Easy pita bread (πίτες ψωμιού)

There is something that feels incredibly satisfying about being able to make your own bread, especially when it doesn’t involve a trip to the shops or market for a multitude of different ingredients, or hours of rising, resting and kneading. This simple, easy recipe for pita bread only needs four ingredients, which you probably have in your store cupboard. The resulting product has none of those nasty preservatives (or gallons of salt) that keep the cardboard-like, vacuum sealed pack store bought pita breads “fresh.” This recipe also skips the instant yeast, which is often used in pita bread recipes – and the white flour and sugar. They have a lovely flavour that works well with dips, and feel almost a bit virtuous to eat. There is also enormous pleasure in seeing the pita breads, rise up with air bubbles as you cook them in a pan on the stove top.

Soft, fluffy pita breads are much loved in Greece. Their principal use is usually wrapped around a souvlaki, to soak up all those meaty juices and lashings of tzatziki. Often warms slices of pita breads are used to scoop up favourite dips, like taramasalata, tirokafteri and melizanosalata. These pita breads are so easy, you can make them at a moments notice. If you like to be well prepared, they can also be frozen for several months. The recipe also lends itself to creativity – if the mood takes you, experiment and add some fresh thyme or dried Greek oregano leaves to the flour.