Homemade Pita Bread Recipe
This homemade pita bread recipe yields soft, airy pockets perfect for sandwiches or dipping. Made with simple ingredients like flour, yeast, and olive oil, this versatile flatbread can be cooked in the oven for a crispier texture or on the stovetop for a thicker, chewier bite. With a quick rise and an easy dough, it’s ideal for fresh, warm pita bread anytime.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
- Yield: 8 pita breads 1x
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Dough
- 1 cup warm water, 110°F
- 2 teaspoons active dry yeast (1 packet)
- 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour, more as needed
- 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt (or 1 teaspoon regular salt)
- 1 ½ tablespoons olive oil
Instructions
- Activate yeast: Combine warm water, active dry yeast, and sugar in a large bowl. Stir in ½ cup flour and let the mixture sit for 10 minutes until it becomes bubbly and puffy, indicating the yeast is active.
- Mix and rise: Add olive oil and salt to the yeast mixture. Gradually stir in the remaining 2 cups of flour. When the dough becomes difficult to stir, knead by hand for 3-5 minutes or use a dough hook with an electric mixer until smooth. Form into a ball, lightly oil the surface, cover with a towel or plastic wrap, and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour, until doubled in size.
- Divide dough: Punch down the dough to release air. Divide it into eight equal pieces, shaping each into a ball. Cover with a damp paper towel and let rest for 10 minutes.
- Roll out dough: On a lightly floured surface, roll each dough ball into a circle about 1/8-inch thick, working one piece at a time.
- Oven cooking option: Place a pizza stone or cast iron skillet on the lower rack and preheat the oven to 475°F. Once hot, place 1-2 rolled dough circles onto the stone or skillet. Close the oven and bake for 2-3 minutes until the pita puffs with large bubbles. Flip and cook for another 1 minute. Remove and keep warm.
- Stovetop cooking option: Brush ½ teaspoon oil on a large cast iron skillet and heat over medium heat. Place a rolled dough circle in the skillet and cook for 2-3 minutes until puffed with bubbles. Flip and cook an additional minute. Remove and cover with a towel to keep warm.
Notes
- Oven baking produces a more airy, crispy pita bread texture.
- Stovetop cooking yields a thicker, chewier pita.
- Best served warm and fresh; store in an airtight container at room temperature for 1-2 days.
- To freeze, separate pitas with parchment paper in a zip-top freezer bag. Freeze up to 3 months and reheat wrapped in a damp towel.
Keywords: pita bread, homemade pita, flatbread, Middle Eastern bread, easy bread recipe, airy pita, soft pita, baked pita
Find it online: https://busyrecipe.com/homemade-pita-bread-recipe/