Homemade Pita Pockets - Easy Recipes for Family Time - Seeded At The Table (2024)

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Homemade Pita Pockets - Easy Recipes for Family Time - Seeded At The Table (1)Have you ever run into a recipe that was somewhat of a failure, but good enough to eat even though you couldn't use it for what you originally intended? Such was the case with this pita bread. I had to make these four times before they finally puffed to where I could actually put them to use as pita pockets. Frustrating, for sure. But a great learning process.

After two attempts, I realized the first glitch in the original recipe. It instructed to roll the discs out using a rolling pin or by hand. I opted for the hand route, then realized that by using my hands/fingers the dough was being pressed too hard in order to delicately puff in the oven. Parts of the pita did rise, but there were dimples all over the surface that screamed "finger prints!" So, attempt number 3 had me shaping the dough with my rolling pin instead.

Homemade Pita Pockets - Easy Recipes for Family Time - Seeded At The Table (2)Attempt number three was partially successful. Probably about half of my pitas puffed perfectly, while the others did not puff at all. Whaaatt?!? After a little research, I found that I should raise the temperature a bit, and also allow the oven to reheat briefly between batches. Once I got this right, the pitas and I were on the same page. I gave them the tender care they needed, made the temperature right, and they puffed beautifully for me in return.Homemade Pita Pockets - Easy Recipes for Family Time - Seeded At The Table (3)Don't be discouraged if these do not turn out exactly right for you the first time. All kitchens and ovens perform differently, and sometimes recipes (especially bread ones!) take some practice. At least with this one the bread will not go to waste, since you can use the flat bloopers as a sandwich wrap, pizza crust or dip them into yummy hummus.

Other pita recipes I found helpful:

Brown Eyed Baker
The Fresh Loaf
Veg Recipes of India

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Homemade Pita Pockets - Easy Recipes for Family Time - Seeded At The Table (4)

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Homemade Pita Pockets

Prep Time1 hour hr 45 minutes mins

Cook Time15 minutes mins

Total Time2 hours hrs

Servings: 8 -9 pitas (16 servings)

Author: Nikki Gladd

Ingredients

  • 1 ¼ cup warm water (not hot)
  • 1 package instant yeast (about 2 ¼ teaspoons)
  • 1 Tablespoon sugar
  • 2 Tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 ½ cups whole wheat flour
  • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 ½ teaspoons salt

Instructions

  • Mix water, yeast, sugar and oil in a small bowl; set aside. Whisk together the flours and salt in a large bowl. Pour in the yeast mixture and mix together with wooden spoon until dough forms. If using a stand mixer, use the dough hook attachment to knead at medium speed for 10 minutes. Alternatively you can knead by hand for 10 minutes, until dough is smooth and elastic.

  • Transfer the dough to an oiled bowl, turning to cover with oil. Cover bowl tightly with plastic wrap or kitchen towel and let rise in warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.

  • Punch down dough and transfer to clean work surface lightly dusted with flour. Form 8 to 9 dough balls, cover with clean damp towel or plastic wrap and let rest for 20 minutes.

  • Working with one dough ball at a time on a clean and lightly floured work surface, use rolling pin to shape into about a 6-inch disc (or just smaller). Do not roll too thin. Place on a greased or lined baking sheet, cover with clean kitchen towel and let rest at room temperature for 10 minutes.

  • Preheat oven and baking stone to 450 degrees F. Bake 2 to 3 pitas at a time for 5 minutes. They should puff at around 3 minutes. When removing pitas from oven, do not remove the stone so to keep the stone hot. Wait 2 minutes before baking the next batch, to allow the stone to reheat to the correct temperature.

  • The pitas are best the same day they are baked. To preserve their freshness for another day, once they are cooled to room temperature, transfer to a freezer bag and store in the freezer for up to 2 months. Defrost in the microwave for about 20-30 seconds.

Notes

These pitas puff up beautifully so that when you slice into them they have the perfect pocket you need for your favorite gyro. You can alter the variation of flour used (e.g., use only all-purpose flour, or all whole wheat, or another combination) but my favorite is listed above.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g

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About Seeded At The Table

Thanks for visiting! We’re the Gladd family! We love donuts, Disney, LEGO and Jesus. Not in that order, of course. 🙂 Ben shares DIY wood-working projects and Nikki shares delicious recipes. You’ll also find a sprinkling of travel adventures and other family fun ideas!

