Making your own Pita Bread (aka pocket bread) at home is simple and easy with my yeast-leavened Pita Bread recipe. Whether you use them to stuff with falafels or your favourite cold meats for a quick lunch, dunk into dips or stews or enjoy on their own they definitely surpass any store bought version.
Made from basic pantry staples, these require minimal time and effort and are so much better than the store-bought alternatives.
They are easy, cost-effective, and the aroma of freshly baked bread in your home is simply incredible plus witnessing them puff up in the oven is a truly thrilling experience.
If you crave soft, fluffy, and delicious bread, this recipe is a must-try!
Ingredient required for making pita bread
How to make pita bread
- Bloom the Yeast: Combine milk, water, sugar, and yeast. Stir and let it sit until foamy, approximately 10 minutes.
- Combine Flours and Salt: In a bowl, mix flours and salt, create a well, and add the ‘bloomed yeast’ and oil. Stir until a shaggy dough forms.
- Knead: Turn the dough onto a work surface and knead for 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic, or use a stand mixer.
- Prove: Place the dough in a bowl, cover, and let it rise in a warm spot for about 1 hour or until doubled in size.
- Punch and Roll: Knock the air out of the risen dough, then divide it into balls. Roll them thinly and let them rise again for 30 minutes.
- Bake: On a pizza stone, baking steel, or a heavy-based baking tray, bake for around 3-5 minutes each until puffed and lightly golden. Set aside in a tea towel to keep warm.
Step-by-step
Serving suggestions
Pita bread is so versatile and can be served in many ways. Here are some suggestions for you to try:
- Serve pita with dips such as Hummus, Greek Tzatziki or Fresh Spinach Dip
- Make Middle Eastern inspired wraps with my Zucchini & Sesame Falafels
- Use the Pita to make a quick and easy pizza base
- Serve alongside curries, stews and soups for dunking and getting all the sauce up
- Make croutons with the pita to add to salads such as Fattoush
Storage
Although best eaten on the day it is made, Pita bread will keep, stored in a plastic bag or airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days. I do suggest reheating it gently in the toaster or microwave before enjoying for the best texture.
Pita also freezes well. Wrap breads individually in plastic wrap or foil then place into a zip-lock bag. Label, date and freeze for up to 2-3 months. Thaw in the fridge or on the bench top at room temperature before reheating gently.
You may also like
If you enjoyed this Pita Bread recipe, you may also enjoy these:
- Five Grain Bread Loaf
- Crazily Good Hummus
- The Easiest Garlic Naan Bread Ever
- Lamb Kofta (Kafta)
- Fresh Spinach Dip
- Zucchini & Sesame Falafels
- Easy Lebanese Fattoush Salad
Pita Bread
Ingredients
- 90gย milk, lukewarm
- 90gย water, lukewarm
- 1โ2ย teaspoonย caster sugar
- 7gย sachet dry yeast or 2 teaspoons
- 250gย plain flourย or bread flour
- 50gย wholemeal flour
- 1ย teaspoon salt
- 1ย tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Place the milk, water and sugar into a jug or small bowl. Add the yeast and stir to combine. Allow to sit for 10 minutes to "bloom" or until mixture is foamy.
- Combine flours and salt in a large bowl or the bowl of your stand mixer and make a well in the centre. Add the yeast mixture and oil, then mix to form a shaggy dough.
- If using a stand mixer, attach your dough hook and knead on low speed for 5-6 minutes or until the dough is smooth and elastic or if kneading by hand, knead for 8-10 minutes or until the dough is smooth and elastic.
- Place dough ball into a large, lightly oiled bowl and cover with a damp tea towel or plastic wrap. Set aside in a warm place and allow it to rise for 1 hour or until doubled in size.
- Lightly dust your work surface with flour. Knock the air out of the dough and divide dough into 6 equal pieces. Roll each into a ball and keep covered with a clean tea towel.
- Lightly flour your work surface then working with one dough ball at a time, flatten it out with the palm of your hand. Using a rolling pin, roll out dough in a circular motion to approximately 15cm in diameter. Set aside and allow to rise to rise again for 20-30 minutes. Repeat with remaining dough balls.
- While dough is resting, preheat your oven with a pizza stone or baking steel to the highest temperature it will go. If you have neither of these, you can use a flat oven tray upside down instead.
- Working with one pita bread at a time, transfer to the stone or tray in the oven and cook for approximately 3-5 minutes or until the bread has puffed up and is lightly golden in colour. (See Notes). Carefully remove from oven and transfer to a wire rack or clean tea towel. Cover to keep warm if desired. Repeat process with remaining 5 pita breads. Serve.
Notes
- MEASUREMENTS
We use Australian metric measurements. 1 teaspoon = 5ml, 1 tablespoon = 20ml and 1 cup = 250ml
We use free range extra large size eggs. Each egg weighs approximately 59g. - COOKING THE PITAS
You need to make sure you preheat your oven with the stone, steel or baking tray inside of it at the highest temp it will go. This is usually around the 230C-250C mark.
You can cook more pitas at once if desired but as they don’t take long to cook, I find working with one a time easier and less chance to overcook them. I find also, they puff up quicker and brown more evenly cooking one a time. - MAKE AHEAD OR FREEZE
These are perfect to make ahead and they also freeze very well. Although best made the day they are cooked they can be kept for 3 days in an airtight container or in a plastic bag at room temperature.
To freeze, once cool, place into a zip-lock bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw on the bench before use and reheat as desired.
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