First off, you are welcome for the 1980’s Billy Ocean song reference. So sorry if it is stuck in your head for the rest of the day. It’s quite the catchy little tune, right?
So… pita bread. I love it, don’t you? Do you want to know what I love even more? Homemade pita bread! I just made it for the first time and holy moly, never again will I go back to buying pita bread in the store.
My dreams of making pita bread began when I started reading The Hunger Games series. You know, with Peeta being a bread baker and all, every time I read his name (which as you know, is all the time in those books) my mind wandered off to pita bread.
Then, while visiting Chicago recently, Cheryl and I ran over to a place called the Sweetwater Tavern and Grill for an afternoon snack. Their artichoke dip with fresh herb pita bread was incredible. Needless to say I’ve been dreaming of homemade pita bread ever since.
Everything came full circle yesterday when I sent a tweet about the pita bread at Sweetwater Tavern and Grill to Velva. As soon as I sent that tweet, my mouth started craving pita bread and this time, I wasn’t going to let it slip by. I decided to head over to my favorite site for yeast bread recipes and get hooked up with some homemade pita bread, pronto.
Homemade pita bread is easy to make, and I went an even simpler route by entrusting my bread machine to do most of the work. When the oven opened, and the smell of homemade bread made it’s way through the house, I soon had a kitchen full of family members, ready to try out this delicious bread. It was so good that I had to threaten my kids within an inch of their lives to not eat the last few pieces. You see, I hadn’t taken pictures for you yet and I needed to save some bread for this morning when there would be some natural light to photograph the last couple of pieces.
If you have been craving homemade pita bread, or even if you just now realized you need some of this in your life, go make some, asap. In the words of Billy Ocean, get out of my dreams… (and into my mouth!) Enjoy!
If you are on a low-carb or Keto diet and still craving soft, fluffy bread like these pita’s, give this Low Carb Cloud Bread a try. It’s a great alternative to pita bread!
Homemade Pita Bread
Ingredients
- 3¾ teaspoon active dry yeast
- 2 cups water
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- ¼ cup oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 5 cups bread flour
Instructions
- Place the ingredients in your bread machine in the order recommended by the manufacturer (for me it is liquids first, followed by sugar and salt, then flour, and finally the yeast gets added within a well in the flour)
- Start your dough cycle.
- Once your dough cycle is complete, divide dough into 16 pieces (I use kitchen shears for ease). Roll out each piece into a 7-inch circle. Cover and let rise 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, preheat oven to 500°F. Place ungreased baking sheet on lowest rack in oven (although I did use parchment paper). Quickly transfer a few pitas at a time to heated baking sheet; bake 3 to 4 minutes or until puffed and light brown around the edges. Cool between damp tea towels. Pitas will collapse and soften upon cooling.
Disclosure: This blog post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
They turned out absolutely perfect! I use to eat pita sandwiches all the time growing up but never have had homemade. I bet it tastes amazing 🙂
You have to try making your own sometime, especially if you are a pita sandwiches girl! You’ll think they are great!
LOVE the idea of using bread machine for pita. Can’t wait to give it a try. Katniss would approve of this recipe I’m sure!
🙂 Yes, she would!
Thanks so very much for getting that song stuck in my head for the rest of the afternoon. I’m excited to try your recipe. I’ve tried one other for pita bread and it didn’t puff. I was so disappointed.
Did yours have a pocket on the inside? Are the pita breads pictured hollow/puffed? Or is that what it looked like collapsed? Thanks!!
You are certainly welcome for that 😉 I should have taken a picture of the inside – here is an iphone pic. They were puffy then collapsed but still hollow – http://followgram.me/i/182645933251638794_3912188 Hope that helps 🙂
These look amazing! I can’t wait to try them!
I hope you do, Julie. And thank you!
These turned out beautiful, Kristen. We love that you love making our recipes 🙂 Happy baking!
As always, thanks for sharing such great recipes!
Could you do the same thing in a Kitchenaid mixer with a dough hook? Looks yummy, but I got rid of my bread machine because I never used it.