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Homemade Pita Pockets - Easy Recipes for Family Time - Seeded At The Table (2024)

FAQs

How to keep pita bread warm for a party? ›

Wrap the flatbreads or pitas in aluminum foil to prevent them from becoming too crispy. Set the air fryer to 380°F and heat for about 3-5 minutes. This method evenly warms the bread while maintaining its texture, making it perfect for parties or family dinners.

What is the difference between Greek pita and pocket pita? ›

Greek pita bread is one of those lesser-known flatbreads that is often referred to as “Mediterranean Pita” or as “pocket-less pita”. Whereas the more common pita bread (sometimes called “Arabic pita”) has a hollow “pocket” that is usually stuffed, Greek pita bread is soft, slightly thicker and has no pocket.

How do you cut pita bread into pockets? ›

Instead of cutting your pita in half, cut just the top ¼ of it off. Then flip the top piece upside down, and use it to line the bottom of the pita pocket and reinforce the seam.

Are pita pockets healthier than bread? ›

Despite their difference in shape, pita and bread have similar ingredients - largely water, yeast, flour, and salt. Because of the similarity in ingredients, the nutrient profiles of pita and normal bread are basically identical.

Should you heat pita bread before eating? ›

Granted, you might be wondering if you can get away with serving only room temperature or even cold pita bread with this delectable dish. While you're more than welcome to do so, it does compromise the quality of the gyro plate since a nice heated piece of bread is by far better than cold.

How do you keep homemade pita bread fresh? ›

The baked pita will stay fresh for about 3 days stored in an airtight container or bag. Reheat before serving. You can also freeze the pita for up to three months. Finally, as with nearly all leavened breads, use the refrigerator as needed during the rising period.

Does homemade pita bread need to be refrigerated? ›

Recipe Notes

Storing the Dough: Once it has risen, the pita dough can be kept refrigerated until it is needed. You can also bake one or two pitas at a time, saving the rest of the dough in the fridge. The dough will keep refrigerated for about a week. Pitas That Won't Puff: Sometimes you get pitas that won't puff.

What is another name for pita pockets? ›

It includes the widely known version with an interior pocket, also known as Arabic bread (Arabic: خبز عربي; khubz ʿArabī). In the United Kingdom, Greek bread is used for pocket versions such as the Greek pita, and are used for barbecues as a souvlaki wrap.

Is a gyro the same as a pita? ›

The pita is a soft and leavened flatbread, generally round or oval. It is often used in pockets because that helps hold the fillings and can also be cut and used as a tortilla. On the other hand, Gyros is the meat filling inside the pita.

What can I use instead of pita pockets? ›

Naan can be used in place of pita bread for many dishes, adding a unique twist to traditional recipes. For example, instead of using a pita to make a gyro or falafel sandwich, you can use naan to create a delicious fusion dish.

How to stuff a pita pocket? ›

Instead of cutting the bread directly in half, trim a 1 ½" opening from the top. Flip that trimmed piece over and tuck it into the bottom of the pocket before filling it with whatever you happened to be craving. You're basically giving your pita a kevlar vest.

How do you puff a pita pocket? ›

A very hot oven rapidly creates the steam that puffs up the pita. Avoiding tears on the surface of each dough disk prevents the pitas from bursting and venting the steam in the oven. Flipping the pita over when placing it on the stone yields an even thickness of the pita walls.

How do you fill a pita? ›

Instead of cutting the bread directly in half, trim a 1 ½" opening from the top. Flip that trimmed piece over and tuck it into the bottom of the pocket before filling it with whatever you happened to be craving. You're basically giving your pita a kevlar vest.

Should pita bread have a pocket? ›

The pita, of course! Traditional pita bread is a round bread with a pocket in the middle. Pita bread must be cooked in ovens that can get extremely hot (at least 700° F). The pocket in a pita is made by steam, which puffs up the dough during the baking process.

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