How to Make Traditional Pita Breads - A Step-by-Step Guide

Traditional pita breads are a staple in Middle Eastern cuisine and have been enjoyed for centuries. These soft and fluffy flatbreads are perfect for scooping up dips, wrapping around fillings, or simply enjoying on their own. Made with just a few simple ingredients, including flour, water, yeast, and salt, traditional pita breads are surprisingly easy to make at home. Plus, there's nothing quite like the taste and texture of a freshly baked pita straight from the oven.

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Ingredients

  • 1 package active dry yeast
  • 1 ¼ cups warm water (100 to 110 degrees F/40 to 45 degrees C)
  • 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour, or as needed - divided
  • 1 ½ teaspoons salt
  • ¼ cup vegetable shortening

Information

  • Prep Time: 30 mins
  • Cook Time: 10 mins
  • Additional Time: 40 mins
  • Total Time: 1 hr 20 mins
  • Servings: 12
  • Yield: 1 dozen pita breads

  • Sprinkle yeast over warm water in a mixing bowl and allow to stand until the yeast forms a creamy foam, about 5 minutes. Mix in 2 cups of flour, salt, and shortening; beat for 2 minutes with a fork. Stir in as much of the remaining 1 1/2 cup flour as needed.
  • Turn dough out onto a floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, kneading in more flour if dough is sticky. Form into a ball, cover with a kitchen towel, and let rest in a warm area for 15 minutes.
  • Preheat oven to 500 degrees F (260 degrees C).
  • Divide dough into 12 equal portions; flour your hands and roll each piece into a ball. Cover dough balls with a kitchen towel and let rest for 10 minutes. Flatten the balls into rounds on a floured surface, cover with kitchen towel, and let rest 10 more minutes. Gently roll each dough ball into a circle about 6 inches in diameter on a floured surface. Place pita breads in a single layer on ungreased baking sheets.
  • Bake in preheated oven until the pita breads puff up, 3 to 4 minutes. Flip breads over with a spatula, return to oven, and bake 2 more minutes. Let cool on wire racks before cutting pita breads in half and gently separating tops and bottoms to form pockets for filling.
  • Nutrition

    172 cal.

    • Total Fat: 5g
    • Saturated Fat: 1g
    • Sodium: 292mg
    • Total Carbohydrate: 28g
    • Dietary Fiber: 1g
    • Total Sugars: 0g
    • Protein: 4g
    • Calcium: 7mg
    • Iron: 2mg
    • Potassium: 51mg