Instructions

• To make the pita, take 3 cups flour in a mixing bowl. Add to this, a pinch of salt and mix well. Ready the yeast by dissolving one packet of dry yeast in half cup warm water. Add a spoon of sugar and let the yeast rise. You will need to keep the yeast dissolved in warm water for 10-15 minutes for it to become frothy.
• Now, slowly add the yeast to the flour mix. Knead the dough well for 10-15 minutes. Initially the dough will be sticky but as you knead further, it will turn smooth and elastic. You need to knead the dough till such a point where it is completely smooth and has a shiny look to it.
• Coat the dough with a little vegetable oil before you leave it to rise. This will make your pita soft and fluffy. Place the dough in a large vessel and allow it to rest for 2-3 hours. This will enable the dough become double in volume. Once the dough has doubled in volume, make medium-sized balls out of it. Roll the balls on a flat surface to make circles which are 5-6 inches in diameter with a thickness of not more than 1/4th inch.
• Bake each pita in a pre-heated oven for 5 minutes till it is cooked and the outside acquires light brown spots. Each pita must puff up and come out soft and fluffy. Serve this delicious bread straight from the oven with hummus or a yoghurt dip. You can also make many middle-eastern delights such falafel using pita.
• Pita bread remains fresh for about a week when stored in a cool dry place. You can also freeze pita bread by placing them in ziploc pouches – this way they should remain good for months.