Tyler Florence's Pita Bread (Bread Machine, Dough Cycle)

P.B.&Jayne's Note:

I don't know if Tyler Florence would approve of the use of a bread machine to knead his pita bread recipe. I think it works wonderfully. Fresh pita bread is like a loaf of homemade bread. The flavor, texture and fragrance can't be compared with the store bought variety. I think this goes well with Paula Wolfert's Hummus which I also submitted to RecipeZaar. This recipe uses a Pizza Stone but I think you might possibly use a hot cookie sheet with good results. Prep time is bread machine time.

• Total Time: 2 hrs 35 mins
• Prep Time: 2 hrs
• Cook Time: 35 mins

Ingredients:

Serves: 8

Yield: 8.0 pitas

• 1 1/2 cups warm water
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 3 1/2 cups bread flour, plus more for dusting
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast

Directions:

1. Combine ingredients in a bread machine. Set for a 2 pound dough cycle.
2. Toward the end of the dough cycle place the pizza stone on the lowest oven rack and pre-heat it to 500 degrees.
3. When the dough is ready punch it down and divide it into 8 balls, keeping it all lightly floured and covered.
4. Rest the covered balls for 15 minutes.
5. Roll each ball into an eight inch circle, one quarter inch thick, making sure circles are totally smooth, with no creases or seams. Do not stack the disks but keep them covered.
6. Put 2 pitas on the hot stone and bake them 4-5 minutes, until they're puffed and a pale golden color. WATCH CLOSELY. They cook really quickly.
7. Cool on rack 5 minutes. They will naturally deflate, leaving a pocket.
8. Wrap them in a kitchen towel to keep them soft.

Reviews

[Chef #561624]

Worked great. I did follow a tip I had read on other recipes that said to spray the dough circles with a little water right before baking to help them puff up. They were way better than store bought.

[mdbuschsr]

Good recipe. My first go round with it, I made them too big and ended up with crispy pitas. Today, I made them again, rolled them out a little smaller, and baked them on my cooling racks instead og the dark gray non-stick cookie sheets I used last time. They cook up quickly this way and stay nice and soft.

[Chef #1504948]

Just found and tried this recipe. Turned out awesome. I used a little lower temp ( 450 ) and used a non stick cookie sheet, baked for 3 minute then turn over for 1 more minute. Turned out lightly brown and tasted great. Thank for this tasty addition to my recipe box.