Saturday, July 28, 2012

Pita Bread & Sour dough Pita Bread

1 tablespoon yeast
1 ¼ cup warm water
1 teaspoon salt
3-Cups flour or more as needed

Dissolve yeast in the warm water for about 5 minutes in the bowl of an electric mixer. Add 1 ½ cups flour and mix with a dough hook for about 30 seconds then add salt and beat to make a batter. Add additional flour 1/2 cup at a time until a rough, shaggy mass is formed. Knead 8 minutes until dough is smooth and elastic. Add more flour if it is too sticky.

Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface and divide into six pieces for large pitas or ten for smaller. Form dough into balls and let rest about 10 minutes, then flatten with a rolling pin into ¼ inch thick discs. Keep an even thickness because this is what helps them puff up and get hallow. Now Let rest on the floured surface 30-40 minutes until slightly puffed.

Preheat oven to 425F.
With a large spatula, flip the rounds of dough upside down on to a baking sheet. Bake 10-15 minutes until light golden. They puff up in the last 5-7 minutes of cooking and end up being four inch high pitas.

To make Sour Dough Pitas:
1 cup room temperature starter
1 teaspoon yeast
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups flour or more as needed
3/4 cup warm water

Dissolve yeast in the warm water for about 5 minutes in the bowl of an electric mixer. Add the starter and mix with a dough hook for about 30 seconds or so to combine then add salt and beat to make a batter. Add flour 1/2 cup at a time until a rough, shaggy mass is formed. Knead 8 minutes until dough is smooth and elastic. Add more flour if it is too sticky.

Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface and divide into six pieces for large pitas or ten for smaller. Form dough into balls and let rest about 10 minutes, then flatten with a rolling pin into ¼ inch thick discs. Keep an even thickness because this is what helps them puff up and get hallow. Now Let rest on the floured surface 30-40 minutes until slightly puffed.

Preheat oven to 425F.
With a large spatula, flip the rounds of dough upside down on to a baking sheet. Bake 10-15 minutes until light golden. They puff up in the last 5-7 minutes of cooking and end up being four inch high pitas.



Here is a Greek meatball pita sandwich we made with our pita bread. They were delicious!



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