Pita bread known as the perfect Mediterranean bread for stuffing, dipping, or toasting. Pita bread is one of the many breads that gets overlooked by bakers. They are fairly simple to make. And if I’m being truthful they are just as satisfying to eat as it is to watch them bake. You can see in less than 5 minutes the flatten piece of dough transform into the perfect bread pocket vehicle for stuffing.
For anyone who has never had pita bread before it’s very similar to a wrap but more delicate with a slight amount of chew. It’s perfect for stuffing as mentioned above with falafels, hummus, beans, cheese, lamb, chicken etc. You can also cut them into chips and toss them in an olive oil seasonings mixture. Bake at 425F for 5-10 minutes. So easy and yummy 😋.
Ok back to the recipe, you will need flour ( I use combo of spelt and bread flour, olive oil, lukewarm water, yeast, and salt. You can use a variety of different flour of choice just remember whole grains tend to need an addition 1-2 teaspoon of water. I do recommend using 1 cup of white flour if you choose to use a whole meal flour like spelt. You need the additional gluten for structure and chew.
In addition to being easy to make, they store beautifully in the freezer. Just separate each with a pieces of wax paper or parchment to avoid sticking. I like to freeze these for up to 4-6 months.
Sourdough Discard tip: I used used 20 to 30 grams of my sourdough discard for extra flavor see recipe edits below:
Pillowy soft with a slight chew multigrain pita bread made in under 3 hours. Perfect for your next party or Mediterranean meal.
Preheat the oven to 450F with a baking stone or sheet pan on the bottom rack. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface and divide it into eight pieces -70g each ( or do mini 16 pitas at 35g per pita). Shape each piece into a small ball and allow them to rest for 20 minutes covered.
Bake the pitas for 3 to 5 minutes, until they've puffed and started to turn slightly golden.