Homemade Pita Bread Recipe

How to make it

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• 1. Mix the water, sugar and yeast together, and let sit for about five minutes until the yeast is dissolved and bubbles start to form.
• 2. Add 2 1/2 cups of the flour salt, and olive oil .
• 3. Stir until a shaggy dough is formed.
• 4. Sprinkle a little of the extra flour onto your clean work surface and turn out the dough.
• 5. Knead the dough for about 5-7 minutes, until the dough is smooth and elastic.
• 6. Add more flour as needed to keep the dough from sticking to your hands or the work surface, but try to be sparing. It's better to use too little flour than too much. If you get tired, stop and let the dough rest for a few minutes before finishing kneading.
• 7. Clean the bowl you used to mix the dough and film it with a little olive oil.
• 8. Set the dough in the bowl and turn it until it's coated with oil. Cover with a clean dishcloth or plastic wrap and let the dough rise until it's doubled in bulk, 1-2 hours.
• 9. Gently deflate the dough and turn it out onto a lightly floured work surface.
• 10. Divide the dough into 8 equal pieces and gently flatten each piece into a thick disk.
• 11. Sprinkle the pieces with a little more flour and then cover them with a kitchen towel or plastic wrap until you're ready to bake them.
• 12. Using a floured rolling pin, roll one of the pieces into a circle 8-9 inches wide and about a quarter inch thick.
• 13. Lift and turn the dough frequently as your roll to make sure the dough isn't sticking to your counter. Sprinkle with a little extra flour if it’s starting to stick. If the dough starts to spring back, set it aside to rest for a few minutes, then continue rolling.
• 14. Repeat with the other pieces of dough. Once you get into a rhythm, you can be cooking one pita while rolling the next one out.
• To Bake Pitas in the Oven:
• 1. While shaping the pitas, heat the oven to 450 F. (232 C). If you have a baking stone, put it in the oven to heat. If you don't have a baking stone, place a large baking sheet on the middle rack to heat.
• 2. Place the rolled-out pitas directly on the baking stone or baking sheets (as many as will fit), and bake for about 3 minutes. I've found it easiest to carry the pita flat on the palm of my hand and then flip it over onto the baking stone.
• 3. The pita will start to puff up after a minute or two and is done when it has fully ballooned.
• 4. Remove pita from the oven and cover with a clean dishtowel while cooking any remaining pitas.
• To Bake Pitas on the Stovetop:
• 1. Warm a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat until a few bead of water sizzle immediately on contact. Drizzle a little oil in the pan and wipe off the excess.
• 2. Lay a rolled-out pita on the skillet and bake for 30 seconds, until you see bubbles starting to form.
• 3. Flip and cook for 1-2 minutes on the other side, until large toasted spots appear on the underside.
• 4. Flip again and cook another 1-2 minutes to toast the other side. The pita should start to puff up during this time; if it doesn't or if only small pockets form, try pressing the surface of the pita gently with a clean towel.
• 5. Keep cooked pitas covered with a clean dishtowel while cooking any remaining pitas.
• • Storing the Dough: Once it has risen, the pita dough can be kept refrigerated until it is needed. You can also bake one or two pitas at a time, saving the rest of the dough in the fridge. The dough will keep refrigerated for about a week.
• • Pitas That Won't Puff: Sometimes you get pitas that won't puff. The problem is usually that the oven or the skillet aren't hot enough. Make sure both are thoroughly pre-heated before cooking. Even pitas that don't puff are still delicious and can be used wraps or torn into pieces for dipping in hummus.
• Want a treat? Make some Naan or Pitas and make, or get some Pate. Spread some pate on a nice warm round of Naan or Pita and have a bite. I recommend a 2009 Allan Scott Sauvignon Blanc from Kiwi.
• Naan at: Almost Naan
• Pate at: Chicken Or Duck Liver Pate