Description
Homemade pita bread is soft, fluffy, and perfect for dipping, stuffing, or enjoying on its own. With simple ingredients and a bit of patience, you can create delicious, warm pita right from your own kitchen.
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons active dry yeast
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 1/2 cups warm water (110°F/43°C)
- 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (plus extra for rolling)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon white vinegar (optional, helps with soft texture)
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine the warm water, sugar, and yeast. Stir gently and let it sit for 5-10 minutes until the yeast becomes foamy and bubbly.
- In a large bowl, combine the flour and salt. Make a well in the center and add the activated yeast mixture, olive oil, and vinegar (if using). Stir with a wooden spoon until the dough starts to come together.
- Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 8-10 minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic. Add more flour if necessary, but avoid adding too much to keep the bread soft.
- Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with a damp towel or plastic wrap, and let it rise in a warm place for 1-1.5 hours, until it doubles in size.
- Once the dough has risen, punch it down and divide it into 8 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a ball and let them rest for 10-15 minutes.
- Preheat your oven to 475°F (245°C). If you have a pizza stone, place it in the oven while it preheats. Roll each dough ball into a flat circle about 6 inches in diameter.
- Place the rolled-out dough onto the hot baking stone or baking sheet and bake for 3-5 minutes, until the pita puffs up and turns golden brown.
- Remove from the oven and cool on a wire rack. Serve warm, or store for later.
Notes
- Store leftover pita in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
- If you don’t have a pizza stone, use a baking sheet, but ensure it’s preheated for best results.
- You can substitute half of the all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour for a healthier version.
- For an herb-infused version, add dried oregano or rosemary to the dough before rising.
- To make garlic pita, mix minced garlic into the dough before the first rise.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: undefined
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 pita
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 200mg
- Fat: 3g
- Saturated Fat: 0.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
