Have you ever eaten delicious pita bread? This traditional Middle Eastern food is famous all over the world.
Different cultures have been enjoying it for a long time with all kinds of meals. Whether stuffed with shawarma, falafel, chicken, tuna, with stews, or on its own.
Pita bread, or “jubz” or “jébez” as it’s called in Arabic, is versatile, adapting to any recipe and easy to prepare.
It stands out for its round, flat appearance and lack of crumbs. The inner part separates, forming a pocket ideal for filling with flavors.
In some Mediterranean countries, it’s known as pita, referring to the Greek version, whose circles are smaller.
It’s also called Lebanese, Syrian, or Turkish bread. Today you’ll discover some interesting facts about this ancient recipe. Take a look.
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Nutritional Qualities of Pita Bread
There are many things about pita bread that you might not know, like how it can benefit your health if included in your diet.
Like other types of bread, it’s a fantastic source of energy for the body, mainly made of carbohydrates.
Therefore, it’s a good way to refuel after exercising. Wheat flour is its main ingredient.
Whether white or whole wheat, it provides around 33 grams of carbohydrates and 5.5 grams of protein.
If you’re concerned about gluten intolerance, you have the option to prepare it with another flour that doesn’t contain it.
Want to learn more about the benefits of this simple food? Keep reading to see its other nutritional values.
Low in Fat and Calories
If you want to watch your diet without giving up bread, pita bread, or Arab bread, as you prefer to call it, is the perfect choice for you, as it’s low in fat.
In fact, it has less fat than bagels or croissants, so you won’t regret including it in your diet.
It also doesn’t contain many calories, making it a good alternative to maintain an adequate calorie intake.
One whole wheat pita has approximately 165 kcal, making it healthy to eat. Especially compared to other flour-based products.
Therefore, it’s recommended for reducing the risk of cholesterol and even high blood pressure problems.
Of course, the exact amounts depend on the size of the bread. When buying it, check the nutritional table on the package.
Source of Fiber
Another benefit of eating pita bread is its sufficient fiber content. This component is essential for healthy digestion.
It promotes the process related to intestinal movement, allowing you to digest food more easily and avoid constipation.
Additionally, it makes you feel full, helping you to not consume as much food and keep your weight controlled.
Fiber also helps stabilize blood sugar and cholesterol, reducing the chances of diabetes.
Whole wheat bread provides more fiber and also reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
Provides Vitamins and Minerals
This delicious bread is also packed with essential nutrients for your health, such as B-complex vitamins.
Including niacin, thiamine, folate, and riboflavin, which assist with the nervous system, skin, and red blood cell formation.
According to Health Benefits, white bread contains more than 10% of these vitamins, while whole wheat offers 11% of the daily requirement.
Overall, they’re beneficial for the brain and help keep the body functioning at its best. Wonderful, isn’t it?
Additionally, this food provides 16.3 micrograms of selenium and other important minerals like potassium, manganese, iron, and phosphorus.
Other substances present in pita bread are antioxidants such as beta-carotene, lutein, and carotenoids. If fortified, it has even more.
Baked, Toasted, or Grilled
Pita bread can be cooked in different ways: in the oven, on a hot griddle or skillet until it inflates like a balloon.
When baked, the dough quickly rises, and a couple of layers form inside, which separate in half due to the heat.
To achieve this, place the stretched dough on a tray on the stove for about two minutes.
The oven should be at 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Let it cook on both sides, flipping it carefully.
If you decide to cook it in a skillet, spray a little oil before spreading the dough. Wait a few seconds until it starts to bubble before flipping it.
Don’t prick it because it will deflate on its own. Cook on the other side for 1-2 minutes more, or until brown spots appear.
How to Store and Preserve?
This type of bread is tasty, both fresh and straight from the oven, and keeps perfectly in the fridge.
However, make sure to store it in a container or airtight bag to keep it fresh for several days.
Without a doubt, it’s an excellent solution to enjoy its delicious flavor for longer. When reheated, it regains its texture and aroma.
Moreover, if you don’t want to bake all the pieces on the same day, you can reserve the rest of the dough in the freezer to enjoy later.
If done correctly, it lasts up to a week, saving you time by not having to prepare the mixture again.
You don’t need to defrost it, just place it on the griddle for a few seconds or in the microwave when you feel like eating.
Pita Bread: An Incredibly Versatile Food
This food, originating from Arab countries, is enjoyed in many ways, as it pairs well with everything.
For example, in a sandwich with chickpea croquettes or falafel, kebab, or gyros, typical Middle Eastern dishes.
Another option is to use it as wraps filled with chicken and meat, accompanied by a vegetable salad and a delicious dressing.
Similarly, you can cut it into triangles to dip in sauces and creams. For example, the traditional hummus or tahini.
If you prefer, you can fry them to make homemade chips. Baked ones are just as crispy, tasty, and healthier.
It also serves as a pizza crust; just add sauce, cheese, and any other toppings you like.
Pita Bread Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup warm water
- ½ kilo wheat flour
- 20 g yeast
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 15 g olive or vegetable oil
Instructions
Start by dissolving the yeast in ½ cup of warm water. Add the sugar, a bit of flour, stirring with a wooden spoon.
Find a warm place to let it rest and ferment for 10 minutes. Now, add more flour, salt, oil, and knead for 2 minutes.
Allow the dough to rise and become fluffy. Place the remaining flour on a surface, add the fermented mixture, and knead for 10 minutes.
Divide it into equal parts to form balls. Let it rest for another 10 minutes and roll it into round shapes with a rolling pin.
Bake for 2 minutes, one on each side, or cook on a hot greased skillet. Flip when bubbles begin to form.
How to Make Pita Bread Chips
Now that you know the recipe for pita bread, perhaps you’ll want to make some super crispy chips at home.
They resemble French fries or nachos, so the whole family will surely love them. See how easy it is.
Ingredients
(Or as much as you want)
- 5 pita breads
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon rosemary
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- Salt and pepper to taste
Preparation
Separate the bread into sheets and cut into equally sized triangles. Place the pieces on a tray or aluminum foil.
Add the doses of rosemary, paprika or ground pepper, salt, ground pepper, and creamy butter.
Mix with your hands to combine all the ingredients well and bake in a preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes.
After that time, remove them, stir, and bake again for another 8 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool. This helps them become crispier.
That’s it, as you may have noticed, making them takes little time. If you wish, you can cook them with other types of seasonings.
Enjoy them with chickpea hummus, guacamole, or any of your favorite creams or sauces.
Fried Pita Bread
This is another very delicious and simple way to prepare this famous bread. Make the dough as we taught you in the first recipe.
When ready, cut into equal portions and form small balls. Then, flatten them with a rolling pin until they’re very thin.
Fry them in hot oil and flip when they start to puff up. Remove from heat when they’re golden brown and crispy.
Once fried, remove excess oil with paper towels and try this delicious pita bread with whatever you like.
Whichever way you prepare it, you’re going to love it. This dish has the ability to adapt to a wide variety of flavors.
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