Description
This Best Ever Greek Pita recipe yields soft, fluffy, and perfectly round pita breads with a classic Mediterranean flavor. Made from simple ingredients like flour, yeast, and olive oil, these pitas are easy to prepare and cook on a hot cast iron pan. Perfect for stuffing with your favorite fillings or enjoying with dips, this traditional Greek bread recipe is a delicious addition to any meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Dough
- 1 ½ cups all purpose flour, plus more for surface
- 1 tablespoon active dry yeast
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ⅓ cup milk, warm
- ⅓ cup water, warm
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for the bowl and cooking
Topping (Optional)
- Melted garlic and herb butter (optional, for brushing on cooked pitas)
Instructions
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, mix together the all-purpose flour, active dry yeast, and kosher salt until well combined to form the base of your dough.
- Add Liquids: Pour in the warm milk and water, stirring to bring the dough together gradually and ensure the yeast activates properly.
- Knead the Dough: Add the olive oil and knead the dough in the bowl by hand for several minutes until it comes together into a smooth, cohesive ball.
- Oil and Rest the Dough: Lightly brush a clean bowl with olive oil. Place the dough ball in the bowl and roll it around to coat it lightly with oil. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let the dough rest and rise at room temperature for about one hour, or until it doubles in size.
- Prepare Dough Portions: Dust your work surface with flour. Remove the risen dough from the bowl and cut it into 8 equal-sized pieces for uniform pitas.
- Shape the Pita Circles: Using your hands, gently stretch each dough piece into a small circle, then use a rolling pin to roll each piece to about ¼ inch thickness, roughly 7-8 inches in diameter.
- Cook on Cast Iron: Preheat a cast iron pan over high heat. Add 1 teaspoon olive oil to the pan. Place one pita circle in the pan and cook for about one minute until bubbles start forming. Drizzle a little olive oil on top, flip the pita, and cook for another minute on the opposite side.
- Repeat Cooking: Continue cooking the remaining pitas individually in the same manner, adding olive oil as needed to prevent sticking.
- Add Optional Topping: Once all pitas are cooked, optionally brush them with melted garlic and herb butter for enhanced flavor. Serve warm.
Notes
- Use warm milk and water to properly activate the yeast for a good rise.
- If you don’t have a cast iron pan, a heavy nonstick or stainless steel skillet will also work.
- Be careful not to roll the dough too thin; about ¼ inch ensures a soft, fluffy pita.
- Letting the dough rise sufficiently will result in pitas that puff up nicely while cooking.
- The melted garlic and herb butter is optional but adds a wonderful aromatic flavor to the finished pitas.
- These pitas are best enjoyed fresh but can be reheated in a skillet or oven.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Bread
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Greek
Keywords: Greek pita, homemade pita bread, quick pita recipe, Mediterranean bread, cast iron pita
