Khubz Arabi - Pita Bread
This fluffy hollow bread is perfect for stuffing with whatever you like.
Servings: 8 rounds
Ingredients
- 1 ¾ cup warm water
- 1 tsp active dry yeast
- 2 Tbsp oil (plus extra for greasing bowl) safflower, organic canola, sunflower, or any other mild tasting oil
- 4 cups bread flour
- ¼ cup whole wheat flour can be substituted with all purpose, if needed
- 3 tsp kosher salt
Instructions
Preparing the Dough:
- Place your yeast, warm water, and oil in the bowl of your stand mixer, or a large mixing bowl. Allow to sit for 5-10 minutes.
- Add your flours and salt to the yeast mixture, and using a dough hook (or a spatula), mix the ingredients until a dough forms, occasionally scraping any flour on the sides of the bowl. Using a dough hook or your hands - knead (stand mixer: medium speed) for 4 minutes until the dough is pliable.
- Place in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with a cloth, and allow to rise for one hour.
- Remove from the bowl, fold each side towards the middle to form a round, flip upside down, then place back in the bowl and rest for another hour.
- Repeat the folding again, and then rise for a final time - for at least 2 hours (or in the refrigerator for up to 2 days - make sure to oil the top of your dough if you do this so that it doesn't harden, and cover the dough with plastic wrap.
Baking the Bread:
- Preheat your oven and either a baking stone or a sheet pan to 500°F/260°C. Set a timer for an hour. Place the baking stone / sheet close to the broiler (but no closer than 6" (15cm) from the coils, as you do not want the bread to puff up and touch it / burn.
- Create a log shape with the dough and cut into eight equal parts (I use a kitchen scale to help ensure they are evenly-sized. Knead each piece and shape into a ball, then roll thinly until they are around 8" (20cm) in diameter.
- Once the hour of oven heating has elapsed, turn on your broiler. Two or three at a time (depending on size) drop your flattened rounds on to the stone / sheet. They will take anywhere between 30 seconds to 2 minutes to puff up and cook / brown. Once one side is almost fully browned use tongs to flip it over and cook the other side.
- Place cooked pita in a bowl or plate with a clean cloth to cover and keep warm.
