Homemade Pita Bread

Thursday, July 30, 2020
There’s something magical about watching pita bread puff up into perfect little pockets right in your own kitchen.

Making homemade pita in a cast iron skillet or oven is easier than you think — and once you taste that warm, soft, fresh-from-the-pan bread, you’ll never look at store-bought the same way again.

This recipe gives you that authentic bakery-style texture with a golden exterior and tender, chewy inside.

Whether you cook it on the stovetop in a hot cast-iron skillet or bake it in the oven for a dramatic puff, this foolproof recipe delivers every time.

We love to make homemade ciabatta and Italian hard-crusted bread, or Easter bread, Focaccia, Potato Bread, so many favorites!


homemade pita bread





Why You Will Love This Recipe for Homemade Pita Bread

  • Soft, fluffy texture with beautiful pockets
  • Simple pantry ingredients
  • No special equipment required
  • Perfect for sandwiches, dips, wraps, and pizza
  • Freezer-friendlyBetter flavor than store-bought
  • Budget-friendly and preservative-free

this is pita bread rising


Tips for Making Homemade Pita Bread:

  1. High heat is key - The quick burst of heat creates steam that forms the pocket.
  2. Don’t roll too thin - About 1/4 inch thickness works best.
  3. Let the dough rest before cooking to relax the gluten.
  4. Keep cooked pitas covered with a towel to stay soft.
  5. If it doesn’t puff, it still tastes amazing !! Use it as flatbread!

pita bread stretch into rounds cooking in a skillet


Cast Iron Versus Stovetop Cooking Methods

  • Heat a dry cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat until very hot. 
  • Cast Iron:  Place one pita round into the skillet.
  • Cook 1–2 minutes until bubbles form.
  • Flip and cook another 1–2 minutes.
  • It should puff beautifully.
  • Flip once more for 30 seconds if needed.
  • Remove and cover with a clean towel to keep it soft.
  • Oven:  Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
  • Place a baking sheet or pizza stone inside while heating.
  • Place pita rounds onto the hot surface.
  • Bake 3-5 minutes until puffed and lightly golden.


pita bread flour and yeast mixture


Serving Ideas With Pita Bread

  • Classic hummus or baba ganoush
  • Chicken or beef gyros
  • Falafel sandwiches
  • Shawarma wraps
  • Breakfast egg pockets
  • Pita pizzas
  • Cut into wedges and toasted for chips
  • Stuffed with tuna or chicken salad
  • Served alongside soups and stews


this is pita bread garlic pizza


Topping suggestions for Pita Pizza:


  1. Slices of tomato, fresh spinach and ricotta, and fresh basil leaves, sliced olives, chopped peppers, cooked meats IE sausage crumbled, sliced pepperoni, crushed meatballs, roasted chicken, ham and pineapple, sliced mushrooms, thinly sliced zucchini or eggplant.
  2. You can also make a white pizza (shown above) by brushing with melted butter, 1 clove crushed garlic, fresh parsley, and oregano on top with mozzarella cheese. A light layer of ricotta spread on top makes this extra cheesy!
  3. Pita Pizza is great in the Air Fryer. Place the pita on a lightly sprayed piece of tin foil 400 degrees for 9 minutes (add the toppings you prefer.
  4. Bake at 400 for around 10 minutes. Remove from oven. Top with your favorite sauce, meat or vegetable combinations, then cheese, and sprinkle with grated cheese
  5.  Pizza bites are also a great pita appetizer! Just cut them into small triangles.



pita bread rising


Cooking Methods:


  1. Stovetop in a grided cast-iron skillet
  2. Baked on a cookie sheet
  3. Using a panini maker
  4. Waffle Irons also work great but more like flatbread


this is pita bread cooking in a cast iron skillet




Pin for later Homemade Pita Bread



this is baked pita bread pin for later


how to make pita bread, pita bread from scratch, pita bread recipe
bread, middle eastern foods
Middle Eastern , American
Yield: 18
Author: Claudia Lamascolo
Homemade Pita Bread

Homemade Pita Bread

Homemade pita bread is perfect for sandwiches, pizza and so much more. Toasted with butter is a favorite breakfast bread here in our family. This middle eastern bread is soft and delicious with any meal you make.

