We adore this Homemade Pita Bread recipe in my house – soft and pillowy, I serve them with so many different varieties of food. I love to make them to accompany hummus and falafels. I often send the kids to school with pita sandwiches and I have even been known to use them in place of burger buns!
While it isn’t difficult to make these pitas, it is quite time-consuming. Make dough from flour, water, honey, yeast, salt and a drizzle of olive oil. Once the dough has doubled in size, you are ready to shape and cook the pitas one at a time. The secret to this recipe is a HOT oven – 500 ºF!
To make Homemade Pita Bread, you will need the following ingredients:
Mix 2 cups of all-purpose flour with ½ a cup of whole wheat flour in a large bowl. Set to one side.
Add 1 cup of lukewarm water in the bowl of a stand mixer. Attach the paddle attachment and stir in 1 tablespoon of honey. Sprinkle 2 teaspoons of dry yeast over the top. Stir well until fully combined.
Combine ½ a cup of the flour mixture with the yeast mixture. Mix on low speed until the flour is fully incorporated (don’t worry if the mixture is a little chunky). Leave to stand at room temperature for 15 minutes until it starts to bubble.
Add the remaining flour, 1 tablespoon of olive oil and 1 teaspoon of salt. Mix well using the paddle attachment until mixture resembles a rough dough.
Remove the paddle attachment and replace it with the dough hook. Knead the dough for 5 to 7 minutes on low speed until the dough is smooth and pulls away from the sides of the bowl.
Transfer the dough to a generously floured surface. Add 2-4 tablespoons of flour and knead by hand until the dough comes together to form a smooth, yet slightly tacky, ball.
Add a drizzle of olive oil to a clean bowl. Transfer the dough to the bowl. Lightly cover with a clean tea towel. Leave the bowl in a warm location for 1-2 hours until it doubles in size.
Place the oven rack in the bottom ⅓ of your oven. Preheat the oven to 500 ºF. Place a pizza stone on the rack to preheat.
Transfer dough out onto a surface dusted lightly with flour and shape into a large log. Cut the log into 8 equal portions. Shape each one into a ball, then arrange on a lightly floured baking sheet. Cover the dough balls with a slightly damp tea towel and a layer of plastic wrap.
Lightly sprinkle one of the dough balls with flour. Roll the dough into a thin circle, about ¼ inch thick. Transfer the dough to the hot pizza stone and bake in the oven for 2 to 3 minutes. When cooked, the pita will bubble and puff and the underneath will be light golden brown. Using tongs, flip the pita and bake for 1-2 more minutes. If you prefer your pita bread crispy, bake for a bit longer.
Once cooked, remove the pita from the oven. Transfer the pita to a plate and cover with a clean towel. Leave to rest for a few minutes, before transferring to a zip-top freezer bag which keeps the pita warm and soft while you bake the rest.
Repeat with the remaining dough.
Serve warm with hummus and falafel.
These Homemade Pita Bread are a perfect accompaniment for Middle Eastern dishes. Try making these pitas soon and don’t forget to come back to leave a review with your thoughts.
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