whole wheat pita bread
Let me walk you through a typical day lately: It’s 4:30 p.m. I haven’t showered yet or put on makeup — I’m lucky if I’ve even changed out of my pajamas into real people clothes (sometimes taking off my flannel pants and putting on my yoga pants counts as getting dressed. Real life). Mount Dishes of Doom has piled high in the sink, an amorphous mass of half-licked chocolate-covered spoons, empty oatmeal bowls, a skillet used to make tonight’s dinner and some of the doodads and thingamabobs that go with my food processor. The sun is shining, which is pretty great, except that it’s showing every square inch of my apartment where the cat hair hasn’t been cleaned up in a few days. The bed isn’t made, I still never called the bank to get that thing fixed and I need to make a hair appointment, like, yesterday. The stuff atop my head just isn’t socially acceptable anymore.
In short, it’s been chaotic. Sometimes I feel like my head is just above water — other times, I just need a corner to cry in and an ice cream sandwich. I wonder what it will be like when I have kids — I surmise that will be the moment I go full-on crazy cat lady. At least it will make for a good memoir.
Thankfully, it’s not all bad busy these days — and in the quieter moments, when I can finally take a shower or actually do yoga in my yoga pants or make this whole wheat pita bread, I am able to look past the cat hair and enjoy the sunshine.
These whole wheat pitas are my way of creating balance in this crazy world. For a while, life was all frosting-topped Easter pancakes and cookies and buttery brunch casseroles — now? Now it needs to be whole wheat pita wraps and salads and smoothies. And I’m OK with that, as long as it still tastes good. This pita bread definitely fits the bill.
I’ve made pita bread before, but none have been so close to the texture of the storebought variety. You know the kind — perfectly soft and pliable, big enough to fill and wrap as a sandwich and flavorful, to boot. The technique in making these is one I’m not used to, but I think I’ll stick with it because it works. And if you fancy making yourself a batch of these but still need to get dinner on the table tonight, I suggest making this Indian chicken wrap recipe to use them with, as I did. In our home, it’s been inducted as a keeper.
I won’t lie to you and say it’s worth making this pita bread all the time and doing away with the storebought kind — this is real life, and sometimes we need the convenience, especially on busier, crazy-inducing days. But if you’re looking for something wholesome and flavorful, easy yet homemade, or just something that helps you slow down and take in the sunshine for a while, this is one spectacular recipe for accomplishing your goals. If anything, it counts as dinner — and that’s one less thing on your to-do list.
Whole Wheat Pita Bread
Adapted from Annie’s Eats and Epicurious
Yields: 8 pitas
Ingredients:
2 1/4 teaspoons (1 package) active dry yeast
1 1/2 teaspoons honey
1 1/4 cups warm water, divided (about 115 degrees F)
1 1/2 cups bread flour, divided
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour, divided
1/4 cup olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
cornmeal, for sprinkling
Directions:
In a large bowl or bowl of a stand mixer, whisk together yeast, honey and 1/2 cup warm water until yeast dissolves. Let stand 5 minutes until puffy (if it doesn’t puff up, discard the whole mixture and start over). Add 1/2 cup bread flour and 1/2 cup whole wheat flour; stir until smooth. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 45 minutes.
When yeast mixture is doubled, add remaining warm water, flours, olive oil and salt; attach dough hook to stand mixer and knead on low speed, adding more flour as needed until a smooth, elastic and only slightly sticky dough forms, about 8 minutes (OR, knead dough by hand on a lightly floured surface until a smooth, elastic and only slightly sticky dough forms, about 10 minutes). Shape dough into a ball and place in a lightly oiled bowl; turn once to coat. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.
Punch down risen dough. Divide into 8 equal pieces; shape each piece into a ball. Punch down and stretch each dough ball into a 7-inch wide circle; transfer to baking sheets or a surface lightly covered in cornmeal. Cover with tea towels and let rise until puffy, about 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, heat oven to 500 degrees F with one rack in the lower third of the oven. Carefully place 4 pitas at a time directly on top of oven racks; bake 2-3 minutes or until puffy and golden. Using tongs, flip pitas and bake 1 minute more. Transfer pitas to a cooling rack to cool 2 minutes, then place in a kitchen towel to stay warm and pliable. Repeat with remaining pitas.
Use warm pitas to make these delicious Indian chicken wraps.