Prep time: 25 MinCook time: 5 MinTotal time: 30 Min

Ingredients

  • 1 cup lukewarm water (109 degrees, use an instant-read thermometer)
  • 2 teaspoons active dry yeast
  • 1/2 teaspoon granulated sugar
  • 3 cups AP flour, divided (more for rolling)
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Heat a lightly oiled cast-iron skillet in the oven while making the dough
  2. Dissolve the yeast in warm water and let it ferment for 10 minutes.
  3. Using an industrial mixer, add the flour to the metal bowl, then stir in the yeast, sugar, and oil.
  4. Add the salt, then it's time to knead the dough until it is blended evenly.
  5. Make sure you use a dough hook attachment; if you don't have that, you will have to knead this by hand for at least 5 minutes until it's smooth.
  6. This dough will be soft and shaggy.
  7. I usually place this on top of my stove with it on to rise on the stovetop.
  8. Cover it with an oil-sprayed piece of plastic wrap and a towel.
  9. Rise for 1 hour. Divide the dough into 8 pieces and make them into a ball.
  10. Then roll them into around 1/4 inch in thickness with a floured board using a rolling pin.
  11. Let it rise for around 30 more minutes.
  12. You can mist each one with water or oil.
  13. Bake them in preheated cast-iron skillets or baking sheets around 3 to 5 minutes.
  14. I have made this 3 different ways.
  15. On top of the stove in a cast-iron pan.
  16. Roll balls into 1/4-inch-thick circles.
  17. Let it rise again for around 30 minutes.
  18. Spray or brush the cast-iron skillet with canola oil, and heat it over high heat.
  19. Place rolled circle dough on the skillet.
  20. Cook 2 to 3 minutes per side, or until pita is puffed, pushing on puffed pita with a spatula to cook edges.
  21. Repeat with the remaining dough circles, continuing to spray the pan in between pita.
  22. Waffle Iron or Panini Maker, same method as the cast iron directions:
  23. The panini maker or waffle iron looks funny, but tastes great. Add the dough to a greased waffle iron and bake until both sides are browned, around 3 minutes to 5 minutes depending on thickness..

Notes

Tips for Making Homemade Pita Bread:

  1. High heat is key - The quick burst of heat creates steam that forms the pocket.
  2. Don’t roll too thin - About 1/4 inch thickness works best.
  3. Let the dough rest before cooking to relax the gluten.
  4. Keep cooked pitas covered with a towel to stay soft.
  5. If it doesn’t puff, it still tastes amazing !! Use it as flatbread!



Cast Iron Versus Stovetop Cooking Methods



  • Heat a dry cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat until very hot. 
  • Cast Iron: Place one pita round into the skillet.
  • Cook 1–2 minutes until bubbles form.
  • Flip and cook another 1–2 minutes.
  • It should puff beautifully.
  • Flip once more for 30 seconds if needed.
  • Remove and cover with a clean towel to keep soft.
  • Oven: Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
  • Place a baking sheet or pizza stone inside while heating.
  • Place pita rounds onto the hot surface.




Serving Ideas With Pita Bread

  • Classic hummus or baba ganoush
  • Chicken or beef gyros
  • Falafel sandwiches
  • Shawarma wraps
  • Breakfast egg pockets
  • Pita pizzas
  • Cut into wedges and toasted for chips
  • Stuffed with tuna or chicken salad
  • Served alongside soups and stews




Topping suggestions for Pita Pizza:


  1. Slices of tomato, fresh spinach and ricotta, and fresh basil leaves, sliced olives, chopped peppers, cooked meats IE sausage crumbled, sliced pepperoni, crushed meatballs, roasted chicken, ham and pineapple, sliced mushrooms, thinly sliced zucchini or eggplant, garlic oil and butter with mozzarella, and a dollop of ricotta cheese.
  2. You can also make a white pizza (shown above) by brushing with melted butter, 1 clove crushed garlic, fresh parsley, and oregano on top with mozzarella cheese. A light layer of ricotta spread on top makes this extra cheesy!
  3. Use any of the suggestions above in any combination you like. Place the pita on a lightly sprayed piece of tin foil.
  4. Bake at 400 for around 10 minutes. Remove from oven. Top with your favorite sauce, meat or vegetable combinations, then cheese, and sprinkle with grated cheese
  5.  Pizza bites are also a great pita appetizer! Just cut them into small triangles.


Nutrition Facts

Calories

91

Fat (grams)

2 g

Sat. Fat (grams)

0 g

Carbs (grams)

16 g

Fiber (grams)

1 g

Sugar (grams)

0 g

Protein (grams)

2 g

Sodium (milligrams)

130 mg

Cholesterol (grams)

0 mg

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https://www.whatscookinitalianstylecuisine.com/2010/03/pita-bread-recipe.html
These are all copyright-protected images and content. Do not reprint/reuse this recipe or its images without my written permission.


Pin for later Homemade Pita Bread


pin for later pita bread


More Bread Recipes We Love



Cinnamon Bun Recipe
Easy No-Knead Bread or Pizza
Focaccia Herb Bread
Homemade Pita Bread
Beer Bread
Broccoli Cheese Cornbread


Disclosure: This recipe was originally shared in 2010. It was edited and re-published in 2020.
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