spray bottle with water for spritzing dough in ovensee notes
Instructions
In a mixer, add your warm milk (I microwave my milk on high for about 1 1/2 minutes), sugar and yeast. Let the mixture sit until it becomes foamy.
Add in your salt and 2 cups of your flour. Mix the ingredients together and slowly add in more flour until the mixture is slightly sticky but pulling away from the bowl and easy to handle. Continue mixing for an additional 5 minutes until the dough is soft and smooth.
Leave the dough in the bowl and cover the bowl with a clean kitchen towel. It will need to sit and raise for at least 3-4 hours.
Heat your pizza stone in a 500° oven. Let the stone heat up as the oven is heating up. I find I have the best results if I let my pizza stone heat up for at least 30 minutes.*I place my stone on the center rack so it is in the center of the oven.
After it has risen, take the dough from the bowl and place it on a lightly floured surface and divide it in to 12 even pieces.
Roll out each piece of dough on a lightly floured surface to about a 1/4 inch thick. Then carefully take the rolled dough and gently place it on top of your hot pizza stone in the oven. Quickly spray (lightly, it doesn't need to be soaked) the bread with the water from your water bottle and close the oven door. If you want flat pita bread do not spray the water on the bread. It still may puff, just squish it down if you want it flat.
Watch the bread closely. It will need to cook on the first side for about 2 minutes. It will start to bubble and then will puff up! (this is what makes the pocket!) Flip the bread to the other side and allow it to get a few brown spots on it or until it is done to your liking.
Remove the bread from the oven and let it rest on a plate. Brush with butter while it is still warm. The puffed bread may deflate and this is ok. Cut the bread in to triangles for a side dish or for dipping or cut it in half to make 2 pocket breads for stuffing.
Notes
You need the hot pizza stone for baking. I have never used anything else but I am sure a baking sheet turned upside can work in a pinch. If your bread sticks to the pan you can cook the bread on parchment paper, or use a little extra flour and see if that helps. (I have never tried a baking sheet- so I am just guessing)You need your oven hot!! 500 degree oven and a really hot pizza stone helps with the magic of the puff! You need the light spritz of water from the water bottle as well because the spray of water along with the high heat creates steam and this is what make the bread puff, which creates the pocket!!The bread will deflate after coming out of the oven and that is ok! Once you cut the bread in half, giving yourself 2 pockets, you can take a knife and gently slide it along the opening to get your pocket open!If you want flat pita bread do not spray the water on the bread. It still may puff, just squish it down if you want it flat.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should only be used as an approximation.