Pita bread is a flat bread with an air pocket in the middle. It is great for making pizza’s, pizza pockets and sandwiches of many kinds melted cheese ones or regular sandwiches. This pita bread recipe you can also add in herbs if you want more flavor in it like a garlic flavor or herbs like rosemary and make a more Italian flavored bread. I will include these ideas in my step-by-step instructions below. If you would like the recipe you can find it herehttps://bakingmamalife.com/?page_id=91
Step-by-Step Instructions
To start out you will want to gather your ingredients and utensils.
First, we are going to mix 1 cup lukewarm water, 1 Tablespoon sugar, 2 1/4 teaspoon active dry yeast and 1 cup of flour. After it is all mix together set aside for 15 minutes. You should be able to see bubbles starting to appear like this.
Next you will add 1 tablespoon of olive oil, 1 1/2 cups flour and 1 3/4 teaspoon salt ( I always use less salt). If you are wanting to add some garlic or herbs this would be the time to do it. 1-2 tsp of garlic would be good for a garlic bread or 1-2 teaspoons of rosemary would be good and for an Italian herb bread you could put 1 teaspoon basil, 1/2 tsp garlic and 1/4 tsp oregano. You will be mixing the flour and salt in with a dough hook until it is not sticky anymore. You can add a little bit more flour if needed.
Now you will knead the dough for 5-6 minutes. I knead my dough in the bowl.
Form the dough into a ball and lightly oil the bowl and roll the dough ball in it so it gets oil on it. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and I put mine in the microwave. Before I put the dough in the microwave I turn it on for a minute to warm it up and then put the bowl int the microwave. Doing this helps speed up the rising process.
Let rise for about an hour or until double in size.
After it has risen double in size take out of bowl and put on floured surface. You will want to cut the dough in eight pieces. I cut it in half and then the pieces in half and then those four pieces in half to get a total of 8 pieces of dough.
Form each piece of dough into a ball by pulling the edges underneath.
Place on a floured surface and place plastic wrap over the balls of dough and let rest for 15-30 minutes. I did for maybe 15 minutes.
Once the balls of dough have rested take rolling pin and roll out each ball into a flat round disk about 1/4inch thick. Let them rest for 10-30minutes. The longer they sit the more likely they will form a pocket . I let them sit for 30minutes.
Brush a skillet or cast iron skillet with some oil and turn on medium heat. Once it is heated up place one of your dough disks in the pan and cook for 1-2 minutes and then flip and cook the second side for the same amount of time. They will puff up which is good because that is what forms the pocket inside.
Step-by-Step Sandwich Instructions
I will show you how i make my chicken pesto sandwiches and pizzas. First here are the ingredients you will need. Pizza sauce, pesto, shredded parmesan cheese, gouda cheese, swiss cheese and shredded cheese.
Now you need to decide what kinds of sandwiches you are wanting to make. A flat sandwich or a pocket sandwich. Here is how you can cut the two different ways.
Now go ahead and spread the pesto on the flat bread and/or squirt some pizza sauce in the pocket.
Next, put gouda cheese on one side of the pita bread and swiss cheese on the other side.
Add the chicken on one side of the flat sandwich and fill the pocket with chicken.
After you put the chicken on, sprinkle some shredded parmesan cheese on top of the chicken.
Now you will preheat the oven to 350 degrees and place your sandwiches and pita pockets on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper and cook until the cheese is melted.
put the two halfs together and your sandwich is done! let cool a little bit and enjoy!
