian bread that you can just eat on its own, no salami, no butter needed, then this semolina bread from Sicily is your answer.
Traditionally formed in three different shapes, I only included one of them in this post — the ‘occhi‘ shape, which looks like an inverted ‘S.’
I chose this one specifically because it is an homage to Santa Lucia — the same thing that we have here in Sweden for saffron buns. (I know, hard to imagine how it traveled that far. 🙂 )
IF YOU LIKE MORE AUTHENTIC SICILIAN RECIPES, THEN YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT THESE POSTS!
Ingredients
- Bread flour – all-purpose flour is ok, but bread flour is excellent for this semolina bread recipe.
- Semolina – fine milled semolina flour that’s known as ‘semola rimacinata di grano duro‘ in Italian. It’s the same semolina that I’ve used in Gnocchi alla Romana and Focaccia Barese.
- Honey – just use your favorite brand.
- Olive oil – extra virgin olive oil, if possible.
- Salt – you need to make sure you mix it with the rest of the dry ingredients first.
- Yeast – I always use active dry yeast for pane Siciliano.
- Sesame seeds – you would only be using it on top of the bread, not combining it with the dough.
Preparation
Start by combining the yeast three-quarters cup of warm water, mix, then set aside until it becomes foamy (photo 1).
In another bowl, mix bread flour, semolina, and salt.
Once the yeast mixture is ready, pour it into the stand mixer’s bowl, add the olive oil, and half a cup of water (photo 2).
Use the paddle attachment to mix.
Add the dry ingredients: bread flour, semolina, and salt (photo 3).
Continue mixing with the paddle attachment until a dough starts to form.
Switch to a dough hook and mix until you get a soft, smooth dough.
Form the dough into a ball and place it in an oiled bowl (photo 4).
Cover with a clean kitchen towel and set aside until it doubles in size — usually takes at least ninety minutes.
Uncover, deflate and transfer the dough onto a flat surface.
Start forming your semolina bread by cutting the dough into two portions, then cut one of them into two smaller parts.
Form a log from the bigger half of the dough and place it on top of a baking sheet (and tray) that’s generously dusted with flour (photo 5).
Form a log of about twenty inches long of one of the smaller dough portions and roll each end towards the center; on the opposite side — forming an inverted ‘S.’
Place it on top of the baking tray and brush it with water (photo 6).
Sprinkle the dough with sesame seeds and do the same for the rest.
Using a sharp knife, create a cut on top of pane Siciliano that’s shaped into a log (photo 7).
Cover all three with the kitchen towel and set aside until it (almost) doubles in size — generally takes forty-five to sixty minutes.
When you reach the thirty-minute mark, preheat your oven to 230°C (450°F).
Once the dough is ready, uncover them and place the tray in the middle of the oven.
After fifteen minutes, spray the inside of the oven with water three times, then lower the temperature to 200°C (375°F to 400°F).
Keep the tray of semolina bread inside for another 25 minutes.
Transfer them on a cooling rack, then serve once it has properly cooled.
Helpful tips
- Do not be wary of adding a bit of water if you feel the dough is dry. It’s a regular occurrence when using semolina flour — start with adding a tablespoon of water first, and then repeat if you’re still not happy with it.
- Unlike the Tuscan bread, you need to punch this dough in the center to deflate it.
- Do not skip the brushing of water to the dough — it helps make the sesame seeds stick to the semolina bread.
FAQ
Semolina flour absorbs more water than your regular flour because it is made from durum, high protein wheat. That is why it’s normal for the dough to feel dry when you’re preparing it — just add a bit of water to it as a workaround.
As for the finished product, it gives your semolina bread a nutty flavor, not to mention a lovely crusty (and golden) exterior.
Like the Sicilians, you add it outside the dough for additional crunch and an even deeper nutty flavor.
Aside from having more protein and fiber in it, it is also low in total fat compared to a typical bread.
At room temperature, pane Siciliano will stay good for three days as long as you keep it in an airtight container.
So give it a try this weekend, and let me know how it goes!
Semolina Bread Recipe (Pane Siciliano)
Ingredients
- 2 & 1/4 tsp yeast
- 1 tbsp + 1 tsp olive oil
- 1 tsp honey
- 2 & 1/3 cups semolina flour
- 1 cup bread flour
- 1 & 1/2 tsp salt
- 3 tbsp sesame seeds
Instructions
Preparing the semolina bread dough:
- Mix the yeast with 3/4 cup of warm water, then set aside until it becomes foamy.
- In another bowl, combine the bread flour, semolina, and salt. Mix, then set aside.
- Once the yeast mixture is ready, pour it into the stand mixer's bowl. Add the olive oil, honey, and 1/2 cup of water.
- Use the paddle attachment to mix, then add the dry ingredients (flour, semolina, and salt).
- Continue mixing with the paddle attachment until you see a dough forming.
- Switch to a dough hook and mix until you get a soft, smooth dough.
- Form the dough into a ball and place it in an oiled bowl.
- Cover with a clean kitchen towel and set aside until it doubles in size. (It generally takes 1 & 1/2 to 2 hours).
Forming and baking pane Siciliano:
- Uncover, deflate and transfer the dough onto a flat surface.
- Start forming your semolina bread by cutting the dough into two portions, then cut one of them into two smaller parts.
- Form a rectangular log from the bigger half of the dough and place it on top of a baking sheet (and tray) that's generously dusted with flour.
- Form a log of about 20-inch long for one of smaller dough portions and roll each end towards the center; on the opposite side — forming an inverted 'S.'
- Place it on top of the baking tray as well and brush it with water.
- Sprinkle the dough with sesame seeds and do the same for the rest.
- Using a sharp knife, create a cut on top of the pane Siciliano that's shaped into a rectangular dough.
- Cover all three with the kitchen towel and set aside until it (almost) doubles in size. It typically takes 45 to 60 minutes.
- When you reach the thirty-minute mark, preheat your oven to 230°C (450°F).
- Once the dough is ready, uncover them and place the tray in the middle of the oven.
- After 15 minutes, spray the inside of the oven with water three times, then lower the temperature to 200°C (375°F to 400°F).
- Keep the tray of semolina bread inside for another 25 minutes.
- Transfer them on a cooling rack, then serve once it has properly cooled.
Notes
- Cook’s Tip #1: Do not hesitate to add a bit of water if you feel the dough is dry. It’s a normal occurrence when using semolina flour — start with adding a tablespoon of water first, then repeat if you’re still not happy with it.
- Cook’s Tip #2: Unlike the Tuscan bread, you need to punch this dough in the center to deflate it.
- Cook’s Tip #3: Do not skip the brushing of water to the dough — it helps make the sesame seeds stick to the semolina bread.
Jacquie says
When is the honey added in?
Neriz says
Thank you so much for pointing it out Jacquie — really appreciate it!
Apologies, the honey is added together with the olive oil and 1/2 cup of water. The recipe card is now updated to reflect the correction as well.
Jacquie says
Thank you so much for this recipe! It made me my mom’s hero to be able to make this after she moved away from NYC and couldn’t find it anywhere. 😀
Neriz says
You’re welcome Jacquie! Thank you so much for your comment 🙂