This pita bread looks perfect!!
I can relate to the Mount Dishes of Doom and the irrepressible cat hair. I feel your pain! These ww pitas are absolutely gorgeous…it looks as though you nailed the texture.
Liz — Thank you so much, friend! 🙂
Cookin Canuck — Ha, I’m glad I’m not the only one! 😉 Thank you — I need to make your asparagus hummus to go along with these!
Wow! I’m so impressed with the texture you got on these bad boys. I’ve tried to make pitas before and they were a super failure. Pinning this — excited to try out for dinner soon!
And I totally hear you on the crazy cat lady stuff. I’m mostly just jealous that you don’t have to put on real people clothes lately!
That pita bread looks so pillowy and wholesome! Also, I deal with dog hair tumbleweeds on a daily basis so I totally feel ya!
These look great! Definitely something I have wanted to try-just added to list! Thanks for the recipe!
Ha, showering and fancy hair do’s are overrated 😉 pita on the other hand is not and yours is knockout!
That is beautiful pita. I love that it uses whole wheat flour. I can’t wait to try this. I may never buy pita bread again!
Kelly — Thanks, dear! I’ve had many a fail with pitas before, too, but these were the easiest and best recipe I’ve found so far. And I’m glad I’m not alone with the crazy cat lady stuff! 😉
Stefanie — Haha, hair tumbleweeds — SO TRUE. Thank you, lady!
Lisa — Thank you! You’ll love them 🙂
Gerry — Ha! Agreed. 🙂 Thank you so much!
“Let me walk you through a typical day lately: It’s 4:30 p.m. I haven’t showered yet or put on makeup — I’m lucky if I’ve even changed out of my pajamas into real people clothes ”
Hey, sometimes, if this is wrong, I don’t wanna be right. Just keep putting those yoga pants to good use! Always makes me feel better. And pita. I think you’ve got the right idea.
Maris — Thanks! I love the whole wheat flour aspect, too. And I rarely buy the stuff from the store now that I know it’s so easy and delicious to make them from scratch!
Meghan — Amen and amen. 🙂 Thank you, love!
Oh gosh, so many things to say. This looks amazing, photos are crazy gorgeous, and oh my gosh we live the same life! haha
Why have I not made pita bread before? Joe and I love easy dinners and homemade bread, so this would be right up our alley. And I’m with you on the feeling of not having it all together. Nine times out of 10, I feel like I’m a hot mess running around at work. Just because I get dressed in a skirt doesn’t mean I have it all together. 😉
I was just looking for recipe to make pitas! These look so simple and perfectly shaped. I love you used whole meal flour, to make us just a bit healthier after easter. I rarely buy store bought pitas because I find those ones too dry and are always cracked for some reason.
My weekend bread baking has been filled up now!
Absolutely gorgeous pitas! And changing from your flannel to yoga pants is totally getting dressed! I can so relate on the hair appointment – at this point my split ends are so funky I’m too ashamed to go see my usual hair guy. Supercuts here I come.
Real people clothes are overrated!
Love these pita bread though – I’ve always wanted to make them from scratch!
Have you tried freezing or refrigerating them right before the last rise (after shaping them into discs)? I’m curious as to whether they’d pop back… if so, it might be a great idea to make them ahead of time and have them available whenever!
Carrian — Haha, YES! I’m so glad I’m not the only one. 😉 Thank you, dear!
Madison — You and Joe should totally try this! I think you’d love it. And thanks — though you always look fabulous whereas if I was running around it’d be like, “Whoa, lady, I think you need to lie down,” haha 😉
Belinda — Yay! I’m so glad this worked out so perfectly for you. I hope you love it!
Marie — Thank you! And yes, hair appointment made for tomorrow. CANNOT WAIT. 🙂
Chung-Ah — Haha, I do love my yoga pants over real people clothes, not going to lie. 🙂 And you should totally try these from scratch — so worth it!
Tia — Great question! I haven’t tried that before, but I would suggest if you do refrigerate or freeze them to let them sit on the counter until they reach nearly room temperature again; otherwise, they might not puff up in the oven as they should. Good luck!
Oh girl, just wait til you have a baby – that pile of cat hair and the mountain of dishes will only get bigger, but the good news is you’ll probably care less 😉
Heather — SERIOUSLY. I can’t even imagine. But I’m looking forward to the “caring less” part! 🙂
I could easily make a meal out of pita bread and hummus… must make asap!
