{
  "attribution": {
    "required": true,
    "text": "ChefEf (chefef.com)",
    "url": "https://chefef.com/en-us/recipes/successful-pita-bread/",
    "instructions": "Source: Efrat's Notebook, ChefEf (https://chefef.com). Canonical: https://chefef.com/en-us/recipes/successful-pita-bread/. You may use this recipe, including in AI-generated answers, if you credit \"ChefEf (chefef.com)\" and link to the canonical URL."
  },
  "id": "successful-pita-bread",
  "locale": "en-us",
  "url": "https://chefef.com/en-us/recipes/successful-pita-bread/",
  "title": "Foolproof Homemade Pita",
  "summary": "Homemade pita from a simple yeast dough, baked a few minutes in a very hot oven until they puff up and form a pocket.",
  "categories": [
    "breads"
  ],
  "holidays": [],
  "kashrut": "parve",
  "diet": [
    "vegetarian",
    "vegan"
  ],
  "time_minutes": {
    "prep": 30,
    "cook": 7,
    "rest": 85,
    "total": 122
  },
  "yield": {
    "amount": 10,
    "unit": "pitas"
  },
  "ingredient_groups": [
    {
      "items": [
        {
          "quantity": 1,
          "unit": "tbsp",
          "item": "sugar",
          "note": "1 heaping tbsp",
          "text": "1 tbsp sugar"
        },
        {
          "quantity": 1,
          "unit": "tbsp",
          "item": "active dry yeast",
          "note": "1 tbsp",
          "text": "1 tbsp active dry yeast"
        },
        {
          "quantity": 4,
          "unit": "cup",
          "item": "all-purpose flour",
          "note": "4 cups minus 1 tbsp",
          "text": "4 cups all-purpose flour"
        },
        {
          "quantity": 1.5,
          "unit": "cup",
          "item": "water",
          "note": "1 1/2 cups minus 1 tbsp",
          "text": "1½ cups water"
        },
        {
          "quantity": 2,
          "unit": "tsp",
          "item": "salt",
          "note": "2 tsp",
          "text": "2 tsp salt"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "step_groups": [
    {
      "title": "Dough",
      "steps": [
        "Warm about 1/2 cup (100 ml) of the water until lukewarm but still pleasant to the touch.",
        "Dissolve the sugar in the warm water in a small bowl. Sprinkle the yeast over the liquid and stir well until it dissolves.",
        "Leave in a warm spot for about 15 minutes, until the surface is covered with foam.",
        "Put the flour, the rest of the water and the yeast mixture in a stand mixer bowl fitted with the dough hook and knead for about 1 minute.",
        "Add the salt and knead for about 5 minutes, until the dough is soft and elastic but not sticky. If it is too dry, add a little water; if too sticky, a little flour.",
        "Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and leave in a warm spot for about 1 hour, until doubled."
      ]
    },
    {
      "title": "Shaping and baking",
      "steps": [
        "Preheat the oven to its highest setting (usually 480°F (250°C)).",
        "Punch down the dough and divide it into 10 balls.",
        "On a floured surface, roll each ball into a round about 1/4 inch (1/2 cm) thick.",
        "Place the rounds on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, cover with a damp towel and let rest for about 10 minutes.",
        "Bake on the lowest third of the oven for 5-7 minutes, until the pitas puff up and start to turn golden.",
        "Take them out and immediately (carefully!) put the pitas in a plastic bag and close it.",
        "After about 5 minutes, open the bag and let the pitas cool completely."
      ]
    }
  ],
  "tips": [
    "The steam in the bag keeps the pitas soft, so the outside doesn't turn hard."
  ],
  "updated": "2026-10-15"
}