Greek Pita Bread Recipe (2024)

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Here's the best homemade pita bread recipe, that's flavorful, and easy to make. It's soft and elastic perfect for wraps. Fresh pita bread is much more tasty than store-bought and frozen.

Greek Pita Bread Recipe (1)

What is Pita bread? Pita bread is a Greek flat bread with a round shape cooked on a very hot surface like a frying pan, a grill, or a griddle. It is used to make wraps like Souvlaki wraps or Gyros wraps you may also know it as Gyros bread.

Table Of Contents
  • Ingredients
  • How To Make Pita Bread
  • Is Pita Bread Healthy?
  • To Make A Greek Pita Wrap
  • Storing
  • Recipe

Ingredients

What is Pita bread made of? Pita bread is made of flour, yeast, water, sugar, salt, and a neutral oil such as sunflower or corn oil.

Instant dry yeast works best in this recipe but you can use fresh if you like as well. Substituting with 18 grams of fresh yeast instead of dry.

Greek Pita Bread Recipe (2)

How To Make Pita Bread

Here's how to make Gyro bread / Greek Pita Bread:

  • Mix together the dry ingredients (flour, salt, sugar)
  • Dissolve yeast in water
  • Add wet ingredients (water with yeast and the oil) to the dry ingredients
  • Knead by hand until you get a soft dough (you may use an electric mixer if you wish)
  • Rest dough until doubled in a warm oven
  • Cut and separate the dough into small round balls
  • Open each dough ball into a round flat disk, no need to use a rolling pin you can do it with your hands

How To Cook Pita Bread:

  • Heat a non-stick frying pan, cast iron pan, griddle, or grill over high heat
  • Brush the pan or the grates of the grill with oil
  • Cook the flatbread for 2 and a half minutes to 3 minutes overall flipping it halfway once or twice to get even color on both sides

NOTE: If you don't want to make big flatbread to use for wraps you can make smaller ones 15 cm (6-inch) instead of 20 cm (8-inch). They'll be more like soft, round, mini breads to serve together with soups, stews, or dips.

Greek Pita Bread Recipe (3)

Is Pita Bread Healthy?

Classic Greek Pita flatbread you can't say it's a healthy food. It's not unhealthy though either. It's neutral because it doesn't give much in terms of nutrition. The flour is refined white flour so one way Pita bread can be healthy is when made with whole-wheat flour that contains many nutrients, including fiber, which is missing from refined white flour.

If you're looking for a healthy Pita bread recipe you can try my Greek yogurt pita bread that's also made without any yeast.

Calories In Pita Bread

As for Pita bread calories, there are 373 kcal in each flatbread this recipe yields. The flatbreads are big enough though and turning one into a wrap is very filling. Especially with some low-calorie, high-protein pita bread fillings such as Grilled chicken, Chicken Souvlaki, and Tzatziki.

Greek Pita Bread Recipe (4)

Recipes For Pita Bread

Here are a few recipes for using pita bread:

  • Chicken Gyros With Tzatziki
  • Marinated Pork Gyros Wraps
  • Pork Souvlaki Pita Wraps
  • Pita Chips

To Make A Greek Pita Wrap

Add the following ingredients to make a Pita bread wrap:

  1. Protein ⟶ Gyros, Meatballs, Souvlaki (meat skewer), or Halloumi (for a Vegetarian version)
  2. A sauce ⟶ Tzatziki (what's traditionally added), Tirokafteri (feta cheese dip), or Mayo Mustard sauce (another classic served in Greek grillhouses)
  3. Potato fries (optional)
  4. Veggies ⟶ Tomatoes, Onions (raw, sliced), Cucumbers, Lettuce (shredded)

Storing

Homemade pita bread freezes well. Just place it in a plastic freezer bag and freeze for up to 6 months. You don't need to reheat it after thawing just let it reach room temperature.

In the fridge, it will keep nicely for up to 4 days if you place it on a plate and cover the stack airtightly with plastic wrap.

