Pita Bread

I love experimenting with making breads.  I love learning about breads from other cultures.  One of my favorite breads to eat is pita bread - a flat bread popular in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern countries.

Here are the ingredients:

1 1/2 teaspoons yeast
1 teaspoon sugar
3 1/2 - 4 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups warm water
2 Tablespoons olive oil

To begin, put 1/2 cup warm water, salt, sugar, and yeast in a mixing bowl.  Wait a few minutes and make sure that your yeast is active.  You will know it is active because the mixture will start to bubble or foam up.

Once you know your yeast is active, slowly add the flour, olive oil and water, alternating between them.

Once the dough balls up on your dough hook, it is ready.  Put the dough in a well oiled bowl.  Set the bowl in a warm place and cover it with a towel.  Let the dough rise for 30 minutes.

Punch the dough down and break into 8-10 smaller pieces.  Roll the small pieces out, using flour to keep the dough from sticking.

Heat a cast iron skillet.  Put a little oil so that the bread doesn't stick as it cooks.  Brown the bread on each side and keep warm until serving.

For a healthier version or to allow the bread to form a "pocket," place in the oven to cook.  The bread will bubble up and form a pocket.  You can stuff the pocket with goodies.  I cooked mine with the cast iron skillet because I used the bread to make gyros!

Enjoy!