Best Whole Wheat Pita Bread Recipes

WHOLE WHEAT PITA BREAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in 1/2 cup warm water. Add honey; let stand for 5 minutes. Add the oil, salt 3 cups of whole wheat flour and remaining water. Beat until smooth. Stir in enough whole wheat flour to form a soft dough. , Turn onto a surface dusted with all-purpose flour; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1-1/2 hours. , Punch dough down; let rest for 10 minutes. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; divide dough into 12 pieces. Shape each into a ball. Knead each ball for 1 minute. Cover and let rest for 20 minutes. , Grease baking sheets and sprinkle with cornmeal. Roll each ball into an 8-in. circle. Place on prepared baking sheets. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 30 minutes. , Bake at 475° for 8-10 minutes or until browned. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool. To serve, cut in half and split open. Stuff with fillings of your choice.

HEALTHY WHOLE WHEAT PITA BREAD (NO OIL OR SUGAR)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 500°F.
• Sift together 2 cups of flour and the yeast.
• Add water and salt and mix well.
• Gradually add in the remaining flour just until the dough begins to clean the sides of the bowl. Once this happens, stop adding flour (so, you might not use all the flour the recipe calls for.).
• Knead the dough for about 4 or 5 minutes, or until dough is smooth and elastic. (While you're kneading, you can get creative and add in some herbs or spices, but only if you want to do that). Be careful not to over-knead the dough.
• Form dough into 10 balls.
• On a floured surface, roll each ball into a 5-6 inch circle, about 1/4 inch thick. (Be sure to sprinkle a little flour on both sides to prevent sticking).
• Place on a non-stick baking sheet and allow to rise 30 minutes, or until slightly raised.
• Just before you place the pan in the oven, flip each pita over on its other side.
• Bake on the bottom rack of the oven for 5 minutes. (The instant hot heat will help them puff up).
• When the pitas come out of the oven they will be hard, but they will soften as the cool.
• Store them, while they're still warm, in plastic baggies or an airtight container.
• Cut the pitas in half crosswise and stuff with your favorite fillings (beans and rice, taco fixings, thick stews, curries - anything goes).
• Pitas can be reheated in a 350°F oven or in the microwave.

WHOLE WHEAT PITA BREAD

Steps:

• In a bowl mix the water, yeast, molasses, and salt. Let sit 5 to 10 minutes, then gradually mix in the whole wheat flour and soy flour. Turn out onto a floured surface, and knead until smooth. Place in a large bowl lightly coated with cooking spray. Cover with a towel, and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour.
• Punch down the dough, and knead for 5 to 10 minutes. Divide into 6 pieces. On a lightly floured surface, flatten each piece to about 1/8 inch thick with a rolling pin. Cover with a towel, and let rise 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Warm a baking sheet in the preheating oven for about 2 minutes, then remove from heat and sprinkle with cornmeal.
• Arrange the dough rounds on the prepared baking sheet, and bake 6 minutes in the preheated oven. Remove from heat and cover the bread with a moist towel to soften. When cooled, slice in half and use a knife to cut pockets in the bread.

WHOLE WHEAT PITA BREAD

Steps:

• Stir together yeast, honey, and 1/2 cup warm water in a large bowl, then let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes. (If mixture doesn't foam, discard and start over with new yeast.)
• While yeast mixture stands, stir together flours in another bowl. Whisk 1/2 cup flour mixture into yeast mixture until smooth, then cover with plastic wrap and let stand in a draft-free place at warm room temperature until doubled in bulk and bubbly, about 45 minutes. Stir in oil, salt, remaining 3/4 cup warm water, and remaining 2 1/2 cups flour mixture until a dough forms.
• Turn out dough onto a floured surface and knead, working in just enough additional flour to keep dough from sticking, until dough is smooth and elastic, 8 to 10 minutes. Form dough into a ball and put in an oiled large bowl, turning to coat. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let dough rise in draft-free place at warm room temperature until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.
• Punch down dough and cut into 8 pieces. Form each piece into a ball. Flatten 1 ball, then roll out into a 6 1/2- to 7-inch round on floured surface with a floured rolling pin. Transfer round to 1 of 2 baking sheets lightly sprinkled with cornmeal. Make 7 more rounds in same manner, arranging them on baking sheets. Loosely cover pitas with 2 clean kitchen towels (not terry cloth) and let stand at room temperature 30 minutes.
• Set oven rack in lower third of oven and remove other racks. Preheat oven to 500°F.
• Transfer 4 pitas, 1 at a time, directly onto oven rack. Bake until just puffed and pale golden, about 2 minutes. Turn over with tongs and bake 1 minute more. Cool pitas on a cooling rack 2 minutes, then stack and wrap loosely in a kitchen towel to keep pitas warm. Bake remaining 4 pitas in same manner. Serve warm.

WHOLE WHEAT PITA BREAD FOR BREAD MACHINE

Steps:

• Place all ingredients in bread pan of your bread machine, select Dough setting and start. When dough has risen long enough, machine will beep.
• Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface. Gently roll and stretch dough into a 12 inch rope. With a sharp knife, divide dough into 8 pieces. Roll each into a smooth ball. With a rolling pin, roll each ball into a 6 to 7 inch circle. Set aside on a lightly floured countertop. cover with a towel. Let pitas rise about 30 minutes until slightly puffy.
• Preheat oven to 500 degrees F (260 degrees C). Place 2 or 3 pitas on a wire cake rack. Place cake rack directly on oven rack. Bake pitas 4 to 5 minutes until puffed and tops begin to brown. Remove from oven and immediately place pitas in a sealed brown paper bag or cover them with a damp kitchen towel until soft. Once pitas a softened, either cut in half or split top edge for half or whole pitas. They can be stored in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for several days or in the freezer for 1 or 2 months.

