Homemade Pita Bread

***Please feel free to share widely, just give me some credit or a link back. Heavily adapted from Serious Eats. Check them out!

dsc_0225

Prep Time: 50 minutes
Rise Time: 60 minutes
Proof Time: 20 minutes

Yield: ~Six  5″ pitas

Ingredients

  • 1 cup warm water
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra
  • 1 tablespoon real vegan sugar
  • ½ cup whole wheat flour
  • 1½ teaspoon salt
  • 2¼ teaspoons instant yeast
  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, plus more (EVOO)

Directions

  1. Move oven rack as low as it will go, and preheat oven to 500 degrees F.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the warm water, EVOO, vegan sugar, yeast, salt, and whole wheat flour with a wooden spoon.
    • The consistency should be smooth.
  3. Next slowly add in the all-purpose flour.
    • The dough will begin to look a bit rugged.
  4. Knead the dough in the bowl for 10 minutes.
    • Eventually the dough should become elastic and smooth.
      • If it’s too sticky to work with add a small amount of all-purpose flour.
  5. Take the dough out of the bowl and roll it into a smooth ball on a lightly floured area.
    • Coat a new mixing bowl with EVOO and place the dough ball inside.
    • Roll the ball around the oil making sure to coat all sides.
    • Cover the bowl with a damp cloth and then let it rise for one hour.
  6. Line a baking sheet with a large kitchen towel and set aside.
    • Flatten the dough and place it on your lightly floured work area.
    • Cut the dough into six sections.
    • Take each section and roll the dough into a ball.
    • Put the dough balls on a plate and cover them with cling wrap (lightly oiled) or a damp towel to rest for 10 minutes.
  7. Roll each piece of dough into a 5-7 inch circle.
    • Aim for 1/4 inch in thickness all around.
    • Cover the dough again to proof until it starts to puff up — 15-25 minutes.
  8. Take each dough section and place it in the oven to bake until it puffs up and is golden brown. Do not overcook! This should take just a few minutes. 
    • After each pita is made, place it on a towel lined sheet and cover with another towel.
    • Repeat until all pitas are baked.
  9. If you would like a toasted, charred look and taste add the following steps:
    1. Heat a griddle or cast iron skillet until smoking.
    2. Briefly heat each pita until slightly charred. This will happen very quickly due to the high heat.
    3. Return the pita to the towel lined sheet and cover.
  10. Serve immediately with your favorite hummus or other dip!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.