Homemade Pita Bread Recipe - I Heart Naptime (2024)

This homemade pita bread recipe is made with simple ingredients and can be baked in the oven or made in the skillet. The results are soft and puffy pita with the perfect pocket inside.

If you love recreating Mediterranean recipes at home, you will want to try these other flavorful fresh dishes like Greek salad and this tzatziki!

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Fresh Homemade Pita Bread

There’s something about homemade bread that just can’t be beat. Whether it’s naan bread, breadsticks, french bread or rosemary focaccia it’s fresh and delicious. Homemade pita bread is a favorite and I love pairing it with homemade hummus!

This pita bread recipe can be made 2 ways – in the oven or on the stove. Cooking it on the stove is easier, however it results in a more chewy pita bread. If you want an authentic pita, I recommend to cook it in the oven and lightly mist the dough with water just before it goes in. This will help the dough puff up and become crispy, light and airy.

Pita Bread Ingredients

What I love about this recipe is that it only takes 5 ingredients to make! If you’ve never worked with yeast before, don’t be intimidated. It’s super simple and straightforward to proof the yeast.

• Active dry yeast
• Granulated sugar
• All-purpose flour
• Kosher or sea salt
• Olive oil

How to Make Pita Bread

There are 2 ways to make this homemade pita bread recipe from scratch. You can either make it in the oven or on the stove. Cooking it in the oven will result in a more airy and crispy bread, while the stove top method will result in a thicker, chewy texture.

• Make yeast mixture and let sit. Combine warm water, active dry yeast and sugar in a large bowl. Mix in 1/2 cup flour and let sit for 10 minutes, or until it has puffed up.
• Knead the dough, then let rise. Mix in olive oil and salt, then stir in remaining flour. Once it’s hard to stir, begin to knead with your hands (can also use electric mixer with dough hook). Continue kneading for 3-5 minutes, then form dough into ball and lightly cover with oil. Place in a bowl and cover with clean kitchen towel or plastic wrap. Let rise in a warm place for 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
• Divide into 8 pieces and let rise again. Punch down the dough and divide into eight pieces. Shape each piece into a ball and cover with a damp paper towel for 10-15 minutes.
• Roll into circles. On a lightly floured surface, use a rolling pin to roll out one piece of dough at a time into a circle about 1/8″ thick.
• Bake in the oven or on the stovetop. To bake in oven, place a pizza stone or cast iron skillet on the 2nd to bottom rack. Preheat oven to 475°F. When oven is hot, add 1-2 rolled out circles onto the pan. Close and cook for 2-3 minutes, or until the bread has puffed up with large bubbles. Flip and cook 1 more minute.

  For stovetop pita, brush 1/2 teaspoon oil onto a large cast iron skillet and heat over medium-heat. Once the pan is hot, place rolled out dough on top and let cook for 2-3 minutes. Once it has puffed up with large bubbles, flip and cook for 1 more minute. Remove to a plate and cover with a towel.

• Serve. Enjoy warm pita with your favorite meal!

Expert Tips

• Preheat baking stone or cast-iron: The dough coming into contact with the hot surface traps steam inside the pita and causes it to puff up.
• Fresh ingredients: Always ensure your flour and yeast are not expired.
• Flour your counter: If your dough sticks to the counter and tears while rolling, it may cause steam to escape while baking and puff properly.
• Pita size: Aim for 4-6 inches in width as larger pita sizes are harder to get perfectly flat.
• Keep warm: Once the bread is cooked, store in a tortilla warmer or in a warm towel until ready to serve.

Pita Bread Serving Suggestions

Homemade pita tastes great as a side to many dishes including my chicken tikka masala recipe. Here are some other ways I love to serve it:

• With dips: Pita bread tastes amazing served on a big Mezze platter with hummus or dill dip. We also love to dip in lemon tahini dressing!
• Salads: Mediterranean salad or cucumber tomato salad.
• Wrap: Make an authentic Greek wrap, such as a chicken gyro with tzatziki sauce.
• Pita pocket: Slice in half and stuff the pocket with your favorite fillings, such as chicken salad.
• Pizza: We love to make pita pizzas! Add your favorite toppings and bake in oven until crispy and melted, about 5-8 minutes.
• Pita chips: Homemade pita chips are so yummy! Check out this easy homemade pita chips recipe.

Storage and Freezer Instructions

This bread is best served warm and fresh. If there is extra, you can save it in an airtight container or bag at room temperature for 1-2 days. Italso freezes well too.

Place in a zip top freezer bag with a piece of parchment in between each piece (so that they don’t stick together). Store in the freezer for up to 3 months. When ready to enjoy, simply reheat in a damp towel.

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