Har Shalom Cookbook

November Recipe

Israeli Pita Bread

Submitted by Udi Zeigerson

This easy to follow recipe will provide you with all you need to fill your home with the smell of fresh baked pita. Need to add other scents to the collection? Add falafel, salad, and/or french fries inside!

Ingredients:

• 1 tbs yeast
• 1 tsp sugar
• 3 lbs flour
• 1 tbs salt
• 3-3 1/4 c water 

Directions: 

1. Prepare the yeast by dissolving yeast in ¼ cup lukewarm water with sugar. Let sit for 10  minutes.
2. Prepare the dough in a large bowl, mix flour and salt. Add the yeast mixture and water. Knead  the dough. Place the kneaded dough in the bowl and cover with a damp cloth, allow to rise for  2-3 hours. Knead the dough that has risen, and cut to 12 pieces. Roll each piece to a ball. Then flatten by hand (not rolling pin) to a thickness of about ¼ inch. Lay each of the flattened pita  pockets on a floured cookie sheet. Cover again with a damp cloth and allow to rise about one  more hour.
3. Heat the oven to the highest temperature (about 450 degrees F). Place a container with boiling  water on the bottom rack. Bake the pita on the cookie sheet on a rack above the rack with the  water, for 8-10 minutes.
4. Enjoy fresh out of the oven, or freeze for future use. For freezing, allow to cool to room