Homemade Pita bread is a type of Middle Eastern flatbread made of flour, yeast, salt and sugar. This simple recipe is the key to making your own delicious homemade flatbreads with only a few ingredients you have in your kitchen. It is very easy to make, vegan friendly and tastes much better than shop-bought ones.
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There are many ways to use this versatile bread. You can make wraps/sandwiches for your lunch box. Or you can use them as a spoon to dip into your favourite dishes and dips such as Authentic Hummus, Yoghurt Dip (Haydari) or Mediterranean Whipped Feta Dip.
You can prepare the dough for the pita bread beforehand and keep it in the fridge until you need it, for up to three days. Make the dough following the instructions below. cover and let it rise somewhere warm. When risen, keep it in the fridge until you need it. Give some extra time at room temperature when you want to cook the pita bread.
Why This Recipe Works?
- It's a very easy recipe that you can make with only a few pantry ingredients.
- This recipe is dairy-free/ vegan friendly.
- Pita bread is so versatile, you can make wraps & sandwiches with them, dip them in soups or stews or use them as a pizza base.
- You can prepare the dough ahead and keep it refrigerated for up to 3 days.
Ingredients and Substitutes
- Plain flour - It is also known as white flour or all-purpose flour. It is perfect for cakes, biscuits and pastries.
- Yeast - Use fast-action dried yeast or alternatively fresh yeast if you prefer. You need to double the amount if using fresh yeast.
- Sugar - I use caster sugar or granulated sugar. It feeds the yeast and helps the dough rise.
- Salt - It increases the strength of the dough as well as the flavour.
- Water - Use lukewarm tap water.
Cooking Instructions
You might find daunting the idea of making your own bread at home. The good thing is that pita bread is straightforward to make when you follow a few simple steps:
Prepare the Dough
The right consistency for the dough should be soft and slightly sticky, with a silky texture. The amount of flour in this recipe has to be taken as a guide. Always add the flour gradually until you achieve the right texture. There are other factors to affect the consistency such as the humidity of the room or the type of flour you are using.
To make the dough, Add the water, sugar and yeast to a large bowl. and stir. Leave it for 10 minutes until it forms bubbles then add the salt and flour. Mix until forming a soft and sticky dough. Depending on the type of flour or the humidity of the room, you might need less flour than the recipe calls for.
Turn the dough on a lightly floured surface and knead it until smooth but slightly sticking to your hands. Add a little bit of extra flour if it's too sticky. Cover the dough with a clean kitchen cloth and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour or until it has doubled the size.
Let the Dough Rise
Once you make the dough to desired consistency, cover it with a clean kitchen cloth and let it rise in a warm place. It might take up to 2 hours in the winter. You can use your oven to reduce the rising time. Preheat your oven to about 120°C then turn it back off. Place the dough in the oven and close the oven door. Let it rise until it doubles the size
Shape the Dough
When the pita dough doubled its size, gently deflate it and place it on a lightly floured surface. Divide the dough into 6-8 equal pieces and turn them into balls. Place them a few centimetres apart from each other and lightly sprinkle with flour. Cover with a clean kitchen cloth and let them rest for 15 minutes. Shape them into the desired size using a rolling pin, cover with a kitchen cloth and let them rest again for another 10 minutes before proceeding to cook.
Cook the Pitas
- If you want to cook pita bread in the oven, preheat it to 230°C. Place a baking tray or pizza stone in the oven and let it heat for 10 minutes. Place the dough on a baking sheet and transfer it to a heated baking tray or pizza stone. Cook for 2-3 minutes or until they are puffed up and formed pockets.
- If you want to cook pita bread on a skillet or pan, heat the skillet or pan until a few drops of water sizzle immediately on contact. Lay one pita dough in the pan and cook for 30 seconds or until it starts forming bubbles then flip it with a tong. Cook the other side for a few minutes until brown toasted spots appear on the underside. Flip it again and cook for a few more minutes until the other side is cooked.
