Homemade Pita Bread
This Homemade Pita Bread is incredibly tasty!
Serve with hummus for a light lunch or a fun afternoon snack.
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Now that the weather has finally started warming up again, we’ve taken to eating weekend lunches out on the back deck. I know it was only a few months ago, but it feels like forever since we last sat outside and just enjoyed the sunshine! To be fair, I do miss curling. I don’t miss the cold winter temperatures and the snow that never goes away, but I do miss curling. (Even though curling is indoors, it would be too expensive to keep the ice frozen all summer…so the ice is melted down and then refrozen before the season begins again in October.) That’s ok. There is a lot of fun to be had in these warmer months before curling comes back!
Speaking of sitting outdoors, we’ve been on a serious hummus kick lately. We’ve been either grabbing hummus at the store, or I’ve also made a couple of batches here at home. (Hummus is incredibly easy to make at home, just FYI…) And we all know that you can’t have hummus without pita, right? Last Friday, I noticed that we didn’t have any pita bread for our weekend hummus + pita lunches on the back deck. It was late Friday afternoon, and the last thing I wanted to do was make a grocery store run. Come on…you know that feeling, right? I just wanted to stay at home!
I love making bread here in the Spiced house, and that’s when it hit me. (1) We are out of pita bread. (2) We need some pita bread. (3) I don’t want to go to the store. (4) I like to bake bread. Yup, it was this natural flow of logic that led me to baking a batch of pita bread here at home. And it was quite possibly some of the tastiest pita bread I’ve ever eaten!
My wife and I are in the process of looking at new cars. My car has treated me very well over the last 10 years, but it’s time to upgrade to something a little bigger…and something that has all-wheel drive. I love my 2-door coupe, but it’s just not the handiest of cars once the winter snows move in here in upstate New York. So the day I baked this pita bread, my wife was actually picking me up to go test drive some cars. As it was late afternoon, I decided to bring her a snack, and I walked out of the house carrying pita bread in one hand and a container of hummus in the other. I’m pretty sure that she did not expect me to climb into the car carrying homemade pita bread and hummus.
Homemade Pita Bread
So pita bread is indeed a yeasted bread. I’ve heard from a bunch of you guys that yeast is scary. Guess what? It’s not that bad! Monsters under the bed? Scary. Yeast? Not scary. That unidentifiable container in the back of the fridge? Scary. Yeast? Not scary. Yeast doesn’t require any magical potions or spells. It just requires time and a warm place to hang out.
This homemade pita bread recipe requires the dough to rest for about 1.5-2 hours. Not that bad really. It took about 15 minutes or so to mix up the dough, and then I put it in a warm oven and wandered off to do some other work for a couple hours. While I was gone, the yeast did all the work, and I had a batch of pita dough that was almost ready to be baked. (Tip: For a nice warm spot, I preheat my oven to its lowest setting. As soon as I see the temperature hit 100°F, I turn the oven off. Now I’ve got a nice confined warm spot for the dough to rise.)
I added in a cup of whole wheat flour to this recipe just because I like the taste of whole wheat flour. Feel free to go with just all-purpose flour if you prefer. Also, now that I’ve got this pita bread recipe down, I want to start experimenting with adding some herbs to the dough. What would be some good flavors for my next round of pita bread?
Did you make a batch of this Homemade Pita Bread at home? Leave a comment. Or snap a photo and tag me on Instagram (@Spicedblog). Happy baking!
Looking for other tasty bread recipes? Check out these favorites, too:
Stuffed Italian Bread
French Peasant Bread
Italian Lasagna Bread
Sunflower Seed Bread
Homemade Pita Bread
Ingredients
- 2¼ tsp active dry yeast
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 cup warm water
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1½ tsp salt
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix the yeast, sugar and warm water until well combined. Add the whole wheat flour; stir until combined. Set bowl in a warm place for 15 minutes.
- Once yeast mixture has rested, add all purpose flour, salt and olive oil; stir until well combined. (Note: Dough will look somewhat dry at this stage.)
- Turn dough out onto well-floured countertop. Knead for 2-3 minutes. Cover dough and let rest for 10 minutes. Knead dough for 2 more minutes.
