Pita Bread

Aug 15

Written By Erin McDowell

MAKES

8 pieces of bread

TAKES

Prep time: 3 hours
Cook time: 15 minutes
Total: 3 hours 15 minutes

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✻ ABOUT THIS RECIPE

Making homemade pita is incredibly satisfying—and so much easier than you might expect! It’s also much quicker, and makes a great accompaniment to so many meals. I like to use a little bit of whole wheat flour for a more flavorful final bread. This recipe comes from my book, Savory Baking.

INGREDIENTS

360 g / 3 cups all purpose flour

40 g / ⅓ cup whole wheat flour

10 g / 1 tablespoon instant dry yeast

6 g / 1 ½ teaspoon fine sea salt

280 g / 1 ¼ cups warm water

30 g / 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, plus more for bowl

8 each (8 inch / 20 cm) parchment circles

More Baking Tips This Way:

METHOD

1. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the dough hook attachment, mix the all purpose flour, whole wheat flour, yeast, and salt to combine. Add the water and olive oil and mix on low speed for 3 minutes, until the dough comes together.

2. Raise the speed to medium and mix for 2 minutes more, until the dough is very smooth. (Note: the dough can also be mixed by hand in a large bowl, then kneaded by hand for 5-7 minutes.)

3. Lightly oil a medium bowl with olive oil. Add the dough to the bowl and gently turn it over onto itself a few times to round the dough and lightly coat it with oil.

4. Cover the bowl and let the dough rise until the dough is nearly double in size, 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes.

5. Preheat the oven to 500°F / 260°C with an oven rack in the center, with a Baking Steel or pizza stone on top of it (if you don’t have either – see Note). The Steel or stone needs to be in the oven for at least 30 minutes after the oven preheats.

6. Turn out the dough onto a lightly floured surface, and divide the dough into 8 even pieces (about 90 grams each). Gently round each piece of dough, and place it onto a lightly floured area of the work bench. Cover and let rest for 15 minutes.

7. Work with one piece of dough at a time. Keep all dough, before and after shaping, covered to prevent it from drying out. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the pita to about ¼ in/6 mm thick (between 6-7 in/15-18 cm wide), trying to maintain an even thickness. Transfer the dough to a parchment circle—keep covered.

8. Working with as many as can easily fit on the Steel/stone at a time, bake 2-4 pitas at once by sliding the parchment circles right onto the Steel/stone. Bake for 2-3 minutes, until visibly puffed with air in the center—it may brown slightly.

9. Remove the pitas from the oven and wrap tightly in a clean kitchen towel to steam the pitas, and keep them warm. Repeat, shaping and baking the remaining pitas. Serve immediately, warm.

NOTES

If you don’t have a Baking Steel or pizza stone, place a large cast iron skillet into the oven when you turn the oven on to preheat. Bake the pitas one at a time in the skillet for best results.
The pitas are best the same day you prepare them. Leftover pita can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature and refreshed by toasting. Pita can be frozen for up to 1 month, thaw completely before toasting to refresh.