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Written by Greek Boston in Authentic Greek Food Recipes, Greek Pastry and Greek Cake Recipes, Greek Pie and Pita Recipes Comments Off on Recipe for Greek Pita Bread
Pita bread is a staple of Greek cuisine. It is the bread used for gyros and it is often served with dips such as tzatziki and hummus. This recipe is fairly easy to put together, but it does take some time because you need to wait for the doughto rise before you can bake it.
Greek Pita BreadIngredients:
- 1 envelope dry yeast
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 1/2 cups warm water
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
How to Bake Pita Bread :
Empty the packet of yeast into a small bowl and gently mix in the sugar. Add 1/2 cup of the warm water and gently stir to mix. Let the mixtures stand for about 10 minutes. At this point, the sugar should have activated the yeast and formed bubbles on the surface of the water. If this hasn’t happened after 10 minutes, discard the mixture and start again. This is the easiest way to determine if the yeast will activate!
Add the rest of the warm water to a separate bowl and mix in the salt. Stir until it completely dissolves.Place all of the flour in the center of a large mixing bowl and make a holein the center of the flour. Pour the yeast mixture and the water and salt mixture into the well. Mix for a few seconds with a wooden spoon, switching with your hands when the ingredients are combined.
After mixing for a minute or two, you’ll want to assess the dough. If it is sticky, add more flour in very small amounts. The dough should be smooth and moist, but it shouldn’t stick to your fingers. If it becomes too dry, mix ina little more warm water.
Once the dough is the perfect consistency, you’ll want to knead it with your hands for 10-15 minutes. Your goal is to work the dough so that it becomes smooth. You’ll know it’s ready because when you pinch the dough, it should slowly snap back into place. At this point, you’ll want to slowly knead in the oil until it’s fully combined into the dough.
Brush a large bowl with olive oil and place the dough in the center. Spread more olive oil over the top of the dough and cover it with a large towel. Place the dough in a warm, dry place to allow it to rise. You’ll want to let it rise until it’s about twice the size. This should take around 2 hours, but it could take less depending on how warm and dry the air is.
Punch the dough down once it’s done rising and knead it gently for about 2 minutes to release the air bubbles.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Cut the dough into 2-inchpieces and roll them into balls. Roll each ball until it’s about 1/4 inch thick. You can use more or less dough for each piece depending on the size that you want your pita bread.
Brush several baking sheets with oil. Lay the pita bread flat on each cookie sheet, spaced about 1-2 inches apart. Each standard-sized baking sheet should have 2 or 3 pita breads on it, depending on the size. Place the baking sheet on the lower rack and cook the pita bread for 2-3 minutes, or until they become soft. Make sure to only cook one sheet at a time. Remove the pita breads from the oven and wrap them in a dry towel to cool. If not using the pitas right away, store them in an airtight container after they cool down.
**Please Note: Recommended cook times for GreekBoston.com Greek recipes vary depending on elevation, environmental conditions, the cookware being used, and the nature of the oven or stove. Although we have given approximations, these don’t always take into account your unique environment.
PLEASE NOTE: Greek recipes can be slightly different based on a variety of reasons, such as the region of Greece that the recipe is being made in. If you have seen this Greek recipe made another way, please send us an email to greekboston@worldwidegreeks.com and we will evaluate your suggestion. Thanks!
Categorized in: Authentic Greek Food Recipes, Greek Pastry and Greek Cake Recipes, Greek Pie and Pita Recipes
This post was written by Greek Boston
FAQs
Greek pita bread is one of those lesser-known flatbreads that is often referred to as “Mediterranean Pita” or as “pocket-less pita”. Whereas the more common pita bread (sometimes called “Arabic pita”) has a hollow “pocket” that is usually stuffed, Greek pita bread is soft, slightly thicker and has no pocket.
Is Greek pita bread good for you? ›
Like other whole-grain foods, pita bread can and should be included in a healthy diet and may provide significant health benefits. Eating more whole-grain, complex carbohydrates instead of refined grains has been associated with reduced risk of heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and obesity.
Is naan the same as Greek pita? ›
Naan bread is more moist and tender than pita bread. This is due to the added ghee (butter oil) and soybean or canola oil, which increases the total fat to 10 g versus the 5 g in the pita, which contains only a small amount of oil. The naan bread also has double the amount of sodium that is in the pita.
