Puffy Pita Bread
Puffy Pita Bread is made by kneading a dough of warm water, active dry yeast, all-purpose and whole wheat flours, sea salt, and olive oil to create soft, slightly chewy pockets. The dough undergoes a rise before being divided, rolled out, and baked at very high temperature, encouraging the characteristic puff that separates the bread into two layers. The result is pita bread with a tender crumb and a hollow center ideal for stuffing.
Ingredients
- 195 ml water warm
- 1 teaspoon active dry yeast
- 270 g all-purpose flour
- 30 g whole wheat flour
- 1 teaspoon salt sea salt
- 15 ml olive oil
Instructions
Make the dough:
- In a bowl, combine warm water with active dry yeast. Give it a stir and let the yeast bubble and activate. Set aside.
- In a stand mixer bowl fitted with a dough hook, add in all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, sea salt and olive oil.
- Once the yeast has activated, pour it into the flour mixture and knead until the dough becomes smooth and shiny, about 8-10 minutes.
- If the dough is too moist, add 1 tablespoon of flour and continue kneading. It should be tacky, but not overly sticky. Refrain from adding too much flour.
- Transfer the dough to a lightly greased bowl and cover with a lid or plastic wrap.
- Leave it to rest in a warm location until doubled in size, about 1-1.5 hours.
Shape and bake the dough:
- Preheat a baking steel on the very bottom rack of the oven to 500°F/260°C.
- Prepare 6 parchment paper squares, about 6-7" in diameter. Set aside.
- Once the dough has risen, divide it into 6 equal portions, about 85g each.
- Use a rolling pin to flatten and roll out the dough to a round about 6" in diameter, about ⅛" thickness.
- Place the dough onto the parchment square.
- Repeat with the remainder.
- Use a pizza peel to place 2-3 dough rounds onto the baking steel.
- Bake at 500°F/260°C for 2 minutes, until puffed up.
- Use a pair of tongs to carefully flip over the pitas, and bake for 1 more minute.
- Remove from the oven and cool on a wire rack.
- Repeat with the remaining pitas.
- Cool completely before cutting open.
Notes
- Using a higher oven temperature, up to 550°F, helps the pita puff more fully.
- Avoid adding excessive flour during kneading to maintain a pliable dough.
- Preheat baking steel rather than a regular baking sheet for better heat retention and puffing.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 6 Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 203
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 203kcal | 10% |
| Carbohydrates | 38g | 13% |
| Protein | 6g | 12% |
| Fat | 3g | 5% |
| Saturated Fat | 0.4g | 2% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.5g | 3% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 2g | 10% |
| Sodium | 396mg | 17% |
| Potassium | 71mg | 2% |
| Fiber | 2g | 8% |
| Sugar | 0.1g | 0% |
| Vitamin A | 0.5IU | 0% |
| Vitamin C | 0.002mg | 0% |
| Calcium | 10mg | 1% |
| Iron | 2mg | 11% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.