Pita Bread

Total Time: 45 mins Preparation Time: 40 mins Cook Time: 5 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 6
• 1/4 cup water
• 2 teaspoons active dry yeast
• 3 cups self rising flour
• olive oil

Recipe

• 1 basic steps: proof; mix; knead; rise; portion; rise; bake.
• 2 mix yeast, sugar and 1/4 c of warm water in a small bowl. set aside to proof yeast, about 10 minutes.
• 3 in a large bowl, pour in yeast mixture, then flour, olive oil and salt. with a wooden spoon mix in about 1/2 cup of the remaining warm water. add water a tablespoon at a time as needed to make a firm dough. knead by hand for about 8-10 minutes till smooth.
• 4 wipe a large bowl with a little oil, add dough and cover with plastic. let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
• 5 punch down dough and knead briefly. cut into 6 equal pieces. roll pieces into balls, place on a cookie sheet and cover with plastic wrap. let rise till doubled again, another 20-30 minutes.
• 6 preheat oven to 400°. roll out each ball into a 6-7" round, taking care not to pierce dough surface (or pita won't puff).
• 7 place rounds on a cookie sheet, brush each generously with olive oil, and bake about 5-8 minutes till tops begin to brown and pitas puff.