Is gyro bread and pita bread the same? ›
The pita is more prevalent, and gyros have been around for a short time. The pita is a soft and leavened flatbread, generally round or oval. It is often used in pockets because that helps hold the fillings and can also be cut and used as a tortilla. On the other hand, Gyros is the meat filling inside the pita.
What is the healthiest pita bread to eat? ›
Choose whole wheat varieties, which contain more fiber and nutrients. Choose lower sodium options, especially if you are watching your blood pressure. Select pita bread with higher fiber and/or protein content which will help keep you full.
What does opa put on their pita bread? ›
tzatziki and topped with your choice of onions, tomatoes, lettuce, fresh jalapeno peppers and feta cheese.
What do you eat with Greek pita bread? ›
Here're 7 Side Dishes To Pair With Pita Bread:
- Hummus (Our Recommendation) Hummus is the most popular side dish paired with pita bread. ...
- Tzatziki. Tzatziki is a traditional Greek dip made from yogurt, cucumber, olive oil and garlic. ...
- Chicken Caesar Salad. ...
- Grilled Vegetables. ...
- Tabouli. ...
- Falafel. ...
- Roasted Sweet Potato.
In Greek, pita (πίτα) is understood by default to refer to the thicker, pocketless Greek pita, whereas the thinner khubz-style pita is referred to as aravikí pita (αραβική πίτα, lit. "Arabic pastry").
How do you eat Greek pita bread? ›
Fun Ways to Eat Pita Bread
- Toasted Pita Triangles. Toast pita bread in the oven or under a broiler. ...
- Use Pita as a Spoon. Pieces of pita can be used as a spoon for bean dishes like ful medammes, or for finely chopped salads like tabouleh. ...
- Pizza Pitas. ...
- Toasted Pita Bread. ...
- Peanut Butter and Jelly Pita. ...
- Pita Bread Hot Dogs.
Eating pita bread by itself may not be fattening, but it depends on the rest of your diet and overall calorie intake. While pita bread is a healthy option in moderation, consuming too many calories from any source can lead to weight gain over time. The key is to practice moderation and balance in your diet.
Pita bread brings other health benefits to you as well. For instance, it is low in calories and great for reducing cholesterol and blood sugar. It is a daily staple for millions across the globe due to its expansive nutrient profile.
Are gyros served on pita or naan? ›
The word gyro actually refers to the way the meat is cooked on the vertical rotisserie and sliced into thin strips. In most places in the US however, it refers to the pita rollup the meat is served to you on, and the other fillings inside.
Which is healthier pita or naan? ›
Naan boasts twice the fiber of pita, yet 60% more sugar ( 2 , 10 ). It's worth noting that naan is twice the weight of pita and 1.5 times the weight of two slices of bread. Simply put, naan is more nutrient-dense than pita or white bread.
Is pita eaten in Greece? ›
Pita bread is from the Middle East. In Greece, it's a relatively recent import. Until a few years ago, it was used almost exclusively for gyros, a street food that's based off of Turkish doner.
Is Greek pita bread different? ›
The Greek pita resembles very much the Arabic flatbread, but unlike them, our pita breads are leavened. Their taste is neutral and pita are soft and flexible so that it can wrap around the grilled meat and tzatziki or home-made gyros I made last week.
What are the two types of pitas? ›
In Greek, pita (πίτα) is understood by default to refer to the thicker, pocketless Greek pita, whereas the thinner khubz-style pita is referred to as aravikí pita (αραβική πίτα, lit. "Arabic pastry").
What is the difference between Greek and Middle Eastern pita? ›
Greek pita tends to hold its shape more whereas Middle Eastern pita bread can fall apart if it's not too fresh. Both types of flatbreads are delicious and useful in their own right. At the end of the day, both cultures share so much in common that the differences are quite indistinguishable at times.
Is there different types of pita bread? ›
There are several types of Greek pita breads, including: Pita Gyro: This is a thin, round pita bread that is often used to make gyros. Pita Souvlaki: This is a thicker, round pita bread that is used to make souvlaki. Pita Dolmades: This is a thin, elongated pita bread that is used to wrap stuffed vine leaves.
Pita bread is a staple of Greek cuisine. It is the bread used for gyros and it is often served with dips such as tzatziki and hummus. This recipe is fairly easy to put together, but it does take some time because you need to wait for the doughto rise before you can bake it.