Easy Pita Bread Recipe

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This homemade pita bread makes a soft, chewy, and delicious pita with a gorgeous pocket using ingredients you probably already have in your pantry. Use these to stuffed with your favorite foods such as hummus, falafel, gyros, kebabs, and more. The best part is you can make these on the stovetop or oven.

Table of Content

• Why make this recipe?
• Ingredients and substitutes
• Step by step instructions  (pin)
• Tips and troubleshooting
• Frequently asked questions
• You may also like
• Recipe

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When you think of Middle Eastern or Mediterranean food the humble pita always comes to mind. This bread is also known as pita pocket or pocket bread.

The main ingredient in pita bread is white wheat flour, yeast, water, honey, oil, and salt. But you can make pita with whole wheat as well.

Traditionally, pita is made in a hot oven. You can make it on a sheet pan at home in a hot oven or on the stovetop. Personally, I prefer the stovetop so I can be in control of the pocket.

How does the pita have a pocket? The pocket in the pita is made by steam which puffs up the dough from the bottom towards the center during cooking.  When the bread is flipped the same thing happens on the other side. When cooled the puffed up bread becomes flat leaving a pocket in the middle. Hence the name pita pocket. 

Why make this recipe?

• If you were ever told that making your own pita is difficult? I'm here to surprise you because it doesn't get any easier than this. In fact, with my protip to guide you every step of the way you will wonder why you never make these before?
• You don't need any fancy equipment! I have listed the process for both, using the stand mixer as well as kneading by hand. The truth is, a bowl and your two hands for mixing with a skillet and spatula for cooking are all you need.
• The dough takes just about 10 minutes to make. You can make the dough ahead of time and leave it in the fridge overnight for up to 12 hours.
• Pita bread is freezer friendly and can be frozen for over a month. They are perfect for kids' sandwiches.

Ingredients and substitutes

• All-purpose flour – I always use all-purpose for these pitas. But you can also substitute half the flour with whole wheat flour. And of course, you can also use bread flour. If you do use bread flour, you may not need fewer tablespoons less flour.
  Pro tip - I used less than ½ cup for kneading - notice in the video I barely sprinkle the work surface when kneading.
• Instant dry yeast - I like to use instant dry yeast because I've always had great success with it. If you have to use active dry yeast you will need 2 ¼ tsp or one packet. And if you use fresh yeast you will need about 21 grams.
• Water - The temperature of the water is an important factor in bread making. It has to be warm, not hot. Usually about 110 F but you don't really need a thermometer. The temperature is around the same as when you give milk to a baby. So think, if this water was to be fed to a baby would it be warm enough?
• Honey – I think the flavor of honey works great with pita but you can definitely use a tbsp of sugar instead. While it adds flavor it also helps nourish the yeast.
• Olive oil – Add a nice flavor and as well as nourish the yeast. You can use other oils as well such as coconut, avocado, etc.

Step by step instructions  (pin)

Yeast

• Combine warm water, yeast, honey, salt, oil. Stir well and leave to rest/prove for 5 minutes until foamy.
  Pro-tip- instant yeast does not need to be activated but I like to ensure my yeast is good and working for me. You may choose to add all ingredients directly to the flour.

Dough

• Electric mixer - In the bowl of a stand mixer with the hook attachment, combine the flour and salt. Add the yeast mixture and knead until all the flour is incorporated. Scrape the sides of the bowl.
  Pro tip - do not add flour unless necessary. First, scrape the sides of the bowl and let it all come together. You may need the additional flour for kneading, no more.
• Knead by hand - Alternatively, you can combine the flour and salt in a mixing bowl. Add the yeast mixture and combine first with a spatula or spoon. Then transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface using the flour for kneading as necessary
  Pro tip - Do not add more than the flour in the recipe as it will give you stiff, not soft pita.
• Continue to knead for 2 to 3 minutes on a stand mixer or 3 to 4 minutes by hand until you have a soft, elastic dough. When you press the dough with your fingers - the dough should spring back.
  Pro tip - We want soft, light, and fluffy pita, and this is only possible when the dough is soft, elastic, yet slightly sticky
• Shape the dough into a ball and place it in an oiled bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and rest in a warm place for about 60 to 90 minutes or until double in volume.
  Pro-tip - in winter you may need 90 minutes or more but in summer the dough may double in 45 minutes. If you can't attend to it at that moment. De-gas, reshape, and let double in volume again.