Greek Pita Bread Recipe (5)

What To Eat With Pita Bread:

In Greece, Pita bread is a favorite side to grilled meat. Especially to Souvlaki (skewers). Also, it goes hand in hand with Tzatziki or a spicy Feta Dip. A Greek salad is also a classic to serve together with Pita flatbread.

Recipe

Greek Pita Bread Recipe (6)

Greek Pita Bread Recipe

Authentic Greek Pita bread recipe. Soft and flexible perfect to use for Gyros and Souvlaki wraps.

4.50 from 2 votes

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Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: Greek

Keyword: bread, Wrap

Prep Time: 30 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes

Servings: 6 flatbreads

Calories: 373kcal

Ingredients

  • 500 grams (4 cups + 2 tablespoons) all-purpose flour
  • 9 grams (1 tablespoon) instant dry yeast
  • 300 ml lukewarm water
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 3 tablespoons sunflower or corn oil + some extra to oil the pan and the pitas

Instructions

  • Sift flour in a large bowl.

  • Mix flour with salt and sugar.

  • Dissolve yeast in water.

  • Add the oil and yeast water to the flour.

  • Knead for 6-10 minutes until you have a soft non-sticky dough. See Note 1 below.

  • Oil lightly the bowl and the top of the dough. Place the dough in the bowl.

  • Cover the bowl with a dampened tea towel.

  • Heat the oven to 100°C/ 210°F for 2 minutes then turn it off.

  • Rise. Place the bowl in the oven and allow to rise for 1 hour and 30 minutes until almost tripled in size. Alternatively, you can leave it to rise at room temperature.

  • Press the dough to remove the air. Then transfer to a lightly oiled working surface.

  • Knead dough for a minute.

  • Shape into a round ball and then into a cord.

  • Cut the dough in half and then cut each half into 3 pieces of the same size (6 in total).

  • Shape each piece into a round ball. Make sure you close the bottom of the dough well.

  • Brush lightly each dough ball with oil. Then cover with a tea towel and rest for 10 minutes.

  • Shape into flatbread. Take a dough ball and open it up with your hands into a round 20-cm (8-inch) disk.

  • Heat a non-stick frying pan (or a cast-iron skillet) over high heat.

  • Brush pan with oil.

  • Cook the flatbread for 1 minute then flip and cook for another minute. Then turn the heat to low and cook for 30 more seconds. See Note 2 below.

  • Transfer the flatbread to a clean tea towel to cool. Turn the heat to high again.

  • Prepare the next flatbread.

  • Continue like this until you cook all the Pita.

  • Serve with dips, make wraps, or store it in the freezer for later use.

  • To store in the freezer place in a freezer plastic bag and freeze for up to 6 months.

Video

Notes

Note 1: As you begin kneading the dough it might feel like it needs more water. Give it some time for the flour to absorb the water by kneading. If it still feels too sticky, dust in some extra flour. On the other hand, if while kneading the dough feels too dense, add a very small amount of extra water.

Note 2: The pan should be really hot but not smokey hot. If it gets smokey hot remove from heat and allow the temperature to drop for a few seconds before adding the Pita.

Nutrition

Serving: 1flatbread | Calories: 373kcal | Carbohydrates: 65g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Sodium: 393mg | Potassium: 104mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin C: 0.01mg | Calcium: 15mg | Iron: 4mg

Tried this recipe?I would love to see! Mention @real_greek_recipes or tag #real_greek_recipes!

More Greek Pies And Breads Recipes

  • Greek Vasilopita - New Year's Bread
  • Greek Phyllo Meat Pie (Kimadopita)
  • Roasted Vegetable Pie
  • Macaroni Pie Recipe (Makaronopita)
Greek Pita Bread Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What's the difference between a Greek pita and a regular pita? ›

Greek pita bread is one of those lesser-known flatbreads that is often referred to as “Mediterranean Pita” or as “pocket-less pita”. Whereas the more common pita bread (sometimes called “Arabic pita”) has a hollow “pocket” that is usually stuffed, Greek pita bread is soft, slightly thicker and has no pocket.

What is Greek pita bread made of? ›

Greek pita bread (flatbreads)

In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, yeast, salt and sugar. Slowly start integrating the water, milk and olive oil. You should get a supple dough that comes away from the sides of the bowl. Once the pita bread dough has risen, lightly dust a surface and cut in 6 pieces.

