Homemade Pita Bread Recipe

Try this Homemade Pita Bread recipe with easy to follow instructions and tips to cook on the stovetop and in the oven. This recipe makes very soft and puffy Pita Bread Pockets for you to pack with your favorite filling.

It’s Day 6 of Flatbread Week, and I have got a must-have flatbread recipe for your recipe repertoire. The Homemade Pita Bread Recipe! It is easy to put together and makes Pita Bread that is soft, puffy, and healthy. These are better than store-bought ones!

If you are visiting Celebrating Flavors for the first time and would love to see our flatbread collection, then check out the introduction post for more details on the Flavors recipe series. 

These homemade Pita bread are easy to make, like other flatbreads. This recipe needs only 5 minutes of kneading time, and you can make the dough ahead of time and place it in the refrigerator for a slow rise. 

 The pita bread is served along with different dips, salads, and grilled meat. We love to make pocket sandwiches for lunch and sometimes dip in curries. It is so versatile!

Homemade Pita Bread Recipe

Pita bread( Khubz) is a staple in middle eastern households, and this bread is freshly baked every day. The store-bought pita has a shelf life of a day, plus it’s best had when it’s warm. Although it is easy to buy Pita bread, I prefer making them at home. Nothing like homemade bread! To make this wonderful flatbread you need simple ingredients that can be found in your pantry. 

Ingredients 

Flour – All-purpose and Whole-wheat flour

Salt 

Sugar

Yeast

Olive oil

Water

How to make Pita Bread at home:

The dough can be mixed by hand or in a stand mixer. In a large bowl, add flour, salt, sugar, yeast, and mix well.
Next, combine oil and gradually add the water and mix until it forms a slightly sticky dough. Depending on the flour and the weather conditions, you might need more or less liquid. If the bread dough is dry, add water, 1 Tablespoon at a time similarly if the dough is too wet, add flour 1 Tablespoon until you get the correct consistency.

After mixing all the ingredients, knead the dough for 5 minutes and place it in a lightly greased bowl and rest it for an hour. This dough can be made a day ahead and refrigerated. There were many times I have let the dough rest for about 4-5 hours on the counter for more flavor to develop. You could do the same too. However, if you are on a time crunch, rest it for an hour. It will still taste delicious!

How to cook Pita bread on the stovetop:

Heat a griddle pan on medium-high. Next, shape the dough and roll it into 7- 8 inches in diameter. Place the rolled flatbread and cook it for 2-3 minutes on each side until its fully cooked and puffed with few brown spots. If the bread dough is rolled into even thickness, the pita will puff up.
Place the cooked pita on a plate and cover it with a tea towel. Serve warm with hummus, salad, and grilled meat or veggies.

How to bake Pita bread in the oven:

Pre-heat the oven to 500F/260C. Meanwhile, roll the pitas and place a few on a baking sheet and bake for 4-5 minutes until it’s puffed up. If you like it slightly browned, switch on the broiler/ top grill, and cook it for a few seconds. Take out from the oven, and place it on a plate and cover it with a tea towel. Serve warm. 

How to freeze flatbread:

To freeze pita bread, you need to cool them completely, while they are covered. Once the flatbread is cooled, place them in a freezer zip lock bag and freeze for up to 3 months.

To warm :

Frozen flatbread can be warmed on the griddle/skillet or in the oven. Heat the skillet on medium-low and reheat each bread for 3-4 minutes on each side.
If you prefer to warming them in the oven, pre-heat the oven to 200C. Place a few flatbreads on a sheet pan and warm it through for 4-5 minutes.

Homemade Pita Bread Recipe

Recipe by Ruwani Ravin KumarCourse: Bread, Dinner, featured, Freezer-Friendly, Lunch, Middle Eastern

Servings

12

servings

Prep time

1

hour 

25

minutes

Cooking time

25

minutes

Try this Homemade Pita Bread recipe with easy to follow instructions and tips to cook on the stove-top and in the oven. This recipe makes very soft and puffy Pita Bread Pockets for you to pack with your favorite filling.

Ingredients

• 4 cups/ 500g all-purpose flour

• 1cup / 150g whole wheat flour

• 1 1/4 teaspoon salt

• 2 teaspoons sugar

• 2 1/4 teaspoons instant yeast

• 2 Tablespoons olive oil

• 1 3/4 cups / 425ml + 2 Tablespoon warm water

Directions

• The dough can be mixed by hand or in a stand mixer. In a large bowl, add flour, salt, sugar, yeast, and mix well.
• Next, combine oil and first gradually add the 1 3/4 cups of water to form a slightly sticky dough. If your bread dough didn’t reach the sticky stage, add the reserved 2 Tablespoon of water. Depending on the flour that you are using, you might need more or less water.
• Next, turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead the dough for 5 minutes.
• Put the bread dough into an oiled bowl and cover the bowl with cling wrap and leave it to proof somewhere warm for 1 hour or till it’s doubled in size.
• After the first rise, punch the dough down, Divide the dough into half. Next, roll each half into a log and divide each into 6 equal size pieces to make 12 pita bread. Shape each piece of dough into a ball and place all back in the bowl. Cover and let the dough balls rest for 10 minutes.
• To cook on the stovetop
• Heat a griddle pan on medium-high. Next, shape the dough and roll it evenly into 7- 8 inches in diameter. Place the rolled flatbread and cook it for 2-3 minutes on each side until its fully cooked and puffed with few brown spots. If the bread dough is rolled into even thickness, the pita will puff up.
• Place the cooked pita on a plate and cover it with a tea towel. Serve warm with hummus, salad, and grilled meat or veggies.
• To bake in the oven
• Pre-heat the oven to 500F/260C. Meanwhile, roll the pitas and place a few on a baking sheet and bake for 4-5 minutes until it’s puffed up. If you like it slightly browned, switch on the broiler/ top grill, and cook it for a few seconds. Take out from the oven, and place it on a plate and cover it with a tea towel. Serve warm.

Notes

• To freeze pita bread, you need to cool them completely, while they are covered. Once the flatbread is cooled, place them in a freezer zip lock bag and freeze for up to 3 months.
• To warm: Frozen flatbread can be warmed on the griddle/skillet or in the oven. Heat the skillet on medium-low and reheat each bread for 3-4 minutes on each side.
• If you prefer to warming them in the oven, pre-heat the oven to 200C. Place a few flatbreads on a sheet pan and warm it through for 4-5 minutes.