The Original Convenience Food: Pita Bread
Pita pockets really are the original convenience food. Think about it: pitas are their own edible travel containers and you can eat them with one hand. Not to mention the fact that pita rounds can go on to become anything from crispy chips to an instant pizza. Brilliant! What do you make with pitas?
Pita is a Middle Eastern flatbread made primarily with wheat flour, water, and yeast. Small rounds of dough are rolled flat and then quickly baked either in a hot oven or on a griddle. As water in the dough turns to steam, it puffs the thin bread sky-high and creates that pocket we all know and love.
Rounds of pita can be sliced in half to create two pockets or the whole pita can be wrapped around the filling burrito-style. Either way, it becomes a vehicle for everything from traditional falafel and shawarma to our deli lunch sandwiches and fresh salads.
Baked pita breads keep best wrapped in a loose plastic bag and are usually good for several days. Refrigerating will cause them to stale more quickly, but you can freeze pita to use as needed. Place a square of parchment between each pita before freezing so they don’t stick to each other and seal them in an air-tight bag for up to three months. Reheat them in an warm oven or toaster oven, or for a few seconds in the microwave.
A few of our favorite things to do with pita bread:
• Easy Homemade Pita Bread
• Turkey Koftas with Toasted Pita Bread
• Pan-Fried Falafel and Homemade Pita
• Salad-Stuffed Pita Pockets
• Za’atar Pita Chips with Yogurt Sauce
• Five Minute Breakfast Pita Pizza
What’s your favorite brand of pita? Or do you usually make your own?
Related: Why Does Pita Bread Mold So Fast?
(Image: Emma Christensen)