Pitas (like store bought)

Tonight I made these pitas and doubled the recipe to freeze some. These turned out perfect! I cooked them on my pizza stone and they puffed up to form a pocket for stuffing after cut in half. These pitas are just like the whole wheat ones you buy at the store, but only better :). 



INGREDIENTS
1 tsp. sugar or honey
1 25-oz. package (2 1/4 tsp.) active dry yeast
1 cup + 2 Tbsp. warm water (100-110 F)
2 1/2 cups white whole wheat flour + extra for kneading
2 Tbsp. Greek yogurt (2% recommended)
1 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
3/4 tsp. salt

DIRECTIONS
1. Dissolve sugar and yeast in warm water in a large bowl and let stand 10 minutes.

2. Add flour, yogurt, oil, and salt to the yeast mixture. If using a mixer, beat at a medium speed until smooth. If making by hand, mix ingredients until flour is absorbed and smooth.

3. Turn out the dough on a lightly floured surface. Knead until smooth and elastic (about 5 minutes) adding more flour if needed to prevent dough from sticking to hands.

4. Place dough in a large bowl coated with cooking spray, turning to coat top. Cover and let rise in a warm place for about 45 minutes or until doubled in size.

5. Position oven rack on the lowest shelf. Preheat the oven (and a pizza stone if you have one) to 500 F.

6. Divide the dough into 8 equal portions. Working with one portion at a time, gently roll each portion into a 5-6 inch circle.

7. Place dough circles (4 at a time) on baking sheets coated heavily with cooking spray. (Or if you are using a pizza stone they can go directly onto the preheated stone- careful it will be HOT! You might want to dust it with cornmeal or semolina flour first to prevent sticking.) Bake, 1 sheet at a time, for 5-8 minutes, or until puffed and lightly browned. Cool on a wire rack.

Makes 8 pitas.

(Adapted from Cooking Light)
Posted by Jessie at 7:21 AM