Mediterranean Pita Pockets Recipe Video

THE BEST AND SOFTEST HOMEMADE POCKET PITA BREAD RECIPE

Steps:

• Combine the dry ingredients in a large bowl and whisk together. Set aside.
• In the bowl of a tabletop mixer that is fitted with the dough hook attachment, add all of the wet ingredients except for the olive oil. Allow the yeast to activate for 8 minutes. As soon as a puffy cloud forms at the top of the mixture, the yeast is active.
• Add the olive oil along with all of the dry ingredients and knead on low speed for 12 minutes.
• Lightly grease a large bowl with 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil and transfer the dough to the bowl. Toss to coat in oil and cover with plastic wrap. Set aside in the warmest room of your home to rise until doubled in volume. About 1 hour.
• Cut the dough into 10 equal portions.
• Lightly flour your work surface and roll each portion of dough out into about 6-7-inch circles. Keep their thickness even. Use as much flour as needed to roll them out evenly.
• Sprinkle some semolina flour onto the work surface and place each rolled out piece of dough on it.
• Cover the dough with a clean kitchen towel and allow it to rise for 30 minutes.
• Warm a cast-iron pan over medium heat.
• Cook each pita 20-30 seconds per side and continue cooking until it puffs, and the pita is fully cooked (see video).
• If the pita is not puffing up, increase the heat a little bit.
• Transfer the pitas to a plate and serve immediately.
• Leftover pitas can be stored in an airtight bag or container and kept in the freezer or the refrigerator until ready to use.

HOMEMADE PITA BREAD RECIPE

Steps:

• In a large mixing bowl add 1 cup lukewarm water and stir in yeast and sugar until dissolved. Add 1/2 cup flour and whisk together. Place the mixing bowl in a warm place, uncovered to form a lose sponge. Give it 15 minutes or so, the mixture should bubble.
• Now add salt, olive oil and almost all the remaining flour (keep about 1/2 cup of the flour for dusting later). Stir until mixture forms a shaggy mass (at this point, the dough has little to no gluten development and just looks like a sticky mess and you can easily pull bits off). Dust with a little flour, then knead the mixture inside the bowl for about a minute to incorporate any stray bits.
• Dust a clean working surface with just a little bit of flour. Knead lightly for a couple minutes or so until smooth. Cover and let the dough rest for 10 minutes, then knead again for a couple more minutes. The dough should be a little bit moist, you can help it with a little dusting of flour, but be careful not to add too much flour.
• Clean the mixing bowl and coat it lightly with extra virgin olive oil and put the dough back in the bowl. Turn the dough a couple times in the bowl to coat with the olive oil. Cover the mixing bowl tightly with plastic wrap then lay a kitchen towel over. Put the bowl in a warm place. Leave it alone for 1 hour or until the dough rises to double its size.
• Deflate the dough and place it on a clean work surface. Divide the dough into 7 to 8 equal pieces and shape them into balls. Cover with a towel and leave them for 10 minutes or so to rest.
• Using a floured rolling pin, roll one of the pieces into a circle that's 8-9 inches wide and about a quarter inch thick. It helps to lift and turn the dough frequently as you roll so that dough doesn't stick to your counter too much. (If dough starts to stick, sprinkle a tiny bit of flour). If the dough starts to spring back, set it aside to rest for a few minutes, then continue rolling. Repeat with the other pieces of dough. (Once you get going, you can be cooking one pita while rolling another, if you like). You have two options for baking the pita from here.
• Heat the oven to 475 degrees F and place a heavy-duty baking pan or large cast iron skillet on the middle rack to heat. Working in batches, place the rolled-out pitas directly on the hot baking baking sheet (I was only able to fit 2 at a time). Bake for 2 minutes on one side, and then, using a pair of tongs, carefully turn pita over to bake for 1 minute on the other side. The pita will puff nicely and should be ready. Remove from the oven and cover the baked pitas with a clean towel while you work on the rest of the pitas.
• To cook pita on stovetop: Heat a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. (Test by adding a couple drops of water to the skillet, the skillet is ready when the beads of water sizzle immediately). Drizzle a tiny bit of extra virgin olive oil and wipe off any excess. Working with one pita at a time, lay a rolled-out pita on the skillet and bake for 30 seconds, until bubbles start to form. Using a spatula, flip the pita over and cook for 1-2 minutes on the other side, until large toasted spots appear on the underside. Flip again and cook another 1-2 minutes to toast the other side. The pita is ready when it puffs up forming a pocket (sometimes, with this method, the pita may not puff or may only form a small pocket. Try pressing the surface of the pita gently with a clean towel). Keep baked pita covered with a clean towel while you work on the rest.