I just saw a similar recipe by Tessa on Handle the Heat and I’ve been dying to make pita bread since…however its not the most useful thing to make in a sorority kitchen. However, I’m totally making this, some homemade tzaziki and some yummy spiced chicken and making the most bomb dinner ever when I’m back home!
Laura — Oh, me too. Thank you, dear!
Rachel — Definitely worth saving for when you get home and can make it with tzatziki and chicken… and then invite me over! 😉
Man, I feel ya. The yoga pants I have get more wear then my jeans do. Working from home has it benefits but sometimes I dream about putting on a pair of heels and driving to an office with real people…haha. This Pita Bread looks great and not that complicated. My kind of recipe!
Nicole — Me too! Funny how the grass seems greener on the other side, sometimes. Now if only we can find jobs with real people AND yoga pants. 🙂
I need to try this!! So cool!
Katrina — You totally do! Thanks! 🙂
This looks amazing, Stephanie! I serve pita bread with Greek meals all the time and would love to be able to make it from scratch once in a while. Yours looks so perfect and soft! Love it.
Georgia — Thank you, dear! I need to have more Greek meals in my life, so this is a great incentive for me! 🙂
I have never seen such beautiful and soft pita breads! Mine sure don’t look like these! Can’t wait to try your recipe, Stephanie! PS: I have three kids.. You don’t want to know how crazy my days are 🙂
This probably sounds really weird, but they look like pillows! Soft, DELICIOUS pillows!
Wow, these pita breads look so fluffy and perfect. I have not attempted to make these yet but I really think I must! They’re great with everything. On days I work at home, I’m in yoga pants & no make up all day 🙂 no shame, girl!
I like you. I really just do. This post made me smile and feel like I’m in good company. Sometimes I climb into bed with dirt in my hear, under my fingernails, and with my socks still on. I hate to admit it but I am a mess most of the time. (physically and emotionally) ! Who cares about cat hair when you have this pita bread to eat! Yum!
Your photos are STUNNING!!!
This is an awesome recipe and an awesome slice of real life and as a busy working mom I can relate to it all. From yoga pants to storebought is okay sometimes to scratch when you can is awesome. Pinning!
Anna — Thank you so much! And yeaaaahhh… I wish I could give gold stars out to everyone with kids. 🙂
Pam C — Not weird at all! I thought the same thing when I made them. 🙂 Thanks!
Julie — You should definitely make them! And I’m SO happy I am not alone in the yoga pants/no makeup thing… I just can’t get myself to look nicer when it’s just me and my cat! 🙂
a farmer in the dell — Aw, I like you, too, lady! I’m glad we can bond over our less-than-stellar appearances on any given day. 😉 But you’re right — at least we have this pita bread! Thank you!
Claire — Thank you, love!
Averie — Thank you! I can’t even imagine what it’s like to have kids and a job and juggling it all. I hope you do find some time to make these, though, because they are tasty! 🙂
Your days sound like mine as of late haha! Come on over and we can cry and eat ice cream together 😉
And bring some pita bread puh-lease! It looks amazing, love!
I definitely need to try homemade pita bread. This look absolutely perfect, Stephanie!
Ashley — Ha! Deal. 🙂
Cassie — Thank you, my dear! You definitely should try it. 🙂
These look amazing!! Never tried to make my own pita bread before. Definitely going on my list!
Yvonne — Thanks! You should definitely give it a try — you’ll love it 🙂
I love the phrase “Mount Dishes of Doom.” Using it during my next cooking extravaganza!
Hi this looks amazing!
One tiny question, do you have any suggestion for substitute for the bread flour? I don’t think I have them here. Will have to investigate more. Thank you 🙂
It’s like we’re living the same life or something. Except I actually did get my hair trimmed (after one year of no hair maintenance) last week, so I’m one up on the head thing. Man, I want to stuff lamb and tatziki in those pita breads so hard….they look marvelous! Keep your chin above water, muffin…when all else fails, I’ll sit in the corner with you, Klondike bar in-hand! 😉
I’ve made homemade pitas before and they are one of those homemade things that are so worth the effort. SO MUCH MORE FLAVOR than storebought!
ANd ugh I totally have those days. Every day. WHen I have kids…it’s going to be disaster central.
