Hey there, sailing chefs! When you're sailing the high seas with your family, there's nothing like the smell of freshly baked Pita to make your boat feel like home. Today, we're diving into the art of making homemade pitas. These fluffy delights are perfect for scooping up your favorite dips or making sandwiches. Ready to set sail on a culinary journey?
Ingredients:
2 ½ cups (600 ml) water
1 ½ tablespoons (15 grams) dry yeast
3 tablespoons (35 grams) sugar
1 kilogram (about 7 cups) all-purpose flour
5 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon salt
Instructions:
Activate the Yeast: In a mixing bowl, combine water, yeast, and sugar. Let it sit for about 15 minutes until it's frothy. Use this time to enjoy a cup of coffee while the magic happens!
Make the Dough: Add flour, olive oil, and salt to the yeast mixture. Knead with a dough hook on medium speed for about 8 minutes. If the dough feels a bit dry after 4 minutes, add ¼ cup of water and continue kneading. Keep in mind that the dough's texture might vary depending on the weather out at sea.
Let it Rise: Cover the bowl with a cloth and let the dough rise for about an hour, or until it doubles in size. Patience, sailor—this is when the dough becomes soft and ready for action!
Preheat the Oven: Heat your oven to its maximum temperature (usually around 250°C/480°F). Make sure it’s super hot before baking.
Shape the Pitas: Divide the dough into 15 to 20 balls, depending on how big you like your pitas. Roll each into a smooth ball and let them rest on the counter, covered, for 10 minutes.
Roll Out the Pitas: Use a rolling pin to flatten each ball into a thin circle, about ½ cm thick. If you prefer a thicker pita, roll it out a bit less.
Prepare the Baking Sheet: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and lightly flour it to prevent sticking. Place 4 pitas on the sheet and cover them with a towel for another 10 minutes.
Bake the Pitas: Bake in the preheated oven for about 3 minutes on each side, or until the pitas are golden and puffed up. Remember, the oven needs to be scorching hot for that perfect pocket!
Keep Them Soft: As soon as the pitas come out of the oven, wrap them in a towel or place them in a bag to retain moisture and keep them soft.
And there you have it—delicious homemade pitas ready to be enjoyed wherever the wind takes you! Perfect for any meal, these pitas are a staple for our sailing family. Happy baking and smooth sailing!
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