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pita bread
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Pita Pockets

Pita bread that really puffs up into pockets when cooked at a high heat.
Course Bread
Cuisine American
Keyword Pita, Pockets
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 6
Author Cookie Madness

Ingredients

  • 1 ¼ cups warm water 110 degrees to 115 degrees F
  • 1 packet active dry yeast instant yeast okay too, see note
  • 2 ½ teaspoons granulated sugar
  • 1 ½ teaspoons salt
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour (380 grams)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil or as needed for the bowl

Instructions

  • Put the water in bowl of a stand mixer. Add yeast and stir to dissolve. Add sugar, salt and flour. Stir well. Dough should be a little sticky. Using dough hook, knead for about 5 minutes or until you have a smooth and elastic dough. After kneading, it will be smooth and elastic and a tiny bit slippery.
  • Rub a second bowl with the olive oil, transfer dough to oily bowl, roll dough around in the bowl to coat with oil. Cover with plastic wrap and let it rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk (an hour).
  • Punch down dough and shape dough into 6 rounds (mine were more like gobs, but not ridiculously sticky). Set the rounds on a parchment lined cookie sheet to rest for about 15 minutes.
  • Alternatively, set each round on a small square of parchment paper (about 6 inches). If using this method, you may be able to skip any extra flour and just rely on the oiliness of the dough.
  • Meanwhile, put a cast-iron skillet in the oven and preheat the oven to 500 degrees F. While oven preheats, (and after dough has rested) take one of the dough gobs, and shape it into about a 5 inch round (Try for an even thickness) on a surface lightly coated with flour. Use just enough flour to keep it from sticking.
  • If using the alternate method with individual pieces of parchment, take one of your dough rounds that you've set on a piece of parchment, press it into a 5 inch round right on the parchment, then lift the parchment and flip the pressed dough piece right down onto the hot skillet. Put the skillet with the dough, parchment still sticking to the top, right in the oven and set timer for 5 minutes. After 3 minutes, very carefully pull the parchment off the cooked pita, flip it and cook for another 2 minutes.
  • With a couple of hot pads, carefully remove the hot skillet from the oven and set on another hot pad. Transfer the dough round to the hot skillet trying your best to keep it in its 5 inch (ish) circle.
  • Quickly put the skillet back in the oven and cook for 3-5 minutes. My pitas took 3 minutes. Repeat with remaining 5 pitas. Makes 6 pitas.

Notes

My pitas seem to puff up more when I use all-purpose flour. Also, if using quick rise or instant yeast, add the yeast with the flour and have the water between 120 and 130 degrees F.