Monday, May 16, 2011

Hot Pita Pockets

Pita9
Pita7
I am making my first forays in to this cuisine with Pita Pockets.
A Middle Eastern bread Pita has gained immense popularity in many countries and can be compared to the kulchas or naans, the Indian breads. I have always been a huge fan of Middle Eastern foods (their vegetarian foods, more accurately) and this was only reinforced by the fact that my dear Doc Oz is from Turkey and he says the middle-eastern cuisine is one of the healthiest, by far, being rich in protein and Omegas and over all very less in fat.
But, as seasoned cook, we are aware that we can make any cuisine healthy or not by the ingredients we use. For instance, I followed a pita recipe verbatim and got excellent results. For this I had to use all-purpose flour as opposed to my usual multi-grain or whole-wheat- I tried whole wheat and I tell you I did not get the same result. This is a very easy recipe with 5 ingredients only. It is awesome when the results are good – and I was thanking the person who submitted this recipe to About.com!
But for my readers sake,I give not only an ingredient list but also a step-by-step pictorial so that you no it is coming out the way it is supposed to. Here we go!
Pita8
Ingredients
3 cups all purpose flour
1.5 cups of water
1 pack of rapid rise yeast
1tsp sugar
1 tsp of salt
Pita6
Preparation
First get ½ cup of warm water and add the packet of yeast with the spoon of sugar and stir in well so that it is completely dissolved. Set aside for 15-20 minutes until the yeast is frothing
In a big basin, add the flour and salt and mix them well
Make a hole at the center to pour the yeast
Add 1 more cup of warm water and knead like Billy-o (10-15 minutes) or until your wrists and biceps are begging for mercy 
Gently oil the ball of dough and wrap and keep for 3-6 hours
The dough will double in size and get very porous.
(I find that it also smells like beer: )!
Take lemon sized balls and roll out
Make like you would chappatis or tortillas.
Once done, wait a minute or two before cutting and trying to peek into the pocket!
Let out a triumphant “yay” when you see the wonderfully, bready pocket, waiting for its Fill of Houmous and falafel – for a yummy falafel recipe check out my falafel post here.
First the Yeast
Pita3
The Flour
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The dough just prepared
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The dough after 4 hours
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Rolled and on the tawa
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One last peek
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51 comments:

  1. Easy to prepare pita breads,looks soft and very fresh.Loving it.

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  2. You do complete justice to your recipes by pictorially describing each step...I just love it...every time!! :)
    Anjali
    Spice and Sugar Tales
    http://anjali-cooklog.blogspot.com

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  3. I so much love middle eastern cuisine Priya...weekly once I make sure to eat falafel s in my fav shop...never it crossed my mind to make these at home..
    Now I am thinking of so many stuffing's for this pita bread...lovely.

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  4. Love the pitas...Sure want to try it...Thanks

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  5. Fresh and delicious pita bread...Nice detailed explanation...

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  6. they look perfect to go during tea time.....thnx for introducing middle east food

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  7. i never thought that making pita bread is so much easy....step wise pictures are very useful..thanx for sharing priya!!!

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  8. The pitas look lovely..very soft..great idea Priya!!

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  9. wow, they look so inviting, ready to be stuffed and eaten :)

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  10. perfectly made pita breads......yum......

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  11. Aren't you clever!! making your own pitas - they look delicious and I quite sure they are SO much better than store bought!
    Mary

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  12. Wow soft and delicious.thanks for sharing,bookmarked.

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  13. I've made my own naan but I'll have to try my hand at these as well. Yours look delicious.

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  14. yum yum pita pocket :) best pita bread ever!!!<3

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  15. they look so soft. nothing compares to homemade :)

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  16. Pitas have come out rollicking good and am crazy abt it n hummus- so this post was a happy drooling trip !

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  17. These look so soft and yummy.

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  18. i am so impressed, they look delicious.

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  19. Well explained and i'm drooling over those fluffy pita pockets!

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  20. wow! priya, you keep pushing the envelope...these look delightful. so do you think half AP and half WW flours would work better?

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  21. O my, i love pitas, It's in my wish list for such a ong time..Can i come over for a nice treat ?!

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  22. Wow. I was searching for good pita bread recipe and there you came

    South Indian Home

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  23. They've come out so soft and well! Looks delicious too!

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  24. Love to dump d falafels wid a bed of salad into those pockets and sit back n munch it...love dem..:)

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  25. these are cool and you deserve a star rating for attempting these..

    such an avid blogger you're...i need to run after you with spoon, spatula and my pen :P

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  26. Yummy looking pitas .. so fluffy ..

    Vardhini
    VardhinisKitchen

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  27. Pita with Hummus...my all time fav :-) Nice pitas here!

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  28. You got a beautiful blog...I have tried the store brought
    pita...this is exciting for me.
    will try this recipe for sure.....

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  29. come out really well Priya! looks amazing :)

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  30. Those pita pockets came out very well Priya,looks fabulous..

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  31. Looks so soft and tempting dear... Never tried this...

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  32. Priya, I love pitas..will try soon with ur made easy pictorial..There are some awards waiting for you..PL. collect

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  33. Homemade recipes is the best..nothing can beat that..pita pockets looks so fresh and perfect!

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  34. Wow...pita bread looks perfect and soft. Lovely!

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  35. your pita bread looks fantastic! Love how moist and soft it looks. Great job.

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  36. Homemade pita bread looks good...Yummy

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  37. The Pita bread is something that I have been wanting to try since long. I am bookmarking this :)

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  38. Wonderful recipe! Now I can finally make my own fresh pita! thanks!

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  39. thats so cool that u made pitas from scratch!!... they have come out perfect!

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  40. Wow so soft and perfect pita bread..

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  41. pitas have came out perfect...great sharing..

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  42. Feel like finishing that wonderful pita bread..

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  43. Thanks for visiting Kannadacuisine :)
    Pita looks warm and inviting...Just had some Babaganoush and Taboule over Crostini :) For some reason I always thought Pitas are made in the oven, never thought it to be made on the Tawa. This version sounds simple enough for me to try it sometime.

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  44. Pitas look soft & inviting, process is intersting

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  45. wow so interesting and delicious pita !!

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  46. wow...pita has come perfect for yummy salad filling... :)

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  47. Wow, so cool! They look perfectly puffed up and soft!! This is kinda our daily roti here in the gulf.

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