Pita Bread: Simple and Easy

Pita bread is a popular Middle Eastern flatbread that is enjoyed around the world. It is a versatile bread that can be used for sandwiches, dipping in hummus, or as a side to your favorite Mediterranean dishes. While it’s easy to buy pita bread at the store, making your own can be a fun and rewarding experience.

To make pita bread, you’ll need a few simple ingredients: flour, salt, sugar, yeast, warm water, and olive oil. All-purpose flour works well for pita bread, but you can also use bread flour if you prefer. The warm water helps activate the yeast and the sugar helps feed it, resulting in a light and fluffy bread. The olive oil adds flavor and helps keep the bread moist.

To start, combine the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Add the warm water and olive oil and mix everything together until a shaggy dough forms. Knead the dough on a floured surface for about 5 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic. Place the dough in a clean, oiled bowl, cover it with a damp cloth, and let it rise for about an hour until it has doubled in size.

Alternatively, you can put your shaped balls of pita dough into the fridge to cold ferment overnight. This will add a hint of authentic flavor.

If you have a pizza stone or steel, now is the time to put it into your oven. It will help cook your beloved pita more even and brown.

Once the dough has risen, preheat your oven to 475°F (245°C). Divide the dough into 8 equal parts and roll each one out into a flat circle about 1/4 inch thick. Place the pita bread rounds on a baking sheet and bake them in the preheated oven for 5-7 minutes until they have puffed up and turned golden brown.

One of the keys to making perfect pita bread is to make sure your oven is hot enough. The high temperature causes the bread to puff up, creating a pocket inside. If your oven is not hot enough, the bread won’t puff up and you’ll end up with flatbread instead.

Another tip is to make sure your pita bread rounds are rolled out evenly. If one part of the bread is thicker than another, it won’t puff up properly. You can also sprinkle a little flour on your hands and the surface you’re rolling the dough on to prevent it from sticking.

Homemade pita bread is best enjoyed fresh, but you can store any leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. To reheat, simply place the bread in a toaster or under the broiler for a few seconds.

Making your own pita bread is a fun and rewarding experience. With just a few simple ingredients and some patience, you can create delicious homemade pita bread that’s perfect for any meal.

Culinary Techniques Used In This Recipe:

1. Mixing: You’ll need to mix together the dry ingredients (flour, salt, sugar, and yeast) in a large bowl, and then add in the warm water and olive oil to form a shaggy dough.
2. Kneading: After mixing the dough, you’ll need to knead it on a floured surface for about 5 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic. Kneading helps activate the gluten in the flour and gives the bread its structure and texture.
3. Proofing: Once the dough is kneaded, you’ll need to let it rise in a warm place for about an hour until it has doubled in size. This process is called proofing, and it allows the yeast to ferment and create air bubbles in the dough.
4. Rolling: After the dough has risen, you’ll need to divide it into 8 equal parts and roll each part out into a flat circle about 1/4 inch thick. Rolling the dough out evenly is important to ensure that the bread puffs up properly.
5. Baking: The final step in making pita bread is baking it in a preheated oven at a high temperature (475°F/245°C) for 5-7 minutes. This high temperature causes the bread to puff up and create a pocket inside.

By following these culinary techniques, you’ll be able to make delicious homemade pita bread that’s sure to impress!

Tips & Tricks:

1. Make sure your yeast is fresh: To ensure that your pita bread rises properly, it’s important to use fresh yeast. Check the expiration date on the package before using it. If you’re unsure whether your yeast is still active, you can proof it by dissolving it in a little warm water with a pinch of sugar. If the mixture becomes frothy and bubbly after a few minutes, your yeast is good to go.
2. Use warm water: The water you use in the recipe should be warm, not hot. If the water is too hot, it can kill the yeast and prevent the bread from rising. Aim for a temperature between 105°F and 115°F (40°C to 46°C).
3. Knead the dough thoroughly: Kneading the dough helps activate the gluten, which gives the bread its structure and texture. Be sure to knead the dough for at least 5 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic. (If you want to use a stand mixer: Use a dough hook attachment. Mix on low for 2 minutes or until dough comes together, then increase the speed to high and continue mixing for about 4 minutes. Be careful not to overdevelop the dough.
4. Let the dough rise in a warm place: The dough needs to rise in a warm, draft-free place. If your kitchen is cold, try placing the dough in the oven with the light on. The gentle heat from the light will create a warm environment for the dough to rise. (This is where you would place all shaped dough balls to an oiled sheet tray and wrap tightly. Refrigerate for 4 to 24 hours if you wanted to cold ferment.)
5. Roll the dough evenly: To get the pita bread to puff up properly, you need to roll the dough out evenly. Make sure the dough is not too thick in the middle, or it won’t puff up properly. You can use a rolling pin or your hands to flatten the dough.
6. Preheat your oven (with stone or steel if you have one): It’s important to preheat your oven to a high temperature (475°F/245°C) before baking the pita bread. This high temperature will help the bread puff up and create a pocket inside.
7. Use a baking stone, steel, or sheet: For the best results, bake the pita bread on a baking stone, steel, or sheet. This will help distribute the heat evenly and create a crispy crust.
8. Watch the bread closely: Pita bread can go from perfectly cooked to burned very quickly, so keep an eye on it while it’s baking. You want the bread to be golden brown, but not burned.

By following these tips and tricks, you’ll be able to make delicious, fluffy pita bread every time!

Nutritional Information based on 8 servings:

• Calories: 158
• Total Fat: 3.8g
• Saturated Fat: 0.5g
• Cholesterol: 0mg
• Sodium: 292mg
• Total Carbohydrates: 27.4g
• Dietary Fiber: 1.2g
• Sugars: 0.8g
• Protein: 3.9g

Please keep in mind that nutritional values may vary based on the specific ingredients you use.

A Simple Pita Bread

Print Recipe

Pita bread is a popular MiddleEastern flatbread that is enjoyed around the world.

Course Side Dish

Cuisine Mediterranean

Keyword bread

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 7 minutes mins

Proof 1 hour hr

Servings 8

Calories 158

Equipment

• 1 Stand Mixer

Ingredients

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 tablespoon instant yeast
• 1 1/4 cups warm water
• 2 tablespoons olive oil

Instructions

• In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, salt, sugar, and instant yeast.
• Add the warm water and olive oil to the bowl, and mix everything together until a shaggy dough forms.
• Knead the dough on a floured surface for about 5 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic.
• Place the dough in a clean, oiled bowl, cover it with a damp cloth, and let it rise for about an hour until it has doubled in size.
• Preheat your oven to 475°F (245°C).
• Divide the dough into 8 equal parts and roll each one out into a flat circle about 1/4 inch thick.
• Place the pita bread rounds on a baking sheet and bake them in the preheated oven for 5-7 minutes until they have puffed up and turned golden brown.
• Remove the pita bread from the oven and let them cool on a wire rack.