This authentic pita bread recipe brings Mediterranean bakery flavors straight to your kitchen counter in just over an hour. With only 10 minutes of hands-on prep time, you’ll create pillowy-soft flatbreads that puff up beautifully in your oven.
At just 156 calories per serving and packed with 5g of protein, these homemade pitas are both healthier and fresher than store-bought versions. Perfect for stuffing with your favorite fillings or scooping up hummus, this foolproof recipe will become your go-to for family meals.
Ingredients
- Warm Water: 1 cup, temperature around 110°F for optimal yeast activation
- Instant Yeast: 2¼ teaspoons (1 packet), ensures proper rising
- Granulated Sugar: 1 teaspoon, helps activate the yeast
- Fine Sea Salt: 1 teaspoon, enhances overall flavor
- Olive Oil: 1 tablespoon, adds tenderness to the dough
- All-Purpose Flour: 2¼ cups, creates perfect texture and structure
Instructions
- Prepare the Dough: Combine warm water, yeast, sugar, salt, olive oil, and 1 cup flour in a bowl. Gradually add remaining flour until dough forms but remains slightly sticky
- Knead and Shape: Using floured hands, knead dough in bowl for about 1 minute until smooth and soft
- First Rest: Place in a well-greased bowl, cover, and let rest for 40 minutes at room temperature
- Portion: Split dough into 8 equal pieces and roll each into a thin circular shape
- Cook: Heat griddle or skillet over medium-high heat, lightly oil surface, cook pitas for 2 minutes on first side until golden
- Finish: Flip and cook additional minute, then wrap in clean kitchen towel to maintain warmth
Cooking Techniques
Making pita bread at home is easier than you might think! The secret to those lovely pita pockets lies in the high heat and quick cooking time. When your skillet is nice and hot, the dough puffs up beautifully, creating that classic pocket we all love.
If you’re new to this, don’t worry if your first pita comes out flat – just adjust your heat and keep going. A cast-iron skillet works great for this, but any heavy-bottomed pan will do the job.
Storage Tips
Fresh pita bread tastes amazing, but you can easily save some for later! Once they’ve cooled completely, pop them in a zip-top bag and keep them at room temperature for up to 3 days.
For longer storage, freeze them with pieces of parchment paper between each pita to prevent sticking. They’ll stay good in the freezer for up to 3 months. To warm them up, just give them a quick 30 seconds in the microwave or a few minutes in a warm oven.
Serving Suggestions
Hot, fresh pita bread is just waiting to be filled with your favorite ingredients! Try stuffing them with falafel, hummus, or fresh vegetables for a Mediterranean-style meal. They’re perfect for scooping up dips like baba ganoush or tzatziki.
You can also tear them into pieces and toast them in the oven for homemade pita chips. My favorite way is to brush them with a little olive oil and warm them up – they’re irresistible straight from the pan!
Variations
While this classic recipe is fantastic as is, you can play around with it! Try using whole wheat flour for half of the all-purpose flour to add some wholesome goodness. Love herbs? Knead in some dried oregano or rosemary before cooking.
You can also sprinkle the tops with za’atar or sesame seeds right before they hit the pan. Want mini pitas? Just divide the dough into smaller portions for cute appetizer-sized breads.
Pita Bread
Equipment
- Griddle or large skillet
- Kitchen towel
- Mixing bowl
Ingredients
- 1 cup warm water
- 2 1/4 teaspoons instant yeast (1 packet)
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
Instructions
- Mix water, yeast, sugar, salt, olive oil and 1 cup of flour together. Add more flour, a little at a time, until the dough comes together but is still a little sticky. Flour your hands and knead it in the bowl for a minute or so until it’s smooth. The dough should be very soft and not overly sticky.
- Place dough in a well-greased bowl, cover, and rest for 40 minutes (or refrigerate until ready to use).
- Divide dough into 8 equal pieces. Roll out each piece into a very thin circle.
- Heat a griddle or large skillet over medium high heat. Once the pan is hot, lightly grease the pan with oil and lay pitas flat. Cook for 2 minutes, or until lightly golden on the bottom. Flip and cook for another minute or so, then remove from heat and place inside a clean, dry kitchen towel to keep warm while you cook remaining pitas.