- Put dough back into the bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Place bowl in a warm location for 1½-2 hours, or until dough has doubled in size.
- Preheat oven to 475°F. Place a heavy-bottomed baking sheet on the bottom rack of the oven while it preheats. (Note: A pizza stone works great here if you have one!)
- Gently fold dough and divide into 8 pieces of equal size. Roll each piece into a loose ball. Cover dough and let rest on countertop for 15 minutes.
- On a well-floured countertop, roll each piece of dough into an 8” circle. (Tip: Keep remaining dough covered when you aren’t working with it.)
- Place two rolled-out pieces of dough onto the baking sheet or pizza stone. Let bake for 2 minutes. Using tongs, flip the dough over and bake for 1-2 more minutes. (Note: The dough will puff up while baking. To make the flipping process easier, remove the extra racks in your oven.)
- Remove baked pita and repeat with remaining unbaked dough.
Dear David, your pita bread looks perfect- soft and wonderful. I wouldn’t be able to keep from snacking on this with the hummus.
Thank you so much, Catherine! I was surprised at how easy it was to make pita bread, and we have totally been snacking on this a bunch with hummus. Is that an acceptable breakfast with my cup of coffee right now? 🙂
For my first time to your site, I love that I came across this recipe! I have to be honest… making homemade pita bread does sound scary, but I feel like it’s time to face my fears and try it! You’re recipe looks so delicious, too. I love pita (and any and all bread for that matter) so this is a must make for me! Great recipe, so glad I stopped by!
Thank you so much for stopping by, Heather! So don’t be scared of pita bread…it’s actually incredibly easy. Sure, it involves yeast, but it’s really not that bad at all. The only scary thing is how fast the first batch will disappear…especially if you have some yummy hummus around! 🙂
Hey David! Love Pita. Love Hummus. Win-win. Maybe some crushed Rosemary or some Za’atar? Just a thought.
I couldn’t agree more, Linda! This is a total win-win snack. In fact, I’m pretty sure I could eat it for breakfast. Haha! And what an awesome idea to add some rosemary or za’atar. Truthfully, I haven’t cooked much with za’atar but now I am totally intrigued! 🙂
Hi David! My favorite is hummus with roasted red peppers. I haven’t made pita bread in years! I remember the first time I made it I was amazed at how perfect the pockets were! I always have pita when I make lamb stew. I think rosemary and thyme would be a nice addition.
Dororthy! Stop what you are doing right now and get in the kitchen and start a batch of pita bread! You know you want to! 🙂 Seriously, though, you are totally right. The pockets of pita bread are the best part, and I swear I could eat the entire batch by myself…especially when it’s warm out of the oven! I’ll have to add some herbs next time I make a batch.
Are you telling me there are monsters underneath my bed? Maybe I can appease them with homemade pita bread. GREG
I am indeed telling you there are monsters under your bed, Greg. There is also a Jabberwocky hanging out in your closet. But the good news is that Jabberwockies and monsters both love pita bread. Problem solved! 🙂
There is nothing better than hummus and other dips on a hot summer day! The only thing that could be better – dips and some homebaked bread. Okay, I’m wrong. There is one more thing that could be better – dip and bread baked by @spicedblog. So you should bake a lot of this bread (since you enjoy doing that, and I love making nice people happy!) and send it to us. Don’t worry about dips – I can handle it on my own:) P.S. Rosemary or thyme are always good addition, but that’s too simple!
Hahaha, well thank you, Ben. I do appreciate you giving me an excellent excuse to go and make a load of this pita bread. But our mail-lady has proven to be less than reliant when it comes to shipping snacks. I swear she is keeping it all for herself! I’ll put a gigantic box of pitas in the mail to you today…let’s hope it arrives safe and sound! 🙂
Let’s hope, David! Once it has arrived, I’ll send your some blue cheese pizza:)But you’re right about the mail team – I suspect them checking all the food parcels! At least any of those boxes I’ve send so far, haven’t got to the addresses.
I’ve never made homemade pita bread but I think I’ll have to try out this recipe. Even though it uses yeast!
