Pita Bread

Martha Stewart has a great and simple recipe for homemade pita. In doing a bit of research, it seems that almost everyone has nearly the exact same recipe and technique: bake these puppies in the oven, or in a cast iron skillet, a spritz of water, and you're golden.

Makes 8 pitas

Ingredients

1 1/4 cups warm water (approximately 100 to 110 degrees)
1 teaspoon active dry yeast
3 cups all-purpose flour (or a mix of whole wheat and regular), plus more for dusting
1 tablespoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons olive oil, plus more for bowl


Directions

Pour water into the bowl of an electric mixer, and add a pinch of sugar. Sprinkle yeast over water, and stir to dissolve. Mix in 1 1/2 cups flour until well incorporated. Cover bowl; let sit in a warm place for about 1 1/2 hours, until dough has doubled in bulk.

Sprinkle salt over flour and yeast mixture, and add olive oil and remaining 1 1/2 cups flour. Mix on medium-low speed until dough is smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes.

Transfer dough to a floured work surface, and knead about 10 turns, forming a ball. Place in a lightly oiled bowl, and cover with plastic wrap. Let rise in a warm place until dough has doubled in bulk, about 1 1/4 hours.

Heat oven to 450 degrees. Turn dough out onto a board, and cut in half. Cut each half into four pieces, and form each piece into a ball. Cover them loosely with a piece of plastic wrap to keep the dough from drying out. On a floured work surface, roll two balls into circles 7 inches in diameter and slightly less than 1/4 inch thick. Place pita on an ungreased baking sheet (or cast iron skillet), sprinkle a few drops of water (or spritz with a spray bottle), and bake until puffed and light brown, about 5-8 minutes (keep an eye on the pita!) . Repeat, baking two pita breads at a time.

Best if served warm, but you can let them cool and wrap them up and keep them for a few days for any meals you want some pita lovin' on.