Enjoy making homemade pita bread, a soft and chewy treat that puffs up like a balloon to create a perfect pocket for your fillings. Made with simple ingredients including all-purpose flour, yeast, olive oil and warm water, this recipe turns basic bread into an essential for healthy wraps and sandwiches.
I first discovered making pita at home when I was experimenting with Artisan Bread Recipes and I havent looked back since. This easy homemade pita bread recipe is incredibly fun and really healthy too.
I mix 3 cups all-purpose flour with a packet of active dry yeast, add a teaspoon each of sugar and salt, then stir in a cup of warm water and 2 tablespoons of olive oil. It turns out that these ingredients not only create a soft and chewy texture but also produce a pocket that puffs perfectly every time like a balloon.
The result is a nutritious bread option that provides vital carbohydrates and healthy fats from olive oil. I think this pita bread is ideal for filling up with veggies and hummus, or even turning it into sandwiches or wraps for a quick snack.
The recipe is straightforward with just 6 simple steps so even beginners can feel like a boss in the kitchen.
Why I Like this Recipe
I like this recipe for several reasons. First off, I love how simple the ingredients are and how easy it is to put everything together. It only takes a few basic items and the steps are pretty straightforward which makes it really fun to do even if I’m not a pro in the kitchen.
Another reason is the cool balloon puff that happens when it cooks. Seeing the pita puff up like that is super satisfying and I always get excited because it means I will have a perfect pocket to stuff with my favorite fillings like veggies and hummus.
I also appreciate that the process feels really hands-on. I enjoy kneading the dough and watching it rise because it makes me feel involved in creating something from scratch. Plus, the little flaws in the dough end up giving my pita a homemade touch that I really like.
Lastly, the texture of the bread is awesome. Its soft and chewy quality makes it great for turning it into a sandwich or wrap, and I know that no matter how I use it, it will always taste good and be a healthy choice for dinner.
Ingredients
- All-purpose flour provides carbohydrates and proteins, forming a sturdy, essential foundation for your pita dough.
- Active dry yeast ferments natural sugars, releasing bubbles that create a light, airy, delicious pita.
- Sugar feeds the yeast; a tiny bit sweetens the dough and speeds up fermentation.
- Salt enhances flavor and controls gluten formation, ensuring a perfectly balanced and chewy pita.
- Warm water activates yeast while combining ingredients into a smooth, elastic, easily workable dough.
- Olive oil enriches flavor and texture, adding healthy fats and moisture to perfect the pita.
- Together, these ingredients work magic, making a pita bread that is soft, tasty, and real satisfying.
Ingredient Quantities
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 packet active dry yeast (2 1/4 teaspoons)
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup warm water (about 110°F)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
How to Make this
1. In a big bowl, mix the warm water (about 110°F) with the sugar and the packet of active dry yeast. Let it sit for about 5 to 10 minutes until it gets all foamy.
2. In another bowl, combine the 3 cups of all-purpose flour and the teaspoon of salt.
3. Pour the yeast mixture into the flour and salt, then add the 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Stir it together to form a sticky dough.
4. Transfer the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead it for about 5 to 10 minutes until it’s smooth and elastic.
5. Place the dough back in the bowl and cover it with a clean towel. Let it rise in a warm spot for around 1 hour or until it doubles in size.
6. Once it’s risen, punch it down gently to get rid of any extra air, then divide it into small pieces (usually 8 pieces works well).
7. Roll each piece into a ball and then use a rolling pin to flatten them into rounds about 6 inches in diameter.
8. Heat a heavy-bottomed skillet on medium-high heat. Once it’s hot, carefully place one round in the skillet.
9. Cook the pita for about 2 minutes on the first side until bubbles start to form. When you flip it, cook for another 1 to 2 minutes.
10. The pita should puff up like a balloon and have nice golden spots. Once done, cover them with a towel to keep them soft, and enjoy them stuffed with your choosen fillings.
Equipment Needed
1. Large mixing bowl
2. Second bowl for the flour and salt mixture
3. Measuring cup for the warm water
4. Measuring spoons for sugar, salt, and olive oil
5. Clean kitchen towel for covering the dough while it rises
6. A lightly floured surface, like a countertop or cutting board, for kneading the dough
7. Rolling pin for flattening the dough rounds
8. Heavy-bottomed skillet for cooking the pita
9. Spatula for flipping the pita during cooking
FAQ
How To Make Pita Bread At Home Like A Pro Recipe Substitutions and Variations
- Instead of using all-purpose flour, you could mix in some whole wheat flour to give the pita a nuttier flavor. Just don’t go overboard or they might get too dense.
- If you dont have active dry yeast, instant yeast works fine too. Use a little less than the recipe calls for and let the dough rise a bit faster.
- You can swap out the sugar for a bit of honey. Use the same measure, but keep in mind that honey can make the dough slightly tackier.
- For the warm water, you could use warm milk instead. It’ll add a bit of richness, but make sure it’s not too hot so the yeast doesn’t get killed.
- If you’re out of olive oil, melted butter or canola oil can be used as an alternative. Either one will work, though they might give the bread a slightly different taste.
Pro Tips
1. Make sure your water is around 110°F because if it isn’t warm enough, the yeast might not foam up like it’s supposed to and your dough may not rise well
2. Don’t rush the kneading process – give the dough enough time (about 5 to 10 minutes) to become smooth and elastic, since even a little under-kneading can mess up the texture
3. Let the dough rise in a warm, draft-free spot; if you leave it uncovered or in a cold area, it might not double in size and that can really affect how your pita puffs up
4. When you’re cooking the rounds in your skillet, keep an eye out for those bubbles; if it doesnt puff up quickly enough, try lowering the heat slightly and let it cook a bit longer before flipping
How To Make Pita Bread At Home Like A Pro Recipe
My favorite How To Make Pita Bread At Home Like A Pro Recipe
Equipment Needed:
1. Large mixing bowl
2. Second bowl for the flour and salt mixture
3. Measuring cup for the warm water
4. Measuring spoons for sugar, salt, and olive oil
5. Clean kitchen towel for covering the dough while it rises
6. A lightly floured surface, like a countertop or cutting board, for kneading the dough
7. Rolling pin for flattening the dough rounds
8. Heavy-bottomed skillet for cooking the pita
9. Spatula for flipping the pita during cooking
Ingredients:
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 packet active dry yeast (2 1/4 teaspoons)
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup warm water (about 110°F)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Instructions:
1. In a big bowl, mix the warm water (about 110°F) with the sugar and the packet of active dry yeast. Let it sit for about 5 to 10 minutes until it gets all foamy.
2. In another bowl, combine the 3 cups of all-purpose flour and the teaspoon of salt.
3. Pour the yeast mixture into the flour and salt, then add the 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Stir it together to form a sticky dough.
4. Transfer the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead it for about 5 to 10 minutes until it’s smooth and elastic.
5. Place the dough back in the bowl and cover it with a clean towel. Let it rise in a warm spot for around 1 hour or until it doubles in size.
6. Once it’s risen, punch it down gently to get rid of any extra air, then divide it into small pieces (usually 8 pieces works well).
7. Roll each piece into a ball and then use a rolling pin to flatten them into rounds about 6 inches in diameter.
8. Heat a heavy-bottomed skillet on medium-high heat. Once it’s hot, carefully place one round in the skillet.
9. Cook the pita for about 2 minutes on the first side until bubbles start to form. When you flip it, cook for another 1 to 2 minutes.
10. The pita should puff up like a balloon and have nice golden spots. Once done, cover them with a towel to keep them soft, and enjoy them stuffed with your choosen fillings.
