Easy Pita Bread Recipe
This Easy Pita Bread Recipe uses simple ingredients to create fresh, homemade pita bread that’s mildly sweet and perfectly fluffy. Just combine all the ingredients, set them aside to rise, and bake the dough in the oven. Before you know it, you’ll be enjoying pita to dip in all your favorite spreads, stuffed with meat, dip into soups, and more!
What Is Pita Bread?
The word pita, also known as pitta, comes from the Greek language. The bread has been a staple in Middle Eastern cuisine for thousands of years and is a type of leavened flatbread made from a combination of yeast, water, and flour. Many recipes also contain sugar and salt. Traditionally, it is baked on a stone surface. However, most chefs today use conventional ovens and bake at extremely high temperatures. This turns the water in the dough into steam, causing the bread to puff up and form the pocket it is known for.
On its own, pita bread has a fairly neutral, slightly sweet flavor. The texture is light, slightly dense, and chewy all at the same time. As a result, it’s extremely versatile, and the flavor is easy to customize with various herbs and spices to meet all your needs.
What’s the Difference Between Greek Pita and Regular Pita?
In most cases when people refer to pita, they’re talking about regular or Mediterranean pizza which is known for its pocket. However, there are actually two different kinds of pita bread! Greek pita is lesser known but equally delicious. Unlike regular pita, it has no pocket and is slightly softer and thicker than traditional pita bread.
Ingredients You’ll Need
For this easy pita bread recipe, we kept the ingredient list short and sweet using just a handful of baking staples. Here’s everything you’ll need:
- Flour – Regular all-purpose flour forms the base of the dough for this easy pita bread recipe. It’s also used to flour your working surface and rolling pin.
- Sea Salt – Helps enhance the rest of the ingredients.
- Olive Oil – Used to prevent the dough from sticking and adds a nice savory flavor along with some healthy fat.
- Sugar – This adds the perfect amount of sweetness.
- Baking Powder – Make sure it’s fresh, or your pita won’t rise!
- Warm Water – This is crucial to activating the yeast. If it’s too ho or too cold the recipe won’t work!
- Yeast – Regular packets of yeast can easily be found in the baking section of most grocery stores.
How to Make This Easy Pita Bread Recipe
Once you see how easy this pita bread recipe is to make and experience the pleasure of biting into a warm batch, you’ll never go back to buying it from the store again! Here’s what to do:
- Activate the Yeast. Add lukewarm water to the bowl of a stand mixer, and add the yeast and sugar, stirring until they are completely dissolved. Cover the mixture, and set it aside until bubbles begin to form.
- Create the Dough. Sift the flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar into the bowl with the yeast. Using a dough hook attachment, knead the dough until it is soft and combined, adding more water as needed.
Note: Be careful not to add too much water! Start with adding 1 tablespoon at a time, making sure it is completely incorporated before adding more.
- Rest. Lightly brush a mixing bowl with olive oil, and add the dough. Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap followed by a towel. Set it aside in a cool, dry place until the dough has doubled in size.
- Shape the Pita. Use your fists to deflate the dough, and place it on a clean, floured workspace. Divide the dough into 10-12 equal pieces, and roll them into balls. Cover them with a towel again, and let them rest for 20 minutes. Then, use a floured rolling pin to roll each round into a circle.
- Bake. Place the pita on a sheet pan, and let them bake for 2 minutes. Use tongs to carefully flip them over, and continue to bake until it puffs up.
- Repeat. Remove the pita from the oven, and cover them with a clean towel. Then, repeat the process until all of the dough has been used.
Make Ahead and Storage Options
This easy pita bread recipe is best enjoyed right away while it’s still warm. However, unless you’re feeding a crowd, you’re likely going to have leftovers. Luckily, they store well! Follow the tips below to keep your pita fresh.
- To Store: Once completely cooled, your pita can be transferred to an airtight container or sealable bag and stored in a cool, dry place at room temperature for up to 3 days.
- To Freeze: For a longer-lasting option, freeze your pita in a sealable bag. For the best results, place a sheet of wax paper between each piece, and squeeze out all excess air. Then, keep them frozen for up to 3 months.
- To Reheat: When you’re ready to eat, warm frozen or thawed pita in the oven,
air fryer , or toaster until they’re heated through!
Serving Suggestions
There are so many ways to enjoy this easy pita bread recipe that we lost count! Personally, we love to snack on it on its own while it’s warm. However, more ways to use it include:
- As bread to make gyros or stuffed pita sandwiches with kofta, cheese, tzatziki, and more.
- Coated with oil and seasonings to make homemade pita chips.
- Dunked into soups like Egyptian Lentil Soup and Slow Cooker Moroccan Harira Soup
- As dippers with appetizers such as Spinach Olive Dip, Baba Ganoush, and Roasted Red Pepper Feta Dip.
Common Questions About This Easy Pita Bread Recipe
No, all-purpose flour contains gluten. However, the recipe should work with a 1:1 gluten-free flour alternative.
No, it makes the process easier, but you can knead the dough by hand if needed.
There are many reasons why your pita may not have puffed up in the oven. However, the main reason this happens is that the oven was not hot enough. Be sure to set the temperature to 500° Fahrenheit, and allow plenty of time for it to heat. Also, be sure to use fresh ingredients, and properly activate the yeast!
More Bread Recipes
Looking for more homemade bread recipes? Try out some of our favorites below!
Easy Pita Bread Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 cups all-purpose flour (plus more for dusting)
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 2 Tablespoons granulated sugar, divided
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 cup lukewarm water +⅓ cup additional (if needed)
- 1 heaping Tablespoon yeast
Instructions
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, add 1 cup lukewarm water. Add the yeast and 1 tablespoon sugar, stirring until they are dissolved. Cover, and set aside for 15 minutes or until bubbles begin to form.
- Sift in the flour, baking powder, salt, and the remaining sugar. Then, using a dough hook attachment, knead the dough on a low speed. If needed, add more water 1 tablespoon at a time until the dough is well combined and soft. Note: If the dough becomes too runny, simply add 1 tablespoon flour at a time until the desired temperature is reached.
- Lightly brush a mixing bowl with olive oil, and add the dough. Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap followed by a towel. Set is aside in a cool, warm place for at least an hour or until the dough has doubled in size.
- Punch the dough down, deflating it with fists. Then, transfer it to a floured work surface. Using two hands, divide the dough into 10-12 equal mounds. Roll them between two palms until they resemble round balls. Cover the dough with a towel, and let it rest for 20 minutes.
- Using a floured rolling pin, roll each dough ball into a circle roughly 8 inches round and a quarter-inch thick. Dust the dough with more flour as needed to prevent it from sticking.
- Preheat the oven to 500° Fahrenheit, and place the dough on a sheet pan. Bake for 2 minutes. Then, using tongs, carefully turn each pita over, and place the pan back in the oven for 1 minute or until the pita is puffy.
- Remove the pan from the oven, cover the baked pita bread with a clean towel, and repeat the process until all of the dough has been used.
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.