WHOLE WHEAT PITA BREAD

Steps:

• Stir together yeast, honey, and 1/2 cup warm water in a large bowl, then let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes. (If mixture doesn't foam, discard and start over with new yeast.).
• While yeast mixture stands, stir together flours in another bowl. Whisk 1/2 cup flour mixture into yeast mixture until smooth, then cover with plastic wrap and let stand in a draft-free place at warm room temperature until doubled in bulk and bubbly, about 45 minutes. Stir in oil, salt, remaining 3/4 cup warm water, and remaining 2 1/2 cups flour mixture until a dough forms.
• Turn out dough onto a floured surface and knead, working in just enough additional flour to keep dough from sticking, until dough is smooth and elastic, 8 to 10 minutes. Form dough into a ball and put in an oiled large bowl, turning to coat. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let dough rise in draft-free place at warm room temperature until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.
• Punch down dough and cut into 8 pieces. Form each piece into a ball. Flatten 1 ball, then roll out into a 6 1/2- to 7-inch round on floured surface with a floured rolling pin. Transfer round to 1 of 2 baking sheets lightly sprinkled with cornmeal. Make 7 more rounds in same manner, arranging them on baking sheets. Loosely cover pitas with 2 clean kitchen towels (not terry cloth) and let stand at room temperature 30 minutes.
• Set oven rack in lower third of oven and remove other racks. Preheat oven to 500°F.
• Transfer 4 pitas, 1 at a time, directly onto oven rack.(or on a screen) Bake until just puffed and pale golden, about 2 minutes. Turn over with tongs and bake 1 minute more. Cool pitas on a cooling rack 2 minutes, then stack and wrap loosely in a kitchen towel to keep pitas warm. Bake remaining 4 pitas in same manner. Serve warm.
• Cooks' note: Pitas can be baked 1 week ahead and cooled completely, then frozen, wrapped well in foil in a sealed plastic bag. Thaw before reheating, wrapped in foil, 10 to 12 minutes in a 350°F oven.
• My note: Though I have not had problems cooking these on my oven rack, you may want to consider baking yours on a screen of some sort as noted by many of the reviewers.

WHOLE WHEAT PITA FOR BREAD MAKER

Steps:

• Add ingredients to the bread pan as listed - select the dough cycle and start. After the cycle is complete, remove the dough, cover and let rest for 10 minutes. Preheat oven to 450°F
• Divide the dough into 8 equal portions and shape each into a smooth ball - lightly flour the bread board and roll each ball into a 4 inch circle. Cover the circles and let them rise for about 30 minutes.
• Place 4 dough circles on a lightly greased baking sheet. On middle rack, bake for 4 minutes, turn the dough and bake for another 3 minutes or until completely puffed and slightly brown.
• Cool on a rack, and repeat with the remaining dough circles. For storage, while still warm, puncture at seam and press gently to release air and flatten - when cool, stack and place in plastic storage bag.

WHOLE WHEAT PITA BREAD

Steps:

• Stir together yeast, honey and 1/2 cup of warm water ina large bow; stir until dissolved.
• Let stand for about 10 minutes; until water is frothy.
• Combine flours in a large bowl.
• Whisk 1/2 cup flour mixture into yeast mixture until smooth.
• Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in warm draft-free area until doubled in bulk and bubbly; about 45 minutes.
• Stir in oil, salt and remaining 3/4 cup warm water and remaining flour mixture into yeast mixture until a dough forms.
• Knead dough on floured surface (or with a Kitchen Aid mixer), adding just enough additional flour to form a smooth elastic ball; about 8 minutes.
• Form dough into a ball, transfer to an oiled large bowl, and turn to coat with oil.
• Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in warm draft-free place until doubled in bulk; about 1 hour.
• Lightly sprinkle corn meal on two baking sheets or pizza peel.
• Once doubled, punch down and cut into 8 pieces.
• Flatten balls on floured surface, then roll out into a 6 1/2 to 7 inch round. .
• Transfer rounds to baking sheets sprinkled with cornmeal.
• Cover with non terry cloth towels and let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes.
• Place baking stone (or cookie sheet) on rack in the lower third of oven and preheat oven to 500°F .
• Tramsfer 4 pitas, one at a time, to the preheat baking stone. (Pitas can also be baked directly on an oven rack.).
• Bake until puffed and pale golden, about 2 minutes.
• Turn over with tongs and bake for 2 minute more.
• Cool pitas on a rack for 2 minutes, then stack and wrap looslely in a kitchen towel to keep warm.
• Bake each circle for 4 minutes until the bread puffs up.
• Storing Pita Bread:.
• Pitas can be baked up to a week in advance and frozen. . To Freeze be sure to wrap in foil, and place in a sealed plastic bag and seal, and freeze. Thaw, still wrapped, before reheating. Heat wrapped in foil for 10 - 12 minutes in a 350º F oven.

FAT FREE WHOLE WHEAT PITA BREAD

Steps:

• In a large mixing bowl, combine the warm water the sugar and the yeast, mix well and let sit 5 minutes. Stir in the unbleached flour and the salt, mixing until smooth. Slowly beat in the whole wheat flour. Knead dough on lightly floured surface for 3 minutes or until smooth and elastic. Cover dough and let rest 10 minutes. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Devide dough into 6 equal pieces. Roll each piece out into an approximately 6 inch circle. Bake on a cookie sheet that has been sprayed with non stick spray for 8 - 10 minutes.