Haha! This pita bread does indeed use yeast, but that’s the beauty of it…the yeast does all of the work for you. All you have to worry about it not eating it all in one sitting. 😉
These look crazy authentic, like from my Lebanese market nearby, wow. Nice job on these and LOVE the whole wheat addition, perfect touch. #WolfpackBakers
Thank you, kind sir! Perhaps I’ll stop writing Spiced and just open a Lebanese market. Nah, maybe just a pita store. Think I can sell enough pita to pay my rent? 🙂
Love love fresh homemade (i mean baked) bread! and home made pita, ah, delicious! David, I love that you used part wheat and part whole flour, one of my favorite too! 🙂
I couldn’t agree with you more, Savita! I love spending time in the kitchen, but I think baking bread (and grilling) are two of my all-time favorites. And of course, eating homemade bread is even better! Haha!
mate, you should have rang me, I would have sent you some hummus..the one I told you about? Geebuz it looked horrendous. What doesn’t look horrendous? This pita bread. You are a talent. Strawberry cakes, tacos, pizza, burnt waffles. What CAN’T you do? Curling. In Summer.
Yes! We should’ve had a hummus and pita party. Perhaps we could have dipped some burnt waffles in the hummus when we ran out of the pita. Because you KNOW we would have run out of pita.
Hummus is a MUST with homemade pita bread. I have to say David, you have done really well with photographing these. I find things like flatbread and pita a nightmare to photograph.
Why thank you so much, Dannii! I had a bit of difficulty with these photos at first, but then I realized you can stack ’em up and they look better. And of course, the hummus helped…not sure what I would have done without the hummus in the photos! 🙂
Oh wow! Homemade Pita bread??? Dude!!!! This is so fabulous in so many ways! I adore pita bread (store bought) – but I am willing to bet my beet hummus that homemade pita is so so much better! 🙂
I live about a 5 minute walk from a grocery store and still have days when I just don’t feel like going there, but, never have I ever thought to make my own pita bread! Thanks David!
Oh man…beet hummus and homemade pita bread? Now you are talking, Shashi! But you’ll need to come up with a way to sub out the flour. If anyone can do it (and make it look and taste incredible), it’s you! Forget the last-minute grocery store runs…plus, there is just something so relaxing and rewarding about making your own bread. 🙂
You should totally get a convertible such as the Benz SL. Who gives a damn about the snow when you have such a sweet ride. Right?
BTW you’re 100% right, hummus needs pita bread just as much pita bread needs hummus. And your pita bread is perfect!
#WolfpackSweetRide
Hah! I like the way you think, Mike…but I’m guessing the Benz won’t look too good stuck in a snow bank in mid-February. But I would look pretty cool driving that bad boy straight into the snow…and that’s what matters, right? 🙂
Yup! This looks awesome and I neeeeed to make pita bread (it’s been wayyy too long since I had any!)
Yes! Get in the kitchen and make some pita bread soon, Medha…you know you want to! 🙂
bahaha my favorite line ” That unidentifiable container in the back of the fridge? Scary. Yeast? Not scary”
Totally agree! This pita bread looks soooo soft and fluffy. delish
Haha! Thanks, Beverley! I swear that container in the back of the fridge is probably toxic by now…not sure what it is. 🙂 But I do know that it’s not pita bread…because I ate all of that as fast as possible!
I am with you with the pita bread and hummus. Despite the scary yeast 🙂
I am dreaming to eat outdoors too. Today in Amsterdam (Netherlands) is hot, finally. I may finally eat outdoor too!!!! 🙂
Amsterdam! My wife and I took a vacation over to Amsterdam last spring, and it was amazing! I didn’t know what to expect, and I was totally impressed. I’m jealous of all that aged gouda you guys have over there. I’m imagining sitting outdoors in Amsterdam snacking on pita bread and aged gouda. You might just have to do that for me since New York is kinda far away! 🙂
Perfect for the summer! What a great idea to make a batch of your own pita vs. going and buying it at the store. Great idea and love the photo!
Thank you so much, Andrew! Pita bread is actual surprisingly easy to make at home. Give it a shot sometime…but just make sure you have some tasty hummus around, too!