Soft & Fluffy Homemade Pita Bread
Pillowy, warm, and perfect for sandwiches, dips, wraps, or butter!
Ingredients (Clear & Simple)
Dry Ingredients
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3 ½ cups (450 g) all-purpose flour
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1 tsp salt
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2 tsp instant yeast
(or 1 packet = 7 g)
Wet Ingredients
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1 cup (240 ml) warm water
(Warm, not hot — about 40°C / 105°F) -
2 tbsp sugar
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2 tbsp olive oil
(or any mild-tasting oil)
Instructions
1. Prepare the Dough
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In a large bowl, mix:
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Warm water
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Sugar
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Yeast
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Let sit 5 minutes until the yeast becomes slightly foamy.
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Add:
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Flour
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Salt
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Olive oil
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Mix and knead 8–10 minutes until the dough becomes smooth and soft.
(It should feel slightly sticky but easy to handle.)
2. First Rise
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Cover the bowl with a towel or plastic wrap.
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Let rise 1 hour or until doubled in size.
3. Shape the Pitas
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Punch down the dough to release air.
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Divide into 10–12 equal balls.
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Let them rest 10 minutes — this makes the pitas extra soft.
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Roll each ball into a flat circle about ½ inch (1 cm) thick.
4. Second Rise
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Place the circles on parchment paper.
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Cover and let rise 20–30 minutes.
5. Cooking Options
Option A — Oven (best puff and golden color)
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Preheat to 230°C / 450°F.
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Bake for 8–12 minutes until lightly golden and puffed.
Option B — Stove / Pan (softest flatbread style)
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Heat a nonstick pan over medium-high.
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Cook each pita 1–2 minutes per side.
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Keep cooked pitas covered with a towel to stay warm and soft.
6. Serve With
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Hummus
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Shawarma, kebab, or falafel
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Butter & honey
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Cheese spreads
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Chicken or veggie wraps
Q & A Section
Q: Why didn’t my pita puff?
A: Usually because:
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Dough wasn’t rolled evenly
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Pan/oven wasn’t hot enough
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Dough was too dry
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Second rise was skipped
Even without puffing, it will still be delicious!
Q: Can I use whole wheat flour?
A: Yes — replace 1–1.5 cups with whole wheat.
The pitas will be slightly denser but still soft.
Q: Can I freeze pita dough or cooked pita?
A: Yes!
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Dough: Freeze after shaping into balls.
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Cooked pita: Freeze in a zip bag and reheat in a warm pan.
Q: Can I make these without yeast?
A: Not the same. Yeast gives the classic puffed, soft pita texture.
(If you want a no-yeast flatbread, I can give you that recipe too.)
Q: How do I keep pitas soft?
A:
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Cover them immediately with a towel after cooking.
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Do not overbake — that makes them dry.
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Use slightly sticky dough for best softness.