Yes! You absolutely could. The KitchenAid dough hook is just as good as a bread machine for making things a bit easier. Here is the link to the non-bread machine version, in case you need that:
http://www.redstaryeast.com/our-best-recipes/breads-rolls-and-more/pita-bread
I love homemade pita bread, but I have never tried it using a bread machine. I am so excited to try this recipe….very, very soon. 🙂
Do you have a favorite non-bread machine recipe? Would love to see what you use!
Kristen, I used Annie’s Eats Pita Bread recipe. http://cookingformykids.com/2012/01/04/pita-bread/ It was delicious. I am totally trying the bread machine one, too, because sometimes it is just so much easier to put everything in there and forget about it for a couple of hours. 🙂
I never would have thought it would be so simple to make pita bread at home!
Me neither – but it is! And so good. Your boys would love it, Patsy!
Kristin, your pita bread looks like pillows of total JOY!! Wish I could dive into a few pieces right now 🙂
Thanks so much, Marla 🙂
That bread is gorgeous! Makes me wanna reach out and grab a big piece!
It was so good – thanks for your kind words 🙂
One of my favorite breads! love it
One of mine too – so glad to be making it at home now!
This bread looks absolutely delicious, your photos are stunning and I can’t wait to try and make it gluten-free. Thanks so much for sharing!
Thanks so very much! Let me know if you do end up making it. Would love to see your adaptations.
Yum! We have Lebanese carry-out almost once a week but they give the carry-out orders the not-so-great pita bread and save the good fresh stuff for the eat-in customers. I NEED to try this!
Well that’s not very nice! You need to start making your own… give the carry-out disservice a boot!
Thank you for sharing the recipe. I will put it in my recipe list and I will try to make that one. I love experimenting any recipes and I will try to create pita bread. It seems pita bread is nice to try and eat.
Kristen, YOU are my new hero for making your own pita bread! 🙂
You crack me up – you too could be a hero 🙂 It’s really easy to make!
That pita bread looks lovely! I’ve always wanted to make some, but I’ve never gotten around to it. I need to add that to my baking list ASAP. I’m now dreaming up all sorts of things to stuff it with. 🙂
I know! I can’t wait to make it again so I can actually use the pita’s for the way they were meant to be used… stuffed full of yummy things!
There’s nothing like fresh pita bread, yours looks so fluffy and delicious! Lots of room in there for fun stuffing 🙂
It’s so good! Can’t wait to make another batch to fill with delicious stuffing!
You are the devil. I’m going to be forced to make this just because I won’t be able to stop thinking about it.
There is nothing better than homemade bread and thanks to you, now I’m craving warm pita bread and hummus! Gorgeous photos, Kristen!
That sounds so good! They look so light and fluffy.
I’m going to have to give these a try, they look like clouds of yummy goodness!
Those pita pockets have turned out BAKERY-PERFECT!
I have to tell you that I read this post right before I turned off the computer last night. And I couldn’t get Billy Ocean out of my head!! Oh well…this morning I was reminded to come back and comment and print off this recipe. Gorgeous pitas! Can’t wait to slather some hummus on some of my own!
Oh I must try this………..then season some like we had with that dip!
I have always wanted to make my own pita bread, and I think you just inspired me!!
OMG! I’ve got to try these! I love your photos! Feel free to link up your recipe to my Melt in Your Mouth Monday Blog Hop!
http://www.makeaheadmealsforbusymoms.com/melt-in-your-mouth-monday-blog-hop-64/
Homemade pita is the best! Love your photos too!
I’ve never had a bread machine. Maybe Mother’s Day would be a good time to ask for one?
SO cool! My husband recently bought me a bread machine and i have been looking for some cool things to make! Yey!
These look amazing! Im about to put my dough on… Do you think these would be ok to freeze as well?
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Has anyone tried this recipe with “alternate” flours? Perhaps a combination of teff and oat, maybe a bit of wheat if needed? Thank you!
These pittas look sooooo good must try them. Thanks for the recipe, wonderful photos and easy instructions.
Any suggestions as to what type of dip would be best o accompany these pita breads? Thanks for the recipe, looks fab.