How to Make Fresh Pita Bread Using a Bread Machine

The bread machine for home use has revolutionized home bread baking, at least as far as I'm concerned. It's become so easy and common for me to toss in the ingredients for a delectable fresh loaf and hours later, I'm slicing into fresh bread to serve up with a meal or for a snack. In addition to the ordinary loaves of bread, the machine is incredibly handy for making pizza dough, pasta dough and other cooking tasks that can take some time and dirty dishes. You may not realize that it is actually easy and fun to make fresh pita bread using a bread machine - and it tastes far better than anything you'll find on your grocer's shelves!

For 1 ½ pounds of dough, which makes 8 pita bread rounds, you'll need:

1 1/8 cup water
1 tablespoon vegetable (or olive) oil
3 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 ½ teaspoons sugar
1 ½ teaspoons dry yeast

In the bread pan, place the ingredients in order. I usually add all the wet ingredients first, then mound the dry ingredients, making a well in the center at the last and pouring in the yeast.

Put the pan in your machine and turn it to the "dough" setting. After the dough has been mixed and risen (in my machine, this takes about 1 ½ hours), remove the dough and place on a floured surface. Knead the dough lightly and roll into a rope about 12 inches (one foot) long. Cut the dough "snake" into 8 equal pieces.

Working quickly so the dough doesn't dry out, roll each piece into a ball. Using a rolling pin, roll each ball into a 7 inch circle. Set the circles on a lightly floured board and cover completely with a towel. Let rise about ½ hour until slightly risen and soft.

Preheat the oven to 500 degrees. Use a cookie/cake rack (the kind you would use to let your cakes and cookies cool) and put 2 or 3 of the pita rounds on the rack. Don't crowd them. Put the rack directly into the oven on the middle oven rack. It takes about 5 minutes to bake. You'll want them to be puffy and just starting to get a bit brown on top. Take out of the oven and cover with a damp clean kitchen towel (this is what makes them soft). You can also put them in a brown grocery sack or bag and seal the top so the steam doesn't escape.

Your pita bread can be stored in a plastic bag in the refrigerator (just like you would purchase it at the store) or they can be frozen too.

Here are two even healthier versions of Pita Bread that can be made in the bread machine the same way:

Whole Wheat Pita Bread

1 1/4 cups water
1 Tablespoon oil
3 cups whole wheat flour
1 Teaspoon salt
1 1/2 Teaspoons sugar (try brown sugar for extra flavor)
1 1/2 Teaspoons dry yeast

Place all ingredients in bread pan in order and process on "Dough" setting. Complete as previous recipe.

Oatmeal Pita Bread

1 1/4 cups water
1 1/2 Tablespoons oil
3 cups all purpose flour or 1 1/2 cups all purpose and 1 1/2 cup whole wheat
1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats (not quick)
1 Teaspoon salt
1 1/2 Teaspoon brown sugar
1 1/2 Teaspoon dry yeast

Place all ingredients in bread pan in order and proccess on "Dough" setting. Complete as first pita bread recipe.