Is Greek pita bread good for you? ›

Like other whole-grain foods, pita bread can and should be included in a healthy diet and may provide significant health benefits. Eating more whole-grain, complex carbohydrates instead of refined grains has been associated with reduced risk of heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and obesity.

Is gyro bread and pita bread the same? ›

The pita is more prevalent, and gyros have been around for a short time. The pita is a soft and leavened flatbread, generally round or oval. It is often used in pockets because that helps hold the fillings and can also be cut and used as a tortilla. On the other hand, Gyros is the meat filling inside the pita.

What is the healthiest pita bread to eat? ›

Choose whole wheat varieties, which contain more fiber and nutrients. Choose lower sodium options, especially if you are watching your blood pressure. Select pita bread with higher fiber and/or protein content which will help keep you full.

What does opa put on their pita bread? ›

tzatziki and topped with your choice of onions, tomatoes, lettuce, fresh jalapeno peppers and feta cheese.

Is naan the same as Greek pita? ›

Naan bread is more moist and tender than pita bread. This is due to the added ghee (butter oil) and soybean or canola oil, which increases the total fat to 10 g versus the 5 g in the pita, which contains only a small amount of oil. The naan bread also has double the amount of sodium that is in the pita.

What do you eat with Greek pita bread? ›

Here're 7 Side Dishes To Pair With Pita Bread:
  1. Hummus (Our Recommendation) Hummus is the most popular side dish paired with pita bread. ...
  2. Tzatziki. Tzatziki is a traditional Greek dip made from yogurt, cucumber, olive oil and garlic. ...
  3. Chicken Caesar Salad. ...
  4. Grilled Vegetables. ...
  5. Tabouli. ...
  6. Falafel. ...
  7. Roasted Sweet Potato.
Mar 2, 2023

How do Greeks eat pita bread? ›

Pita bread is best eaten fresh from the oven, while it is inflated into an elliptical balloon. You can either cut it cross ways, so that you have two pockets, or slit it along one long side to make a longer envelope. Watch out, but savour that little puff of fragrant bready steam that comes out as you make your cut.

Is pita bread anti inflammatory? ›

Pita bread reduces inflammation within the body.

Is it okay to eat pita bread everyday? ›

Eating pita bread by itself may not be fattening, but it depends on the rest of your diet and overall calorie intake. While pita bread is a healthy option in moderation, consuming too many calories from any source can lead to weight gain over time. The key is to practice moderation and balance in your diet.

What are the three main foods in Greece? ›

Ancient Greek cuisine was characterized by its frugality and was founded on the "Mediterranean triad": wheat, olive oil, and wine, with meat being rarely eaten and fish being more common.

What is Greece's national dish? ›

You'll find moussaka, with its chunky layers of deeply savoury, sweetly spiced meat, silky aubergines and creamy bechamel sauce, on the menu at every whitewashed tourist taverna. No surprise, then, that it's perceived by many visitors as Greece's national dish.

What is the typical Greek breakfast? ›

The Greeks never fail to start their day off with a hearty mix! A typical Greek breakfast usually consists of a wide variety of bread, pastry, fruits, and Greek yogurt. These foods are high in nutritional value and a great source of energy — an excellent way to begin your Greek food adventures!

Is Greek pita bread different? ›

In Greek, pita (πίτα) is understood by default to refer to the thicker, pocketless Greek pita, whereas the thinner khubz-style pita is referred to as aravikí pita (αραβική πίτα, lit. "Arabic pastry").

Is there different types of pita bread? ›

As for the pita bread, there are two types: the flat, thin style that is easily torn and has a chewy texture, and the thicker, spongy style used as a pocket for sandwiches.

Is Greek pita bread the same as flatbread? ›

A Pita Bread IS a flatbread! It's an unleavened type of bread, therefore, a flatbread. But flatbread can be made from anything even just plain flour and water. Other types of flatbreads include Naan (West & South Asia), Piadina (Italian), Lavash (Armenian), Roti (India).

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