Toasted Pitas Recipes

TOASTED PITAS

Steps:

• Cut pitas into 2 rounds. Butter lightly, if desired.
• Toast for 5 to 7 minutes until pitas are crisp.

SPICY TOASTED PITAS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Split pitas in half horizontally; arrange cut sides up on two baking sheets.
• In a small bowl, mix olive oil with curry powder. Brush tops of pitas with seasoned oil; sprinkle with mustard seeds. Season with salt and pepper.
• Bake until golden and crisp, 10 to 12 minutes.

GRILLED PITA

Steps:

• Whisk 2 1/2 cups flour and the yeast, salt and sugar in a large bowl. Add the water and mix using a rubber spatula until the dough comes together. The dough should be a little sticky, but soft and able to hold its shape. Add up to 1/2 cup more flour, if needed. Transfer the dough to a floured surface and knead until it's soft, smooth and elastic, 5 to 7 minutes. Alternatively, you can use a stand mixer and knead until the dough becomes soft and elastic, about 5 minutes. The dough might be just a little sticky and that's okay.
• Place the dough in a clean bowl and cover with plastic wrap and a kitchen towel. Place in a draft-free area, such as a turned-off oven, until doubled in size, about 90 minutes.
• Gently deflate the dough by pressing it down with your hands. Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and divide into 8 pieces. Shape each piece into a ball and gently flatten. Cover with a kitchen towel and let rest for 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, place a cast-iron griddle on an outdoor grill and heat it to medium high (450 degrees F) with the lid closed. Alternatively, you can use a large cast-iron skillet.
• Use a lightly floured rolling pin to roll out 1 piece of dough into a round about 1/4-inch thick, flipping the dough a few times to prevent it from sticking. Meanwhile, keep the remaining pieces of dough covered with a kitchen towel. Transfer the rolled-out pitas to a baking sheet and cover with a kitchen towel. Repeat with the remaining dough, stacking the rounds with a flour-dusted piece of parchment or wax paper between each round to prevent them from sticking.
• Brush the griddle lightly with olive oil. Sprinkle a little water on a rolled-out pita and place it on the griddle. You can cook 2 pitas at a time on a grill pan and 1 pita at a time on a cast-iron skillet. Close the grill and cook until there are small light brown spots on the pita, about 2 1/2 minutes on each side. Some of the pitas will puff up as they cook. Transfer to a platter and cover with a clean towel to prevent them from drying out. Repeat with the remaining rolled-out pitas. (It shouldn't be necessary to re-oil the griddle if it is well-seasoned.) Serve warm.

WHITE BEAN-TAHINI PUREE WITH TOASTED PITAS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• For the toasted pita chips: Combine the cumin, za'atar, chile powder and granulated garlic in a small bowl. Brush the pitas on both sides with the olive oil; cut each pita into 8 triangles. Toss the pita wedges in the spice mixture until fully coated, then spread them out on a baking sheet. Toast in the oven until golden brown and crispy, 14 to 16 minutes. Let cool on a paper-towel-lined plate.
• For the white bean-tahini puree: Lay the anchovies on a small baking sheet and place in the oven for 6 to 8 minutes.
• In a large saute pan over medium-high heat, add the olive oil, garlic, cannellini beans and roasted anchovies. Cook, stirring often, for 4 to 6 minutes; transfer to a food processor along with the tahini, chicken stock, salt, red pepper flakes, black pepper and lemon juice and zest. Process until smooth and creamy. Transfer the puree to a bowl and garnish with the chives. Serve immediately with the toasted pita chips.

TOASTED PITA TRIANGLES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Cut each pita in half and then each half in triangles and place them in a single layer on a sheet pan. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle generously with salt.
• Bake for 10 minutes.

TOASTED PITA THINS

Steps:

• Halve the pita loaves horizontally, forming 32 rounds, and brush the rough side of each round lightly with some of the oil. Cut each round into long thin triangular strips with scissors, bake the strips in one layer in jelly-roll pans in the lower third of a preheated 400°F. oven for 6 to 10 minutes, or until they are golden, and let them cool. The pita thins may be made 1 week in advance and kept in an airtight container.

TOASTED PITA CHIPS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Using kitchen scissors, halve each pita horizontally. Cut each piece in half. Place, rough side up, on a baking sheet. Brush with oil; season with oregano, salt, and pepper. Bake until golden, 12 to 15 minutes.

PITA TOASTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375° F.
• Halve pitas horizontally to form 8 rounds and lightly brush rough sides with oil. Season pitas with salt and cut each round into 6 wedges.
• Arrange wedges in one layer on 2 baking sheets and bake in upper and lower thirds of oven, switching position of sheets halfway through baking, 10 to 15 minutes, or until golden and crisp. Cool toasts. Toasts may be made 1 day ahead and kept in an airtight container at room temperature.