Pita bread is so, so versatile. It can become the base for a quick pizza, or you can stuff it with delicious filling for an amazing sandwich. I made this recipe using bread flour and 00 flour, but I preferred using the 00 flour. It gave me a softer pita bread, and I also felt like it had more flavor. So, what is 00 flour? It’s a European flour used by Italians to make pasta and pizza crust. It has a protein content of 11-12% and its usually ground very fine; it feels like silk powder. The 00 flour can be bought online and isn’t limited to making pita bread. You can also use it to make an amazing pizza crust.
Once the bread is made, you can slice it in half, slice it in the middle, brush it with some olive oil, place it on a baking sheet and bake for 4-5 minutes. It’ll make amazing pita chips to be used with dips or cheeses. I brushed mine with olive oil, added some za’atar and baked it. In my house, we eat the chips with labneh or hummus.
Ingredients:
360 grams 00 (Double Zero) flour
150 grams all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon instant dry yeast
1 tablespoon plus 1/2 teaspoons olive oil
1 1/2 cups warm water
Method:
Place both flours in a large bowl. Add the salt and sugar and mix with a fork.
In a separate bowl, dissolve the yeast in warm water. Test the temperature of the water to make sure it’s between 100°-105°. It shouldn’t be hotter because it may kill the yeast.
Allow the yeast water to ferment for 5 minutes in a warm spot.
Add the olive oil and mix.
Slowly, start adding the liquid mixture to the flour mixture. The dough should come together. If it’s too dry, add 1 tablespoon of water until the mixture comes together.
Place on a work surface and continue kneading for 5 minutes.
Move the dough into a greased bowl and cover with plastic wrap.
Place in a warm place for the first rising, which will be about 2 hours.
Remove the dough from the bowl and place on a floured work area.
Divide the dough into 6-8 sections.
Roll each one out into a circle abut 7 inches wide.
Cover with a damp cloth and allow to rest for 45 minutes.
Preheat oven to 425°F. Place your circles on a parchment-lined baking sheet and place in the oven to cook for 7-9 minutes.
Serve warm with hummus or with baba ghanoush.
Pita Chips:
Cut the pita bread in half and slice each half in the middle.
Brush with olive oil and sprinkle on some Za’atar. Place on a cookie sheet and bake in a 425° oven for 4-5 minutes.
