Sicilian Italian · Breads & baking

Golden sesame semolina bread

Name: Golden sesame semolina bread
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 38 min
Total time: 3 h 23 min
Yield: 1 oval loaf
Cuisine: Sicilian Italian
Ingredients: 2 3/4 cups (330 grams) bread flour; 1 cup (170 grams) fine durum semolina flour, preferably rimacinata; 2 teaspoons instant yeast; 1 3/4 teaspoons fine sea salt; 1 tablespoon honey; 1 1/2 cups (340 grams) lukewarm water; 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil; 1/2 cup sesame seeds

A golden Sicilian-style loaf with a softly chewy durum-wheat crumb and a nutty sesame crust.

About 3 hr 25 minTotal

About 1 hr 10 minActive

$$Cost

ModerateDifficulty

Makes 1 oval loaf

Equipment

A similarly sized 13 × 18-inch rimmed pan works; smaller pans make a thicker pizza.
Best starting point
Nordic Ware Naturals Half Sheet · 43100
View at Amazon
Another workable path: A similarly sized 13 × 18-inch rimmed pan works; smaller pans make a thicker pizza.
Paid links. As an Amazon Associate, Kwilt earns from qualifying purchases.
How we chose
Research-backed · reviewed Aug 2026
We compared exact half-sheet geometry, uncoated material, reinforced construction, heat limit, care, stable model identity, and the exact Amazon destination. Manufacturer specifications establish model 43100 and its UPC, while America's Test Kitchen reports comparative cooking and handling results. Kwilt has not baked with this pan.
Nordic Ware Naturals Half Sheet · 43100: Its 13-by-18-inch footprint gives this soft dough the intended thickness, and the uncoated aluminum supports browning on the oiled bottom. Trade-off: Hand washing is recommended, and acidic tomato left on uncoated aluminum can discolor or pit the surface over time.
Another workable path: Use another rimmed half sheet only if its outside dimensions are close to 13 by 18 inches. A smaller pan makes a thicker pizza and needs its own bake adjustment.
Sources
Nordic Ware product details
America's Test Kitchen result
Nordic Ware model and UPC registry
Amazon exact product listing

Ingredients

1× recipe · Makes 1 oval loaf

2 3/4 cups (330 grams) bread flour
1 cup (170 grams) fine durum semolina flour, preferably rimacinata
2 teaspoons instant yeast
1 3/4 teaspoons fine sea salt
1 tablespoon honey
1 1/2 cups (340 grams) lukewarm water
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 cup sesame seeds

Instructions

Whisk bread flour, fine semolina, yeast, and salt. Dissolve honey in water, add with olive oil, and knead 8 to 10 minutes until smooth, elastic, and slightly tacky. Fine remilled semolina is flour; coarse pasta semolina will remain gritty and absorb differently.
Cover in an oiled bowl and rise 60 to 75 minutes until doubled. Shape into a taut 10-inch oval by folding the sides inward and rolling the seam closed.
Spread sesame seeds on a tray. Mist the loaf lightly with water, roll all sides in seeds, and place seam-side down on parchment. Cover and proof 40 to 60 minutes until puffy and a gentle press springs back slowly.
Heat oven to 425°F with an inside. Score one long 1/2-inch-deep slash, slide loaf and parchment onto the hot pan, and bake 35 to 42 minutes until dark gold and 205°F inside.
Cool 90 minutes before slicing. Serve with soup, cured meats, cheese, jam, or olive oil; store cut-side down for one day, then slice and freeze.

Sicily, ItalySicilian-inspired durum-wheat and sesame bread tradition

From the table

About this recipe

Durum wheat and sesame are strongly associated with breads of Sicily and southern Italy, but the names, shapes, flour ratios, fermentation, and coatings vary by town and bakery. “Pane Siciliano” is therefore better treated as a family resemblance than as proof that one spiral or one formula is universally traditional.

This golden oval is a clearly labeled Sicilian-inspired home loaf. Fine remilled durum semolina contributes warm color, nutty flavor, and a firm chew, while a complete sesame coating adds aroma and texture. Bread flour is retained for dependable structure, and the method avoids implying that coarse pasta semolina is interchangeable.

Sources

Dinner does not stop at the recipe