pita
Next Dish: Asida
Pita is a type of round pocket bread widely consumed in many Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, and Balkan cuisines. It is traditionally made from a simple mixture of flour, water, yeast, and salt, then baked at high temperatures causing the dough to puff up and form a pocket. The bread is versatile and can be used in a variety of dishes such as sandwiches, or served with dips like hummus and tzatziki. It can also be cut and baked into crispy chips.
Recipe
Ingredients:
2 teaspoons active dry yeast
1 cup warm water
2 teaspoons sugar
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons olive oil
Instructions:
In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 5 minutes.
Add sugar, 1 cup of flour, salt, and olive oil into the yeast mixture; stir well to combine.
Beat in remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl.
Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 8 minutes.
Lightly oil a large bowl, place the dough in the bowl, and turn to coat with oil. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 475 degrees F (245 degrees C) and place a baking stone inside the oven to heat.
Deflate the dough and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Divide the dough into 8 equal pieces and form into rounds. Cover and let rest for 10 minutes.
Roll each round into a 6-inch circle. Place 1 or 2 rounds onto the preheated stone and bake until puffed and golden, about 3 minutes.
Repeat with the remaining dough rounds. Allow the pita bread to cool before serving.