Homemade Pita Bread

Begin by placing all ingredients into the bread pan of your machine, selecting the 'Dough' mode. Then, initiate the process by pressing the start button. The machine will alert you when the dough has risen sufficiently.

Once the dough is ready, carefully transfer it to a lightly dusted surface. Using your hands, gently shape and stretch the dough into a 12-inch rope-like form. Utilize a sharp blade to divide the dough into eight equal portions. Shape each portion into a smooth ball, then use a rolling pin to flatten it into a 6-7 inch circular shape. Set these dough balls aside on a lightly dusted countertop, covering them with a clean towel. Allow the pitas to rise for approximately 30 minutes, until they have puffed up slightly.

Next, preheat your oven to 500 degrees Fahrenheit (260 degrees Celsius). Place two or three pitas on a wire cake rack, positioning it directly above the oven rack. Bake the pitas for 4-5 minutes, or until they are puffed and their tops begin to brown. Remove the pitas from the oven immediately, then place them in a sealed paper bag or cover them with a damp cloth until they become soft.

Once the pitas have softened, you can either cut them in half or split the top edge for whole pitas. Store them in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for several days or freeze them for 1-2 months.