Classic Pita Bread Recipes

CLASSIC PITA CHIPS RECIPE BY TASTY

Steps:

• Preheat your oven to 350ºF (180ºC).
• Slice pita bread into eighths and spread chips out on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet.
• In a small bowl, combine the olive oil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper, and brush onto both sides of the chips.
• Bake for 10-12 minutes until golden and crispy.
• Allow to cool.
• Enjoy!

PERFECT PITA CHIPS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Brush one side of each piece pita pocket with olive oil. Sprinkle the garlic powder, salt, and garlic salt over the pita pockets. Slice each pocket into 4 even triangles.
• Bake in preheated oven until the triangles turn a light brown color, 15 to 20 minutes.

UNLEAVENED BREAD RECIPE - ISRAELI CLASSIC

Steps:

• Preheat oven 450°F (260°C).
• Combine all ingredients with the water to form dough and knead for 3 minutes.
• Divide into 8 balls. Flatten each into a thin round and prick with a fork.
• Bake on a greased cookie sheet for 10 minutes in oven.

QUICK AND EASY HOMEMADE PITA BREAD

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Pour yeast into 1/4 cup of the warm water. Add sugar, mix well, and let stand for 10 minutes.
• Sift the flour along with the salt into a bowl.
• Form a well in the center. Pour in the yeast mixture, the remaining cup of warm water, and 1 tablespoon of olive oil.
• Begin to mix with your hand, a wooden spoon, or the dough hook of a standing mixer to form a dough.
• Turn dough out onto a floured surface and knead for about 10 to 15 minutes, or use the stand mixer and dough hook, until the dough is smooth and soft but not sticky. If needed, add more flour until the dough comes together nicely.
• Oil a large bowl and place the dough in the bowl. Turn to coat the entire surface with oil. Cover with a damp cloth and put the dough in a warm, draft-free place for 1 to 1 1/2 hours or until doubled in size.
• Preheat the oven to 475 F. Place a heavy baking sheet or baking stone on the lowest rack of the oven. With the help of a rolling pin, roll the dough out, then fold and roll again. Close like a book, roll again, and close again, repeating the process a few times to get the air bubbles out of the dough. Shape the dough in a rectangle of about 9 x 12 inches and about 1/2 inch thick.
• Divide the dough into 10 pieces and cover with a dampened towel.
• Flour your work surface and rolling pin. Roll and turn each ball as you would shape a pie crust. Each pita should be about 1/4 inch thick and about 7 inches in diameter.
• Sandwich each dough circle between floured cloths and let them rest while you roll the remaining dough balls.
• Lightly sprinkle the hot baking sheet or baking stone with flour. Place as many pitas as will comfortably fit.
• Bake for about 5 minutes or until they just begin to show some color, carefully flipping them about halfway through.
• Remove from the oven and cover with a clean kitchen towel until cooled. Repeat the baking process with the remaining dough. Serve with your favorites dishes, and store in a bread bag for up to three days.
• Enjoy!

CLASSIC CHICKEN SALAD PITA POCKETS

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add chicken and cook, stirring constantly until chicken is cooked thoroughly and no longer pink (about 7 to 8 minutes). Drain off juices and allow to cool.
• In a large bowl, gently stir chicken with mayonnaise until thoroughly coated. Add celery, onion, boiled eggs, dill weed, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Stir until combined.
• Serve in pita pockets with lettuce and tomato, if desired.

CLASSIC RAISIN BREAD

Steps:

• Scald the milk: Heat the milk in a small saucepan on the stove-top until it reaches 181F. (If you don't have a thermometer, this will be when the milk starts to steam and small bubbles form around the edges. Pour milk back into the measuring cup and let stand until cooled to lukewarm or about 105F.
• **If using active dry yeast, add the yeast to the lukewarm milk. Stir in and let stand 5 minutes.
• In a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the kneading hook, add 2 cups of the flour, the instant yeast, the white sugar and salt. Mix briefly to combine.
• Plump the raisins: Add the raisins to a small bowl. Cover them with very hot water and let stand until needed.
• To the flour mixture, add the lukewarm milk (or milk/yeast mixture if you used active dry yeast). Add the melted butter (*be sure it is cooled so it doesn't cook the egg you will be adding next :). Add the egg. Knead to combine well. Start adding more flour, in small increments, until the dough wraps around the hook and cleans the bowl.
• Drain the raisins and toss in a little flour. Add to the dough in the mixer or bowl and mix to combine. Add a bit more flour, if needed.
• Grease an 8x4-inch loaf pan and set aside.
• Remove the dough to a floured surface and knead briefly (1-2 minutes), until smooth. Form into a ball.
• Place dough into a greased bowl, cover and let rise until doubled, about 1 hour.
• Remove dough to a lightly floured surface and pat into a rectangle about 9 inches long and 5 inches wide. Bring the edges along the long side in towards the centre and pinch together. Flip the loaf over. Push any exposed raisins back into the dough, so they don't burn. Place into prepared loaf pan. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 45 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 350F.
• When loaf is ready, bake in preheated oven for about 35 minutes or until it reaches an internal temperature of 190F. **Check loaf after 25 minutes of baking. If it is dark enough, lay a sheet of aluminum foil over-top to prevent further browning. Continue baking until done.
• Remove from oven and immediately remove from the loaf pan to a cooling rack. While the loaf is still hot, mix up the sugar/water glaze and brush the top of the loaf. Allow to cool before slicing.

CHEF JOHN'S PITA BREAD

Steps:

• Place yeast into the work bowl of a stand mixer and add 1 cup warm water and 1 cup flour. Whisk together and let stand 15 to 20 minutes for mixture to rise and make a loose sponge. Mixture will bubble and foam.
• Pour 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil and salt into sponge; add 1 3/4 cup flour. Mix at low speed, using a dough hook attachment, until dough is soft, supple, and slightly sticky. If dough sticks to the sides of the bowl, add up to 1/4 cup more flour, a little at a time.
• Knead dough with machine on low speed until slightly springy and still soft, 5 to 6 minutes. Turn dough out onto a floured work surface and form into a ball.
• Wipe inside of bowl with 1/4 teaspoon olive oil. Turn dough around in bowl to cover with a thin film of oil; cover bowl with foil and let sit until dough has doubled in size, about 2 hours.
• Remove dough from bowl and place onto a floured work surface. Lightly pat into a flat shape about 1 inch thick. Use a knife to cut dough into 8 pieces.
• Form each piece into a small round ball with a smooth top, pulling dough from the sides and tucking the ends underneath the bottom.
• Cover dough balls with lightly oiled plastic wrap and let rest for 30 minutes.
• Sprinkle a small amount of flour on a work surface and top of a dough ball; gently pat dough ball flat with your fingers, forming a flat, round bread about 1/4 inch thick. Let dough round rest for 5 minutes. Repeat with remaining dough balls.
• Brush a cast-iron skillet with remaining 3/4 teaspoon olive oil and place over medium-high heat. Lay pita bread into hot skillet and cook until bread begins to puff up and bottom has brown spots and blisters, about 3 minutes. Flip, cook 2 more minutes, and flip back onto original side to cook for about 30 more seconds. Pita bread will begin to puff up and fill with hot air. Stack cooked breads on a plate; when cool enough to handle, break breads in half and open the pocket inside for stuffing.

FALAFEL

Steps:

• Put chickpeas in a large bowl and cover with cold water. Water should cover by about 2-3 inches. Soak beans overnight (do not skip this step) and then drain. Set aside. Note: you can use canned chickpeas, drained, if you prefer to not soak beans overnight.
• Place the drained beans into a food processor. Add onions, parsley, salt, garlic, cumin, coriander, pepper, and lemon juice. Process until well combined but not completely pureed and mushy.
• Add in flour and baking powder and pulse slowly until the dough forms a ball. Place falafel mixture into a bowl and cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for one to two hours.
• Remove chickpea mixture from refrigerator. Heat oil to 375 degrees in a deep skillet. Make balls with batter (approx 2 inches). Fry a few at a time--do not crowd the pan. It should take approx. 3 minutes per side or until golden. Drain on paper towels to absorb excess oil.
• Serve in a pita with sliced tomato, lettuce and thinly sliced red onion and tahini.