Shape and Roll

• When the dough is double in volume transfer to a well-dusted floured surface. De-gas, reshape into a ball. Then roll into a small log.
  Pro-tip - at this point there is no need for additional flour. So use a light dusting as needed.
• Using a dough scraper divide this log into 4 portions and then each of those portions into 3 again. This should give you 12 portions.
  Pro-tip - I am making 12 pita bread but you can make these bigger by dividing the dough into fewer portions.
• Shape each portion into a smooth ball. Let rest for 5 to 10 minutes then roll each ball into a 6-inch disc. Do not roll them too thin, as we do want some thickness for the pocket to appear.
  Pro tip - shaping them will ensure you have smooth pita. Resting helps the gluten relax and makes working with dough easy. Otherwise, you will find that the disc does not get larger 😜
• Place all the discs on a parchment-lined baking tray, lightly dusted with flour to prevent sticking.
  Pro tip - the flour will prevent sticking now, but make sure to dust off excess before cooking otherwise the flour will burn on the pita and make a mess on the stove or stone.
• Let rest for 30 minutes - covered with a dry towel or cheesecloth.
  Pro tip - this resting is important otherwise you will get flatbread, not pita. The resting will let the yeast rise giving us a soft bread-like flatbread - pita!

Cook - Stovetop

• Heat a cast-iron skillet or frying pan on medium-high. Each pita will take about 2 minutes cooking 30 secs at a time on each side.
  • 1. Place the pita bread on the skillet let cook 30 secs.
  • 2. Flip once - let cook another 30 secs.
  • 3. Flip again - cook 30 seconds - the pita should now start to puff up.
  • 4. and flip again - the pita should now puff up completely - cook 30 secs or less.

Cook- Pizza stone

• Heat the oven to 500°F/ 260°C Gas Mark 10 with the pizza stone for at least 20 mins
  Pro tip - We need a hot oven with a short cooking time otherwise the pita will become dry.
• Place two to three pitas on the hot pizza stone. Bake for two minutes until puffed up.
  Pro tip - work with a number that you are comfortable working with. Personally, I don't put more than 3 at a time
• Use the broiler if the pita is pale in color.
  Pro tip - do not overheat the pita with the broiler on as it can make the pita dry.

Wrap and keep warm

• As soon as the pita bread is cooked or baked. Keep it wrapped in a clean kitchen towel or cheesecloth to keep them soft.
• These will stay at room temperature for 2 to 3 days. You can freeze them for over a month.

Storage

• Pita bread can dry out easily so always keep them wrapped.
• They will stay fresh wrapped in a cheesecloth or towel for up to 3 days.
• I prefer not to keep them in the fridge as they dry out.
• You can place them in ziplock bags and freeze them for a week.
• If wrapped well in aluminum foil they will stay for up to a month in the freezer.

Tips and troubleshooting

1. Kneading the pita dough  - Knead the dough until its' soft, elastic but not dry. You do not want a firm dough. Keeping the dough soft as I have in the video will give you a super soft pita that will melt in the mouth. I promise!
2. Tough pita bread - Usually, this would mean that you did not knead the dough enough. Since, kneading activates gluten which makes the pita soft, elastic and supple.
3. The thickness and thinness of the rolled pita bread - Pita needs to be rolled to just the right thickness. So the heat reached the center, you flip and the heat reaches the center again. This is what gives the pita that pocket. If you roll it too thin, you will make flatbread. Still delicious but a little practice is all it takes.
4. Flipping the pita - This is not just for fun but to keep a balance of that steam in between the two layers? Have you noticed some pita have a thick side and a thin side? Well, now you know why?
5. Dark brown spots - You want to cook pita on a high skillet but you don't want burnt pita. If you find the pita gets dark spots before you flip in 30 seconds? lower the heat.
6. No color on the pita - This simply means that the heat is too low. The problem with low heat is that the pita when cooled with gets hard.
7. Handle the rolled pita carefully - don't stretch the pita when moving from baking tray to skillet. This can cause a tear but will also not give you a pocket.
8. Wrap pita in the towel - the best way to keep them soft is to wrap them in a towel as soon as they are cooked. Hot pita right under the towel. This will cool the steam back into the pita to keep that pita soft and supple.

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Frequently asked questions

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Recipe

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