Zainab's Homemade Pita Bread

This is an easy version of pita bread. It is far better than the stuff you get in the grocery stores or markets. It's not even close. And not only is it delicious to eat, but it's also easier to make than you might think. Fill it with a variety of meat or sauces or make shawarma sandwiches whatever way you want.

• Preparation Time: 20 mins
• Cooking Time: 5 mins
• Total Time: 25 mins
• Calories: 124 Calories

Ingredients

• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon white sugar
• 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided, or as needed
• 2 cups all-purpose flour, or more as needed
• 1 ½ teaspoons instant dry yeast
• 1 cup warm water, or more as needed
• 1 tablespoon milk powder

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Sprinkle yeast over 1 cup warm water, then add sugar. Let sit until bubbles form in the water, 5 to 10 minutes.

Step 2

Mix 2 cups flour, 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil, milk powder, and salt together in a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook attachment until combined. Add yeast mixture and knead on low speed; it may look unmanageable at first but in a few minutes it will leave the sides of the bowl and form a ball. Continue to knead gently until ball is soft and smooth. If dough is too dry and hard, add 1 to 2 tablespoons warm water. If dough is too wet, add a little flour.

Step 3

Cover the dough with plastic wrap and leave in a warm place until it has doubled in size, 2 to 3 hours.

Step 4

Transfer dough to a floured work surface. Roll into a cylinder shape or flatten it with your hands and divide into 10 equal pieces. Form each piece into a ball, cover with greased plastic wrap, and let rise for 8 to 10 minutes.

Step 5

Sprinkle a small amount of flour onto the work surface. Take one dough ball and gently flatten it with your fingers or a rolling pin into a 6- to 8-inch circle, about 1/4 inch thick. Repeat with remaining balls. Cover and let rise one more time, 8 to 10 minutes.

Step 6

Heat a large skillet over medium-low heat. Lightly grease with remaining olive oil and place pitas into the skillet. Cook until bubbles form and pitas puff up, 2 to 3 minutes. Flip and cook, without turning, until completely puffed up, another 2 to 3 minutes.