Pita Bread

🥘 Ingredients

• active dry yeast
  2 tsp
• lukewarm water
  1 c
• olive oil
  2 tbsp
• salt
  1 tsp
• sugar
  1/2 tsp
• unbleached all-purpose flour
  285 g

🍳 Cookware

• large bowl
• large mixing bowl
• plastic wrap
• oven
• pizza steel
• parchment paper
• damp towel
• rolling pin
• wire rack

1. 1

   In a large bowl , combine active dry yeast and sugar with lukewarm water . Whisk to dissolve.

   active dry yeast: 2 tsp, sugar: 1/2 tsp, lukewarm water: 1 c
2. 2

   Add unbleached all-purpose flour and whisk to dissolve.

   unbleached all-purpose flour: 65 g
3. 3

   Let rest for ⏱️ 15 minutes , until frothy and bubbly.
4. 4

   Add salt , olive oil , and unbleached all-purpose flour , keeping the remaining 60g of flour in reserve.

   salt: 1 tsp, olive oil: 2 tbsp, unbleached all-purpose flour: 220 g
5. 5

   Stir until the mixture forms a shaggy mass. Dust with some of the reserved flour, then knead in the bowl for ⏱️ 1 minute .
6. 6

   Turn the dough onto a work surface. Knead lightly for ⏱️ 2 minutes , let rest for ⏱️ 10 minutes , then knead again for ⏱️ 2 minutes . Use the minimum amount of your reserve flour. The dough should be soft, moist, and slightly tacky, while still being easy to handle.
7. 7

   Clean and lightly grease your large mixing bowl . Put the dough back in, cover it tightly with plastic wrap .
8. 8

   Let rise for ⏱️ 1 hour , until doubled in size.
9. 9

   While the dough is rising, preheat your oven to 475 ºF. Place your pizza steel on the bottom rack of your oven to get it nice and hot for ⏱️ 1 hour .
10. 10

    After your dough has risen, punch it down and divide into 8 equal pieces.
11. 11

    Roll each piece into a little ball and place them on your work surface or a piece of parchment paper . Cover them with a damp towel .
12. 12

    Let rest for ⏱️ 10 minutes .
13. 13

    Working one or two at a time, take the balls and flatten them into disks using a rolling pin . You should be shooting for around 8" in diameter and between 1/8" and 1/4" thickness.
14. 14

    Take your disks and place them directly on your cooking surface.
15. 15

    Let your pitas bake for ⏱️ 2 minutes on one side, at which point they will be nicely puffed. Then flip and bake for ⏱️ 1 minute . The pitas should be largely pale with some brown spots.
16. 16

    After removing from the oven, place them on a wire rack to cool.