learn how to make the high-quality pita bread from scratch and revel in homemade pita every time you need! it’s soft and handiest calls for 6 components!
Pillowy tender pita bread is a need to in any middle eastern household. It’s the perfect vessel for scooping up delicious hummus and ideal for sauces like my cucumber yogurt one. AND it is able to additionally be used to make exceptional pizzas or wraps. Plus, making your very own pita bread isn’t best fun, however it’s additionally certainly easy! in case you’ve always wanted to make selfmade pita bread, however had been intimidated by means of the procedure, then this recipe is for you!
stack of freshly baked home made pita bread on white square plate
developing up in Dearborn, Michigan, we had the luxurious of playing the most delicious proper pita bread sold in dozens of bakeries and grocery stores for $1 a bag. Now residing far from Dearborn, I purchase it in bulk and freeze it. but there’s nothing like fresh pita bread.
once I set out to investigate the recipe, I found out that the extremely good-thin real Lebanese pita bread can only be made with unique machinery. homemade pita bread has a thicker consistency. I primarily based my recipe at the pita from Amanda’s Plate and tweaked it to feature olive oil and tricky on the stairs, so you get the best pita in your oven easily!
Why You’ll Love This Soft Pita Bread Recipe
Pantry staples: This recipe simplest calls for simple pantry staples which you in all likelihood have on hand- all-motive flour, salt, sugar, yeast, olive oil, and water!
less complicated than you believe you studied: The dough may be very easy to make. You don’t want to be a baker or have a ton of enjoy making bread for it to show out flawlessly.
Freezer friendly: This recipe makes 12 rounds of pita bread, so that you can freeze them for later.
Flexible: Pita bread may be used for all varieties of things! Serve it with a creamy feta dip or Tzatziki Sauce.
Ingredients You’ll Need to Make Pita Bread
- All-cause flour: All-cause flour supports a wonderfully soft and airy texture. you could additionally attempt using entire wheat flour in case you need some thing a bit heartier.
- Yeast: Yeast is what makes the dough upward thrust and helps aerate it for a light and fluffy chunk.
- Sugar: Sugar enables to prompt the yeast and additionally contributes to a gently sweet taste inside the pita bread.
- Salt: Salt is key in bread recipes to bring out the flavors of all the different components.
- Olive oil: including olive oil to the dough adds additional taste and allows keep the dough from drying out.
- Water: heat water is essential for activating the yeast and supporting it develop.
How to Make Homemade Pita Bread From Scratch
Before i am getting into how to make the pita bread, it’s vital to word that dealing with the yeast correctly is fundamental in the growing technique. You need to make certain your water isn’t always too hot or too cold. on the spot yeast does want slightly hotter water (around a hundred and twenty°F to one hundred thirty°F) to get started out. in case your water is just too hot, it will kill the yeast, and chillier water gained’t set off it.
PREPARE THE DOUGH
- Combine your dough ingredients in a huge bowl and blend. Slowly upload flour until a shaggy dough is formed.
- Once shaped, continue to knead until the dough comes collectively and is clean.
- Allow dough to upward thrust in a heat, darkish area until the dough has doubled in size.
Form Balls and Roll Out
- Separate dough into 12 round portions. at the same time as forming the dough balls with your palms, you can tuck roll till you’ve got a smooth dough ball.
- Use a rolling pin to roll out the dough as frivolously as viable. switch the rolled out pita onto small squares of parchment paper floured lightly.
- flip the rolled out pita onto the heated baking sheet.
Bake the Pita Bread
- Bake on the bottom rack of your oven until lightly golden brown and puffed.
- Tear open one of your freshly baked pita rounds and admire your bubble work!
Tips for Making Homemade Pita Bread
- Knead the dough with the aid of hand. in case you don’t have a stand mixer, you may use a flat timber spoon to combine the ingredients. Then turn the dough onto a nicely-floured floor and knead until clean. it’s going to take approximately 10 mins to do it by way of hand.
- alter the flour amount within the dough recipe primarily based on humidity. It have to feel barely sticky but with out sticking for your fingers.
- Roll out as evenly as feasible. this is very essential because it allows to disperse air bubbles and evens out the dough to make sure that the pita separates inside the oven similarly without one component being too thick or no longer isolating.
- pay attention to the seam when placing the dough in the oven. This isn’t essential, however a helpful tip to end result is the quality searching selfmade pita. make certain the seam (or the part of the dough ball with the folds) is going through down, if you want to allow the top seamless part to upward push flawlessly.
- hold the pita size small. It’s tempting to try and make large pita bread, but with out unique pita equipment to press the dough flawlessly flat, it may be difficult to get the dough to separate and form pita wallet in case you lead them to too huge. aim for 4-6 inches in width.
Popular Substitutions & Additions
- Use whole wheat flour. You can substitute up to half the amount of flour for whole wheat flour, which actually has a better taste because it’s more nutty. If you do use whole wheat flour, make sure to add more water until the dough feels smooth.
- Add seasonings. If you want a bit of flavor in your pita bread, why not add some dried herbs like rosemary, oregano or thyme (try ½ teaspoon to start). It’s not traditional but would be a fun variation of the pita bread
What to Serve/pair With Your Fresh Baked Pita Bread
As a Lebanese foodie with pita bread being a staple in my fridge, my answer to this is EVERYTHING! But here are a few favorites that are definitely great with homemade pita bread.
- Labneh
- Shish Tawook
- Hummus
- Roasted Cauliflower Pitas
- Arayes (Meat Stuffed Pitas)
- Fattoush (With Fried Pita Chips)
- Chicken Fatteh
- 7 Layer Mediterranean Dip
How to Reheat & Store Pita Bread
If you have leftover pita bread, you may store it in a zip-top bag or an airtight box at room temperature for two-three days. you may also store it in the refrigerator to extend its shelf life.
To reheat, area the pita bread on a baking sheet and bake at 350°F for approximately 1 minute or until warm or it’s faster to reheat within the microwave for 10 seconds.
How Long Will Pita Bread Last in the Fridge?
Homemade pita bread should last in the refrigerator for up to five days. If you’re coming up on the end of the five days, you can always freeze it.
Can I Freeze Pita Bread?
Yes, you can freeze pita bread! simply ensure to wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or place it in a zip-pinnacle bag and freeze for up to 2 months. while you’re ready to devour it, just thaw out at room temperature or inside the fridge.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference among pita, naan, and flatbread?
Pita bread and naan are each leavened with yeast, but naan is historically made with yogurt and an egg. Making naan denser consequences in a thicker, chewier texture than pita. Pita and naan both are commonly soft in texture, but pita will have a pocket inside the middle that naan will now not. As far as flatbread is going it is the umbrella term for all bread that is, properly, flat.
Why does pita bread have a pocket?
Pita bread receives its pocket-like form from being baked in a totally hot oven with yeast. The excessive temperature reasons the yeast to launch a gas which causes the dough to blow his own trumpet and shape a pocket.
Why is my pita bread dense?
if your pita bread is dense, it might be due to the fact you didn’t roll the dough out thin sufficient. ensure to roll it out as evenly as possible. if you’re having troubles with it puffing up, your oven won’t be hot enough. an amazing oven thermometer allow you to troubleshoot this.
Can i make this recipe with out yeast?
No. The yeast is what creates the pocket within the pita. in case you don’t have yeast handy, you may make a easy -ingredient flatbread that is simply as tasty, but a tad bit denser, and it’ll lack a pocket.