Related Recipes
For more delicious bread recipes why not try:
My pita bread recipe is very simple and only contains flour, yeast, salt, and a bit of sugar to feed the yeast. The total calorie count of one pita bread is 225, which is similar to 2 slices of toast.
Pita bread is originally from the Middle East and has been a staple of the Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisines for about 4000 years.
This homemade pita bread recipe is vegan although there are some recipes/versions using dairy products or honey.
Although it is best to eat these lovely flatbreads freshly made, you can wrap them individually with a cling film and keep them in the freezer for up to 3 months. Simply reheat them in the hot oven without thawing.
You can make a delicious pizza with your leftover homemade pita bread for a quick lunch. Alternatively, you can turn them into pita chips to have with a bowl of soup or dip in hummus!
Top Tip From the Chef
Make sure the pan or the oven is really hot before cooking the pita bread if you want to create pockets. Sometimes they don't puff up and stay flat without forming a pocket despite the hot pan or oven. They still will be delicious and you can use them to make wraps or dip into stews!
I hope you enjoy the process of making this soft & fluffy vegan pita bread as much as you enjoy eating it! 🙂
Bon appétit! / Afiyet Olsun!
Did you make this recipe?
Please let me know how it turned out for you! Leave a comment below and tag @cookingorgeous on Instagram and hashtag it #cookingorgeous.
Homemade Pita Bread
Equipment
Ingredients
- 250 ml water (lukewarm)
- ½ teaspoon sugar (3 grams)
- 3 g fast action dry yeast
- 1 teaspoon salt (6 grams)
- 370 g plain white flour / all purpose flour (plus extra for dusting)
Instructions
Making the Dough
- Add the water, sugar, and yeast to a large bowl. and stir. Leave it for 10 minutes until it forms bubbles then add the salt and flour. Mix until forming a soft and sticky dough. Depending on the type of flour or the humidity of the room, you might need less flour than the recipe calls for.
- Turn the dough on a lightly floured surface and knead it until smooth but slightly sticking to your hands. Add a little bit of extra flour if it's too sticky.
- Cover the dough with a clean kitchen cloth and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour or until it has doubled the size up.
Cooking the Pita Bread on Stove Top
- Divide the dough into 6 equal pieces and leave them to rest for another 15 minutes on a lightly floured surface. Sprinkle some flour on top of the dough balls and cover with a clean kitchen cloth.
- Heat a large skillet or heavy-based pan on medium to high heat until a few drops of water sizzle immediately on contact.
- Take one dough ball on a lightly floured surface and roll it out into a 20-21 cm diameter round using a rolling pin. Add a little bit more flour if the dough sticks to the surface.
- When the pan is sizzling hot, place the dough carefully on the pan and cook for 30 seconds or until it begins to puff up. Flip the dough using a tong and cook for a few more minutes until brown toasted spots appear on the underside. Flip it again and cook for another few minutes until the other side is cooked. Set aside on a plate and lightly brush with soft butter for extra flavor and softness (optional).
- Repeat with the rest of the dough and cover them with a clean kitchen towel to keep warm.
Baking the Pita Bread in Oven
- Divide the dough into 6 equal pieces and leave them to rest for another 15 minutes on a lightly floured surface. Sprinkle some flour on top of the dough balls and cover with a clean kitchen cloth.
- Preheat the oven to 230° C and heat a baking tray or pizza stone.
- Take one dough ball on a lightly floured surface and roll it out into a 20-21 cm diameter round using a rolling pin. Add a little bit more flour if the dough sticks to the surface. Place the dough on a baking sheet and repeat the same for the rest of the dough balls. let them rest for 10-15 minutes.
- When the oven has preheated, place two or three pitas along with the baking sheet onto the hot baking tray. Bake for 2-3 minutes or until lightly golden.
- Remove the pitas and keep them covered in a bowl with a clean kitchen towel to keep warm. Repeat until you finish the remaining dough.
Nutrition
FOOD SAFETY
- Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
- Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
See more guidelines at USDA.gov.
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Mehmet
I will definitely try
Ayla Clulee
Thank you Mehmet, let me know how it turns out for you 🙂
Best wishes
Ayla
Ayla
Delicious