Worlds Greatest Pita Bread Recipes

CHEF JOHN'S PITA BREAD

Steps:

• Place yeast into the work bowl of a stand mixer and add 1 cup warm water and 1 cup flour. Whisk together and let stand 15 to 20 minutes for mixture to rise and make a loose sponge. Mixture will bubble and foam.
• Pour 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil and salt into sponge; add 1 3/4 cup flour. Mix at low speed, using a dough hook attachment, until dough is soft, supple, and slightly sticky. If dough sticks to the sides of the bowl, add up to 1/4 cup more flour, a little at a time.
• Knead dough with machine on low speed until slightly springy and still soft, 5 to 6 minutes. Turn dough out onto a floured work surface and form into a ball.
• Wipe inside of bowl with 1/4 teaspoon olive oil. Turn dough around in bowl to cover with a thin film of oil; cover bowl with foil and let sit until dough has doubled in size, about 2 hours.
• Remove dough from bowl and place onto a floured work surface. Lightly pat into a flat shape about 1 inch thick. Use a knife to cut dough into 8 pieces.
• Form each piece into a small round ball with a smooth top, pulling dough from the sides and tucking the ends underneath the bottom.
• Cover dough balls with lightly oiled plastic wrap and let rest for 30 minutes.
• Sprinkle a small amount of flour on a work surface and top of a dough ball; gently pat dough ball flat with your fingers, forming a flat, round bread about 1/4 inch thick. Let dough round rest for 5 minutes. Repeat with remaining dough balls.
• Brush a cast-iron skillet with remaining 3/4 teaspoon olive oil and place over medium-high heat. Lay pita bread into hot skillet and cook until bread begins to puff up and bottom has brown spots and blisters, about 3 minutes. Flip, cook 2 more minutes, and flip back onto original side to cook for about 30 more seconds. Pita bread will begin to puff up and fill with hot air. Stack cooked breads on a plate; when cool enough to handle, break breads in half and open the pocket inside for stuffing.

TRADITIONAL PITA BREAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Stir in salt and enough flour to form a soft dough. Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Do not let rise. , Divide dough into six pieces; knead each for 1 minute. Roll each into a 5-in. circle. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 45 minutes. Preheat oven to 500°. , Place upside down on greased baking sheets. Bake until puffed and lightly browned, 5-10 minutes. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool.

HOMEMADE PITA BREAD

Steps:

• Sprinkle yeast over 1 cup warm water, then add sugar. Let sit until bubbles form in the water, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Mix 2 cups flour, 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil, milk powder, and salt together in a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook attachment until combined. Add yeast mixture and knead on low speed; it may look unmanageable at first but in a few minutes it will leave the sides of the bowl and form a ball. Continue to knead gently until ball is soft and smooth. If dough is too dry and hard, add 1 to 2 tablespoons warm water. If dough is too wet, add a little flour.
• Cover the dough with plastic wrap and leave in a warm place until it has doubled in size, 2 to 3 hours.
• Transfer dough to a floured work surface. Roll into a cylinder shape or flatten it with your hands and divide into 10 equal pieces. Form each piece into a ball, cover with greased plastic wrap, and let rise for 8 to 10 minutes.
• Sprinkle a small amount of flour onto the work surface. Take one dough ball and gently flatten it with your fingers or a rolling pin into a 6- to 8-inch circle, about 1/4 inch thick. Repeat with remaining balls. Cover and let rise one more time, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Heat a large skillet over medium-low heat. Lightly grease with remaining olive oil and place pitas into the skillet. Cook until bubbles form and pitas puff up, 2 to 3 minutes. Flip and cook, without turning, until completely puffed up, another 2 to 3 minutes.

HOMEMADE PITA BREAD

Steps:

• Make sponge: Put 1 cup lukewarm water in a large mixing bowl. Add yeast and sugar. Stir to dissolve. Add the whole-wheat flour and 1/4 cup all-purpose flour and whisk together. Put bowl in a warm (not hot) place, uncovered, until mixture is frothy and bubbling, about 15 minutes.
• Add salt, olive oil and nearly all remaining all-purpose flour (reserve 1/2 cup). With a wooden spoon or a pair of chopsticks, stir until mixture forms a shaggy mass. Dust with a little reserved flour, then knead in bowl for 1 minute, incorporating any stray bits of dry dough.
• Turn dough onto work surface. Knead lightly for 2 minutes, until smooth. Cover and let rest 10 minutes, then knead again for 2 minutes. Try not to add too much reserved flour; the dough should be soft and a bit moist. (At this point, dough may refrigerated in a large zippered plastic bag for several hours or overnight. Bring dough back to room temperature, knead into a ball and proceed with recipe.)
• Clean the mixing bowl and put dough back in it. Cover bowl tightly with plastic wrap, then cover with a towel. Put bowl in a warm (not hot) place. Leave until dough has doubled in size, about 1 hour.
• Heat oven to 475 degrees. On bottom shelf of oven, place a heavy-duty baking sheet, large cast-iron pan or ceramic baking tile. Punch down dough and divide into 8 pieces of equal size. Form each piece into a little ball. Place dough balls on work surface, cover with a damp towel and leave for 10 minutes.
• Remove 1 ball (keeping others covered) and press into a flat diskc with rolling pin. Roll to a 6-inch circle, then to an 8-inch diameter, about 1/8 inch thick, dusting with flour if necessary. (The dough will shrink a bit while baking.)
• Carefully lift the dough circle and place quickly on hot baking sheet. After 2 minutes the dough should be nicely puffed. Turn over with tongs or spatula and bake 1 minute more. The pita should be pale, with only a few brown speckles. Transfer warm pita to a napkin-lined basket and cover so bread stays soft. Repeat with the rest of the dough balls.

WORLD'S GREATEST PITA BREAD

Steps:

• Combine the yeast, sugar and water. Let stand until foamy.
• Add the oil, salt, water and flour 1 cup at time until a dough forms.
• Knead until smooth.
• Place in a sprayed bowl. Cover with a damp towel. Let rise 2 hours.
• Punch down. Return to bowl. Cover. Let rest 30 minutes.
• Knead briefly. Divide into 12 pieces.
• Roll out each into a 4-6 inch circle.
• Place on sprayed wax paper, then cover with more sprayed wax paper.
• Let rest 30 minutes.
• Heat a dry iron skillet over medium heat.
• Cook each pita about 3 minutes each side or until puffed and speckeled.
• Wrap each in foil when done.
• Serve warm.
• WOW!