When you think of Middle Eastern or Mediterranean food the humble pita always comes to mind. This bread is also known as pita pocket or pocket bread. Pita bread is a Middle Eastern staple, and we eat it with almost all foods whether it is vegetarian hummus, tahini, shakshuka for breakfast, or babaganoush, kebabs, falafel for lunch or dinner. The main ingredient in pita bread is white wheat flour, yeast, water, honey, oil, and salt. But you can make pita with whole wheat as well. Traditionally, a pita is made in a hot oven. You can make it on a sheet pan at home in a hot oven or on the stovetop. Personally, I prefer the stovetop so I can be in control of the pocket.
Step-by-step: Homemade pita bread recipe
Dough
Yeast – In a small bowl combine lukewarm water, yeast, honey, and oil. Stir well and set aside Combine – In the bowl of a stand mixer with the dough hook attachment, combine the flour and salt. Add the yeast mixture and combine on medium-high speed until all the flour is incorporated. Scrape the sides of the bowl.
Knead – Continue to knead on medium speed for 15 to 18 minutes until you have a soft, elastic dough.Pro tip – You can also knead by hand on a lightly floured surface for about 20 to 25 minutes. When you press the dough with your fingers – the dough should spring back. Rise – Shape the dough into a ball and place it in an oiled bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and rest in a warm place for about 60 to 90 minutes or until double in volume.Pro-tip – in winter you may need 90 minutes or more but in summer the dough may double in 45 minutes. If you can’t attend to it at that moment. Punch down, reshape, and let double in volume again.
Divide – When double in volume transfer to a well-dusted floured surface. De-gas, reshape into a ball. Then roll it into a small log. Using a dough scraper divide this log into 4 portions and then each of those portions into 3 again. This should give you 12 portions. Shape each portion into a smooth ballPro-tip – I am making 12 pita bread but you can make these bigger by dividing the dough into fewer portions.
Roll – Shape each portion into a smooth ball. Let rest for 5 to 10 minutes then using a rolling pin, roll each dough ball into a 6-inch disc. Do not roll them too thin, as we do want some thickness for the pocket to appear.Pro tip – shaping them will ensure you have a smooth pita. Resting helps the gluten relax and makes working with dough easy. Otherwise, you will find that the disc does not get larger ? Prove – Place all the discs on a baking sheet with parchment paper, lightly dusted with flour to prevent sticking. Let rest for 30 minutes – covered with a clean kitchen towel or cheesecloth.Pro tip – this resting is important otherwise you will get flatbread, not pita. The resting will let the yeast rise giving us a soft bread-like flatbread – pita!
Cook – Stovetop
Heat a cast-iron skillet or frying pan on high heat. Each pita will take about 2 minutes cooking 30 secs at a time on each side. 1. Place the pita bread on the skillet and let cook 30 secs. 2. Flip once – let cook another 30 secs. 3. Flip again – cook for 30 seconds – the pita should now start to puff up. 4. and flip again – the pita should now puff up completely – cook for 30 secs or less.
Cook- Pizza stone
Heat the oven to 500°F/ 260°C Gas Mark 10 with the pizza stone for at least 20 minsPro tip – We need a hot oven with a short cooking time otherwise the pita will become dry. Place two to three pitas on the hot pizza stone. Bake for two minutes until puffed up.Pro tip – work with a number that you are comfortable working with. Personally, I don’t put more than 3 at a time Use the broiler if the pita is pale in color.Pro tip – do not overheat the pita with the broiler on as it can make the pita dry.
Wrap and keep warm
As soon as the pita bread is cooked or baked. Keep it wrapped in a clean kitchen towel or cheesecloth to keep them soft. These will stay at room temperature for 2 to 3 days. You can freeze them for over a month.
Storage
Pita bread can dry out easily so always keep them wrapped. They will stay fresh when wrapped in a cheesecloth or towel for up to 3 days. I prefer not to keep them in the fridge as they dry out. You can place them in ziplock bags and freeze them for a week. If wrapped well in aluminum foil they will stay for up to a month in the freezer.
Frequently asked questions
Creative ways to serve or use leftover pita bread
Pita Dippers: Cut pita bread into wedges and serve them with a variety of dips like hummus, tzatziki, baba ganoush, or spinach-artichoke dip. Pita Pizzas: Use pita bread as a base for mini pizzas. Top with tomato sauce, cheese, and your favorite pizza toppings. Bake until the cheese melts and the pita becomes crispy. Pita Nachos: Cut pita bread into triangles and bake until crispy. Top with seasoned ground meat, melted cheese, jalapenos, olives, and sour cream for a Mediterranean twist on traditional nachos. Pita Sandwiches: Stuff pita bread with your choice of fillings, such as falafel, grilled chicken, veggies, and sauces. Fold the pita in half to create a delicious and portable sandwich. Pita Bruschetta: Toast pita bread and top it with diced tomatoes, basil, mozzarella, and balsamic glaze for a Mediterranean-style bruschetta. Pita Salad Bowls: Bake pita bread in a bowl-shaped mold to create edible salad bowls. Fill them with your favorite salad ingredients and dressings. Pita Tacos: Use pita bread as a substitute for tortillas to make delicious Mediterranean-inspired tacos. Fill them with seasoned meat or roasted vegetables, and top with yogurt sauce and fresh herbs. Pita Chips: Cut pita bread into small triangles, brush them with olive oil, and sprinkle with your favorite seasonings. Bake until crispy for homemade pita chips. Pita Sliders: Make mini sliders using small pita pockets. Fill them with various sliders fillings like pulled pork, grilled vegetables, or mini falafel patties. Pita Breakfast Wraps: Stuff pita bread with scrambled eggs, bacon or sausage, cheese, and your favorite breakfast veggies for a hearty and portable breakfast wrap. Pita Sushi Rolls: Spread sushi rice on a piece of pita bread, add your choice of sushi fillings like cucumber, avocado, and smoked salmon, and roll it up tightly. Slice into bite-sized pieces for pita sushi rolls. Pita Desserts: Make sweet pita desserts by spreading Nutella, peanut butter, or cream cheese inside the pita and adding sliced fruits like strawberries or bananas.
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