MEDITERRANEAN PITA POCKETS RECIPE + VIDEO

Steps:

• Mix cucumber, tomatoes, parsley, olives, onion, and feta in a large bowl.
• Use a spoon or spatula to spread a dollop of hummus along the inside of each pita pocket. Stuff with vegetable mixture.

MEDITERRANEAN PITA POCKETS

Steps:

• In a small bowl mix together the yogurt, parsley, hot sauce, cumin, and salt and pepper, to taste.
• Slice the top off of each pita pocket. Fill each pocket with 2 slices of brisket, a quarter of the pickled cucumbers and drizzle with the yogurt mixture. Arrange on a serving platter and serve.

MEDITERRANEAN PORK AND PITA POCKETS

Steps:

• Slice the pork into 1 cm strips. Mince the ginger and garlic, mix with the lemon juice, sea salt, and ground coriander. Put in fridge for about half an hour; longer if you like.
• Slice onions and capsicums in to strips about 1/2 cm wide. Slice chilies finely and put all in a bowl for later.
• Heat oil to medium hot and add a few strips of pork and cook (in batches) until they just start to brown at the edges (about a minute). As each batch browns remove it and put in to a bowl to relax.
• Now cook the onions in remaining oil (add more oil if you need to) until the onions begin to soften and become slightly transparent. This takes about a minute, so don't overcook them as they will be cooked more later.
• Remove and mix well with the pork strips.
• Fry the capsicum and chili strips for about minute, add the roughly chopped tomatoes, and cook for about 30 seconds on high heat.
• Now add the pork and onions to this mixture, add Tabasco, and bring back to full heat.
• Check seasoning and add more salt and pepper if you need to. You can also add more Tabasco if you like it hotter. Garnish with a little chopped coriander leaves (cilantro) if you wish. Keep the dish warm while you do the Pitas.
• Heat pitas and slice open on one side.
• Serve the pork mixture in a bowl and let each person stuff their own pita. If it is anything like our house you will be checking how many each person has had! I can never make enough of this dish.

MEDITERRANEAN CHICKEN PITA POCKETS

Steps:

• Bring a half cup of water to a boil in a medium saucepan; add the frozen peas, bring to a boil, and simmer for 4 minutes (do not overcook); drain, and set aside.
• In a large bowl, combine the cooked chicken, cooked peas, tomatoes, feta cheese, green onion and black pepper if desired.
• Fold in the yogurt, mayo, lemon juice and dillweed; toss well to combine.
• Line the pita halves with a leaf of lettuce or shredded lettuce if desired, and stuff with chicken mixture.
• If you are a garlic lover, then fresh garlic or garlic powder may be added to the mixture.

MEDITERRANEAN PITA POCKET SANDWICHES

Steps:

• 1. Adjust oven rack to middle position. Heat oven to 350 degrees.
• 2. In a small bowl, mix sour cream, yogurt, cucumber,lemon juice, 2 minced garlic clove, feta, pepper to taste;.
• 3. Wrap pitas in foil and Place in oven; bake until warm and pliable, 5 minutes. Cut in half.
• 4. Meanwhile, heat oil in a large skillet over high heat saute onion until golden brown. Add meat, oregano and remaining minced garlic; continue to saute for about 2 minutes.
• To serve first fill pitas with lettuce, followed by meat, tomatoes and cucumber sauce.

MEDITERRANEAN VEGETABLE PITAS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, whisk the first six ingredients until blended; if desired, stir in cayenne. Add tomato, cucumber, onion and olives; toss to coat. Refrigerate until serving., To serve, add lettuce to vegetables; toss to combine. Spoon into pita halves; sprinkle with cheese.