Homemade Pita Bread Recipe 🥙
Introduction:
Indulge in the delightful experience of making your very own homemade Pita Bread with this easy-to-follow recipe from lovewithrecipes.com. Elevate your bread-making skills to new heights and treat yourself to the warm, pillowy goodness of freshly baked pitas. Perfect for sandwiches, wraps, or dipping into your favorite sauces, this recipe promises a taste sensation that will leave you craving more.
Overview:
- Name: Pita Bread
- Category: Yeast Breads
- Keywords: Breads, Asian, Indian, Low Cholesterol, Healthy, Weeknight, Oven, < 4 Hours
- Total Time: 3 hours and 3 minutes
- Prep Time: 3 hours
- Cook Time: 3 minutes
- Yield: 12 pita breads
Ingredients:
- 3 1/2 cups bread flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 packet dry active yeast
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 1/3 cups warm water
Instructions:
| Step | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 | Sift flour and salt: Begin by sifting together the bread flour and salt in a large bowl. This ensures a smooth and consistent texture in your pita bread. |
| 2 | Activate yeast: In a separate bowl, combine the dry active yeast, sugar, and 1/3 cup of very warm water. Give it a quick stir and set it aside for about 5 minutes to activate the yeast. This step is crucial for achieving that perfect rise in your dough. |
| 3 | Mix the dough: Make a well in the flour and salt mixture, then add the activated yeast mixture, along with 1 cup of warm water and the olive oil. Gently stir to combine all the ingredients and gather the dough into a ball. Depending on factors like altitude and humidity, you may need to adjust the water slightly to achieve the right consistency. |
| 4 | Knead the dough: Turn out the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead it for about 10 minutes. This helps develop the gluten in the dough, giving your pita bread its characteristic chewiness and texture. |
| 5 | Let it rise: Place the kneaded dough into a lightly greased large bowl, cover it, and leave it in a warm spot to rise for approximately 1 1/2 to 2 hours. During this time, the dough will double in size, creating those airy pockets that are synonymous with pita bread. |
| 6 | Punch down and shape: Once the dough has risen, punch it down to release any excess air and knead it briefly to smooth it out. Then, divide the dough into 12 equal pieces and shape them into rounds. |
| 7 | Rest the dough: Place the shaped dough rounds on a dusted baking sheet, cover them, and let them rest for about 45 minutes. This allows the dough to relax and rise slightly before baking, resulting in softer and fluffier pitas. |
| 8 | Preheat the oven: While the dough is resting, preheat your oven to 500°F (260°C). If you have a large cast iron skillet, you can use it for baking the pitas, as it helps create the perfect crispy crust. |
| 9 | Bake the pitas: Once the oven is hot, place the cast iron skillet inside to heat up. Then, carefully place two pitas into the skillet and let them bake for approximately 3 minutes. If desired, you can broil them for an additional minute to achieve a golden brown color on top. Repeat this process until all the pitas are baked. |
| 10 | Cool and store: After baking, wrap the cooked pitas in a slightly damp tea towel for a minute or two. This helps retain their moisture and keeps them soft and pliable. Once cooled, store the pitas in plastic bags to maintain their freshness. |
Nutritional Information (per serving):
- Calories: 139.3
- Fat Content: 0.8g
- Saturated Fat: 0.1g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
- Sodium: 195.6mg
- Carbohydrates: 28.4g
- Fiber: 1.1g
- Sugar: 0.5g
- Protein: 4g
Serving Suggestions:
Serve your freshly baked Pita Bread with your favorite fillings, such as grilled vegetables, hummus, falafel, or gyro meat. You can also use them as a base for homemade pizzas or cut them into wedges for dipping into tzatziki or baba ganoush. However you choose to enjoy them, these homemade pitas are sure to impress with their soft texture and irresistible flavor. Enjoy!
So there you have it! With just a few simple ingredients and some patience, you can create your own batch of delicious Pita Bread right in your own kitchen. So why wait? Get baking and treat yourself to the wonderful aroma and taste of homemade bread today!
