Traditional Mediterranean pita bread with fresh herbs, or dried spices.
Course Bread
Cuisine Mediterranean
Prep Time 2 minutesminutes
Cook Time 15 minutesminutes
Total Time 2 hourshours15 minutesminutes
Servings 8servings
Equipment
Cast iron pan or griddle
Baking sheet
Large mixing bowl or mixer
Ingredients
2tspYeast
2tspSugar
1tbspSalt
2tbspOlive oil more for basting
1 1/4cupWater
4-5cupsFlour more for dusting
1tbspCoarse salt
1/4cupFresh herbs optional
1tbsp Dried herbsoptional
Instructions
Proof the sponge - In a stand mixer with a dough hook attachment, a mixing bowl or simply a large bowl with a wooden spoon, place the yeast, sugar and lukewarm water and allow to sit for 1-2 minutes to dissolve.
Add the salt, olive oil and a cup of the flour, into the yeast mixture and stir on low speed to bring the ingredients together. Slowly add flour and stir until it becomes difficult to stir. If using a mixer with a dough hook make certain to scrape down the sides of the bowl.
Forming a dough ball - At first you will have a sticky dough, but as you continue to work in more flour you will have an elastic dough, but continue to work in as much flour as needed until it forms a dough ball.
Rising the dough - Transfer the dough to a clean and lightly oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap and allow to sit out, room temperature, or a warm place until the dough doubles in size, about an hour. Once the dough rises, punch it down and let the dough rest for 5-minutes.
Shaping the risen dough - Sprinkle a little flour to create a lightly floured surface. Transfer the dough to the floured surface. Roll out the dough, by hand, and cut into 8 pieces. With a floured rolling pin, roll out each piece into an flat/oval shape, about quarter-inch thick. Leave each of the shaped pieces of dough on the floured surface and cover with a kitchen towel or tea towel. Allow the dough to rest for 30-minutes.
Cooking the pita - Preheat the oven to 400. On top of the stove get a cast iron pan, cast iron skillet, or cast iron griddle hot. We want a hot pan and a hot oven, because we will work quickly with the dough. Brush the hot pan with olive oil and place each pita bread onto the pan, a few at a time, quickly to get grill marks, of just to brown quickly, maybe 1-minute on each side. Transfer to a parchment paper lined baking sheet. If using dried herbs, now is the time to sprinkle on top of the pita bread along with a little coarse salt. Bake in the oven for about 10-12 minutes or until golden brown and puffed up. If using fresh herbs, sprinkle onto of the pita bread, hot out of the oven.
Video
Notes
Pita freezes well. To reheat, just pop in the microwave for about 25 seconds so the pita becomes soft again.