pita bread

I am a baker at heart.  Bread being the center of the universe!  

These Whole Wheat Pitas are some of my favorites.  In this picture they are hot from the oven and still puffed up like little blow fish.  As they cool they will deflate.

I love a tender whole wheat bread.  That sad dense loaf of my youth was so depressing.  For my baking I find whole wheat from the white wheat grain is much easier to work with that what we are used to.  Traditionally the whole wheat flour in our grocery stores is made from red wheat.  

Both styles of whole wheat are very healthy.  The only difference is that the red wheat has more protein.  I can live with a little less protein.  I am finding it in most of the grocery stores even in my tiny little town.  If you don't see it in your grocery King Arthur Flour's website offers it online. 

Pitas are such an easy bread.  They magically puff up forming the pocket.

This is the recipe i use.

Pita Bread

2 1/2 teaspoons instant yeast

1 Tablespoon sugar

1 1/2 cups warm water ( if humid reduce water by 3 tablespoons)

3 1/2 cups white whole wheat flour 

3 Tablespoons of good olive oil  (I use an olive oil infused with basil or rosemary)

1 teaspoon salt

In the pan of your bread maker, on dough only setting, place the ingredients in order.  If you like you can do this by had or in a stand mixer.  On the dough only setting the machine will take your dough trough the first rise.

Gently remove the dough and form into as log about 10 inches long.  at this point put your pizza stone or a cookie sheet if a stone is not available, in the oven and preheat to 475 degrees.

Take the log and cut into 8 equal parts.  Roll each part into a ball.  set the balls aside to rise for 15 minutes.  When risen just slightly roll each ball into 9 inch discs.  With a large spatula or pizza peel place each disc onto the stone 2 at a lime.  about an inch apart.  Bake 5 minutes.  DO NOT OPEN THE OVEN!  They will not puff correctly if you do.

Remove pitas to a cooling rack and slide 2 more discs onto the stone.  Repeat till all 8 discs have been baked.

Cool completely and enjoy.

These pitas freeze very well.