Julie — DO IT. 🙂 Thank you!
Maureen — You can use all-purpose flour in place of the bread flour. Hope you like them!
Julia — Thanks, dear! Getting my hairs cut today, FINALLY. So you and I can sit in the corner with our Klondike bars AND fresh new dos together. 🙂
Joanne — I know! I may never be able to buy storebought again. And agreed to disaster central. But SERIOUSLY. 🙂
Girl, you slay me! I want to wrap my face in these pitas! Will you show me the baking way some day?!!
Lauren — Thank ya, lady! Yes, please come on over and we will have fun baking times together! 🙂
I love the sense of accomplishment when you make something from scratch. It really feels good! And tastes good, too!
Ashley — Me, too! Especially when it tastes good. 🙂 Thank you!
I obsess over pita bread! I had no idea you could just whip it together!! Must try this! I use it for pizza and dipping in hummus!! Thanks for sharing! oh and I’d read the crazy cat lady memoirs! 😉
Mackenzie — Yes, you totally can and should make it at home — you’ll love it! And haha, thanks for being willing to read my crazy cat lady memoir 😉
Love those fluffy pitas. And remember if it absolutely has to be done, it will get done. In the meantime, enjoy the sunshine.
Abbe — You are so right. 🙂 Thank you!
Absolute perfection! All I need is some hummus and I’m set for breakfast, lunch AND dinner. Thanks for sharing!
Ben doesn’t get how me changing from one pair of yoga pants into another to go to the store qualifies as me putting on “real people clothes”…I don’t know why! One pair is covered in Huck hair and flour and the other isn’t. Sounds like a good swap to me!
Kelly — These definitely have been breakfast, lunch and dinner over here. 🙂 Thank you!
Megan — Oh girl, I know just what you mean. Changing from the hair and flour-covered pants to the clean ones TOTALLY counts in my book. 🙂
I just found your blog today and added it to my bloglovin reader. I truly enjoyed reading this post and am going to print your recipe for these whole wheat pita breads. They look amazing and your photos do too! BTW, I love your line “look past the cat hair and enjoy the sunshine.” Words to live by 🙂
Since I had my baby, I have worn exactly 3 pair of yoga pants for weeks and showered (at best) every third day…I have no intention of ever wearing anything other than my beloved yoga pants except when I am at work. (I might try to sneak a button down shirt over them and make them fancy yoga pants…)
We eat a lot of pita around these parts–I love that this is whole wheat. Can’t wait to try it!
Renee — Thanks for stopping by! And for your kind words 🙂 Hope you like the pita bread!
Heather — Hey, when you have a baby, it’s all good. 🙂 Thanks!
Julia — I hope you love it! Thanks!
…you are seriously FREAKING ME OUT. It’s like you spied on my life and wrote about it…in fact, that is EXACTLY what has been going on today.
I’ll take a whole batch of pitas, please!! Yummy.
Stephie — Kindred spirits of cat hair and yoga pants! Awesome. 🙂
I think you described my days lately too!! These pita look so light and fluffy. Perfect for Greek tacos.
Bernadette — Ha, we should start a club! 😉 Thanks, lady!
Oh maaaaan, this is bringing back memories! I used to make pita bread all the time! These turned out great 🙂 Love it.
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Have you (or anyone else) tried freezing these? It would be great to be able to make a bunch and then pull out of the freezer when needed.
They look great, can’t wait to try them!
Julia — I have not, but I’m sure you easily could. Just wrap them in plastic wrap and foil to freeze; to thaw, leave them on a countertop (you can also sprinkle a little water on them and microwave them for a few seconds).
Made these and LOVE them. Used canola oil instead of olive. Also majorly simplified method….proofed yeast, mixed together dry ingredients, made a well poured in wet and mixed. Let rise until doubled then followed the rest of her instructions about rolling, rising, etc.
I live in Germany, and the only whole wheat and bread flour I could find were ones that said “with yeast” on them. Is that normal for this kind of bread, and is that the kind of flour that you used, or did I get the wrong stuff? Thanks!!
Virginia — Hmm, I’ve never heard of that before! The flour I used was not “with yeast,” so I’m not sure how that flour will behave with this recipe. Maybe the yeast is already mixed into the flour, so you don’t have to add any more? I’d check the packaging and see. Otherwise… I’m clueless.