Did you know that pita is probably the easiest bread recipe to master? Well, maybe next to Lavash Bread. Yes, even the most novice of cooks shouldn't be intimidated by this Homemade Pita Bread recipe!
Truthfully, the only challenge is making sure the homemade pita bread puffs up to form a pocket.
Luckily, even if it doesn’t puff up, it will taste just as amazing. Just fold it in half like you would with flatbread!
However, lucky for you, I’m a perfectionist. Using my failures to your advantage, I’m here to make sure you achieve the perfect puff every time!
How to Make the Best Pita Bread
Dissolve yeast in warm water. Stir in honey and set aside for five minutes, or until the water is frothy.
Combine flour and salt in a large bowl. Make a well in the center and add the yeast and water mixture, along with one tablespoon of olive oil.
Stir with a wooden spoon until mixed. Knead by hand, or use a mixer with a dough hook attachment. Mix until the dough is elastic and smooth, approximately five minutes.
Add dough to a bowl, coated with the remaining oil. Roll the dough to coat evenly with the oil. Cover with a towel and allow to rest in a warm spot for two hours.
Divide the dough into eight equal portions. Cover and allow to rest for 15 minutes.
Remove the top racks from the oven, leaving only the lowest rack. Place a pizza stone or a cast-iron skillet on the bottom rack of the oven. Preheat the oven to 500°F.
Lightly flour your work surface. Roll out one portion of dough at a time into an 8” circle, leave the remaining portions covered.
Using a spatula, transfer the rolled out dough onto the pizza stone or cast-iron skillet. Set timer to three minutes.
After three minutes have elapsed, turn the pita bread over with a spatula and cook for an additional minute.
Place the cooked pita bread into a paper bag and close the bag. Do the same with the remaining dough. The pita bread will stay soft if you cool it off in the paper bag.
Another option is to wrap the warm pita bread in a clean dishtowel. Repeat with the remaining dough.
Place cooled pita bread in a ziplock bag. Heat in a toaster or a pan before serving.
Recipe FAQs and Expert Tips
Although I prefer using all-purpose flour in my pita bread recipe, sometimes I add whole wheat flour too. For example, try substituting ½ cup of wheat flour for ½ cup of white flour.
Although I have never tried making 100% whole wheat pita bread, I have substituted as much as half of the white flour with wheat. The end result was still good, but not as good as white flour, in my opinion. Pita bread made with white flour is softer and more pliable.
Recently, I have noticed a trend of cooking homemade pita bread in a cast-iron skillet on the stove, versus baking them in the oven.
I have given this method a few tries and have found that the pita does not puff up most of the time. Sure, you might have an occasional puff, but I don’t like those odds. Leave the pan method for making flatbread and tortillas. Instead, cook the pita in the oven, for a perfect puff every time!
When baking pita bread, set your oven to 500°F. Cooking with a lower temperature for a longer period does not achieve the same great results.
Using either a pizza stone or a cast-iron skillet is a must for this recipe. Whichever you decide to use, be sure to heat it in the 500° F oven for 15 minutes first. How long should you cook the pita? Let’s just say I have experimented enough for the both of us. I have found that cooking the bread for three minutes, then quickly flipping over for an additional minute helps to achieve the perfect pita pocket.
- Enjoy pita bread by itself, with butter and jam, or with a cup of tea, olives, and some buried cheese.
- Dip pita bread into your favorite stew or soup, or stuff with kofta to make Arayes.
- Follow these few simple, yet necessary steps, and you will be baking pitas like a Middle Eastern grandma in no time!
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Homemade Pita Bread
Ingredients
- 2-¼ tsp. yeast (or 1 packet)
- 1-½ cups warm water
- 1 tsp. honey
- 4 cups flour
- 1-½ tsp. salt
- 1-½ T. olive oil (divided)
Instructions
- Dissolve yeast in warm water. Stir in honey and set aside for five minutes, or until the water is frothy.
- Combine flour and salt in a large bowl. Make a well in the center and add the yeast and water mixture, along with one tablespoon of olive oil.
- Stir with a wooden spoon until mixed. Knead by hand, or use a mixer with a dough hook attachment. Mix until the dough is elastic and smooth, approximately five minutes.
- Add dough to a bowl, coated with the remaining oil. Roll the dough to coat evenly with the oil. Cover with a towel and allow to rest in a warm spot for two hours.
- Divide the dough into eight equal portions. Cover and allow to rest for 15 minutes.
- Remove the top racks from the oven, leaving only the lowest rack. Place a pizza stone or a cast-iron skillet on the bottom rack of the oven. Preheat the oven to 500°F.
- Lightly flour your work surface. Roll out one portion of dough at a time into an 8” circle, leave the remaining portions covered.
- Using a spatula, transfer the rolled out dough onto the pizza stone or cast-iron skillet. Set timer to three minutes.
- After three minutes have elapsed, turn the pita bread over with a spatula and cook for an additional minute.
- Place the cooked pita bread into a paper bag and close the bag. Do the same with the remaining dough. The pita bread will stay soft if you cool it off in the paper bag.
- Another option is to wrap the warm pita bread in a clean dishtowel. Repeat with the remaining dough.
- Place cooled pita bread in a ziplock bag. Heat in a toaster or a pan before serving.
Notes
- Enjoy pita bread by itself, with butter and jam or with a cup of tea, olives, and some buried cheese.
- Dip pita bread into your favorite stew or soup, or stuff with kofta to make Arayes.
- Follow these few simple, yet necessary steps, and you will be baking pitas like a Middle Eastern grandma in no time!
Laura M. Stahl says
I never thought that pita bread was so easy to make. I was very pleased with the pita bread recipe. It is so simple to make. I use pita bread with many dishes. It is delicious and simple to make.
Hilda Sterner says
Hi Laura,
I'm glad you were happy with the results. I love pita bread too, but try not to make it too often because my husband doesn't eat much bread and I can't stop eating it. 😉
susan says
I see that you put the cast iron pan in the hot oven...but should you put oil in it everytime you make a pita ? thx
Hilda Sterner says
Hi Susan, that's not really necessary, only if you see that the pita bread sticks to the pan, but I've never had that problem.
Heidi says
So good and easy! I even forgot to add the olive oil before I mixed the dough and ended up added it then mixing some more. LOL It was so fun and satisfying watching it poof! Your friend Andrea B. Gave me your blog/recipe. Excited to try other recipes now. Be well and stay safe.
HildaSterner says
Hi Heidi, I'm so glad you enjoyed making your first batch of Pita Bread! I really appreciate that you took the time to come back and review the recipe too. Stay safe as well and say hi to Andrea for me! 😘
Andrea and Sophie says
If I had know that making fresh pita bread was so easy...I would have been making this years ago! The taste is SUPERIOR to even a good storebought brand. And warm pita?! I died...
HildaSterner says
Haha, I'll get right on that!
anastaciast says
This looks like fun. I am looking forward to the pitas you will be sending to me. That's the best part of the recipe. 🙂