Pita Bread

Ingredients :
All purpose flour - 3 cups and 1 cup for kneading,
Salt - 1 and 1/2 tsp,
Warm water - 1 cup,
Quick rise yeast - 1 packet - 7 gms,
Sugar - 1 tsp,
Luke warm water - 1/2 cup for yeast,
Olive oil - 1tbsp ( to grease the bowl ).

( Tesco quick rise yeast is available in khan market grocery stores )

Method :

In a small bowl mix one tsp of  sugar,  yeast and 1/2 cup of luke warm water and let it sit for 5 minutes.

In a large bowl sieve 3 cups of flour  with salt.

Make a well in the middle and slowly stir in the yeast mixture and one cup of warm water until well combined.

In a large bowl add 1 tbsp of olive oil and spread all over to keep the dough from sticking.
Place dough in the oiled bowl and coat it evenly.

Cover  with a moist cloth and let it sit  for 3 hours in a warm place.

After the dough has risen,dump it on a floured counter and knead for 10 minutes using the 

 flour kept aside.( one cup )
After 10 minutes divide the dough into small balls.

Since i am making pita pockets ,the size of pita bread will be 5 inch in diameter.
You can make big size pita breads too and can use them as wraps.
Spread  some flour on  the tray in which the dough balls will be rested.
Keep the dough balls on the floured tray and let it rest for 10 minutes.

Cover with a cloth.

Pre heat oven to 500 F or 300 C for 1/2 hour ( the highest temperature in your oven )
Insert the baking tray too.
Turn your baking tray upside down and keep it on the upper higher rack.

Spread some flour on the counter and spread each ball into 5 inch diameter .Use a rolling pin to roll them.

Roll them as you would roll rotis ,using very little flour.
Roll them and keep them on a lightly  sprinkled floured plate. Dont use too much of flour as it will make the pita hard.
( You can start the process of making pita bread only when both the oven and tawa are heated )

Heat tawa or griddle on high heat and as it heats up put the pita bread on it .

You will see bubbles  on the top layer of  bread,with a  flat spatulla lift the pita and put it in the hot tray inside the oven.

After a minute, the bread will  rise and swell up.
Remove from oven and keep in a plate.

( it  just takes 10 to 15 minutes to bake all the thirteen pitas )
Since the size is small you can bake 2 pitas at the same time in the oven.
Bake all the rolled dough in similar way.

 ( Tawa helps to cook the lower part of pita and the oven bakes the upper part  of pita )

If you dont plan to eat right away,wrap them in a foil so that the pita bread remains soft and does not dry.
Re- heat them with the wrapped foil.

Left  overs can be kept in the fridge for few days.
Makes - 13