Greek Pita Pockets Food

THE EASIEST HOMEMADE PITA BREAD RECIPE!

Steps:

• To prepare this pitta bread recipe add in a mixer's bowl the yeast, sugar and water and blend to dissolve the yeast. Set aside for 5-10 minutes until yeast froths.
• Add the flour and salt and mix using the dough hook for 6-8 minutes. Alternatively you could mix the ingredients by hand.
• Depending on the flour used, the dough may need a little bit less or more flour than this pita bread recipe calls for. After mixing for a while the dough for your pita bread should become an elastic ball and a bit sticky.
• When ready, coat the dough with olive oil, place in a bowl and cover with plastic wrap and a kitchen towel. Let it sit in a warm place, for at least 20 minutes or until it doubles its size. This is an important step for this pita bread recipe. The first proof makes the pita bread fluffy and soft. If it is winter, turn the oven on for a minute or two, until it's a little warm, switch it off and then let the dough rise in it.
• Take the dough out of the bowl and gently deflate with your hands. Use just a tiny bit of flour to help you if it is too sticky. Split into 6 evenly sized balls around145g/ 5 oz. each.
• Let the pita bread balls rest for 15 minutes before shaping. This is the second proof and will allow your dough to relax and become easier to shape.
• To form the pita bread, you can either use a rolling pin, or stretch it with your hands, about 20cm in diameter. A rolling pin will make a crunchier pita, while hand stretching a softer, fluffier one. If the dough springs back, set it aside for a few minutes to rest and then continue rolling again.
• For a more traditional look on your pita bread, press the dough firmly with your fingertips forming dimples or use a fork to make some holes on top.
• , heat a non-sticking frying pan to medium heat and add just a little bit of olive oil and wipe off any excess. Bake each pita bread for about 3 minutes on each side, until slightly coloured and still soft. If your pan has a lid, place the lid on while baking them to keep the moisture in.
• use the steam method. Cut a piece of aluminium foil to the size of your pan. Generously sprinkle and spread some olive oil on it. Shape and place your pita on the foil. Pour a large glug of water in your plan over medium low heat - it should start steaming immediately! Place your pita immediately in it and cover with the lid. Let it steam for 12-15 minutes. Take it out, flip it over and cook for another 2-3 minutes on the foil.
• To give it more colour, when you flip your pita bread, push it lightly with a wooden spoon on the pan.

GREEK SALAD PITA POCKETS WITH GRILLED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Place chicken cutlets in a shallow baking dish. In a small bowl, whisk together lemon juice, 2 tablespoons olive oil, oregano, and 2 cloves garlic. Pour mixture over chicken cutlets and let marinate 10 minutes.
• Heat grill pan over high heat. Remove cutlets from marinade and season on both sides with salt and pepper. Grill until cooked through, 3 minutes per side. Let rest 5 minutes, then thinly slice.
• In a large bowl, toss together cucumber, tomatoes, red onion, feta, and mint (and olives, if using). In a small bowl, whisk together red wine vinegar and remaining garlic clove. Slowly add remaining 4 tablespoons olive oil in steady stream, whisking constantly. Season with salt and pepper. Drizzle vinaigrette over salad and toss gently to combine.
• Stuff each pita pocket half with grilled chicken and top with Greek salad.

GREEK PITA POCKET

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine yogurt, 2 tbsp (30 mL) of the lemon juice, dill and ¼ tsp (1 mL) of the lemon pepper. Set aside.
• In a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, sauté beef, onion and garlic, breaking up meat with a spoon until beef crumbles, for 5 minutes or until beef is no longer pink and onion is tender. Stir in tomatoes, Greek seasoning, remaining 2 tsp (10 mL) of lemon juice and remaining ¼ tsp (1 mL) of lemon pepper. Cook for 5 minutes or until heated through.
• Place pitas on a work surface. Spread yogurt sauce equally in each pita. Place lettuce, beef mixture and feta cheese equally in each pita.
• Tip: Fresh dill can be kept for only about 2 days. It's wonderful in chicken salad, with seafood and as a garnish to many dishes.
• To make your own Greek seasoning: In a small bowl, combine ¼ tsp (1 mL) each dried oregano, dried parsley, dried garlic powder and salt.

GREEK PITA POCKETS

Steps:

• Mix all ingredients except bread.
• Spoon about 1/2 cup of the cheese mixture into each pita bread half.

GREEK GRILLED CHICKEN PITAS

Steps:

• Marinate chicken in vinaigrette, covered, in refrigerator for at least 4 hours or overnight. In a small bowl, combine the sauce ingredients; chill until serving., Drain and discard marinade. If grilling the chicken, lightly oil the grill rack. Grill chicken, covered, over medium heat or broil 4 in. from the heat until a thermometer reads 170°, 4-7 minutes on each side., Cut chicken into strips. Fill each pita half with chicken, cucumber, tomatoes, onion and cheese; drizzle with sauce.

GREEK PITA POCKETS

Steps:

• In small bowl, stir together yogurt and lemon juice; set aside.
• In nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, cook sausage, stirring frequently and crumbling for 2 minutes. Add onion, olives, and mushrooms; cook 4 minutes more.
• Add spinach leaves and cook until wilted and sausage is fully cooked, about 1 to 3 minutes. Add eggs and cook, stirring constantly until almost dry. Remove from heat and stir in feta.
• Stuff each pita half with feta-egg mixture. Serve immediately with lemon yogurt.

WHOLE WHEAT PITA

Steps:

• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, mix together the water, sugar and yeast. Let it sit until foamy, about 5 minutes.
• With the mixer running on low speed, add the oil and salt, and then gradually add the bread and whole-wheat flours. Increase the speed to medium high and mix for 7 to 10 minutes, adding just enough additional bread flour so that the dough no longer sticks to the bowl. Do not add too much flour; the dough should be smooth and slightly sticky. Lightly coat a clean large bowl with oil or cooking spray and place the dough in the bowl, turning it once or twice to coat it in oil. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let it rise at room temperature until it has doubled in size, about 2 hours.
• Turn the dough out onto a clean work surface and divide it into 12 equal pieces. Mold each piece into a ball by stretching the top and tucking the edges under. Place the balls 1 inch apart on a piece of parchment paper, cover them with plastic wrap and let rise for 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F and line 2 baking sheets with parchment.
• Lightly dust a work surface with flour. With a rolling pin, roll out the balls of dough into 1/4-inch-thick circles. Place them on the lined baking sheets and bake until cooked through and puffy, about 5 minutes. You do not want them to brown. Cool on a rack and enjoy.
• Leftovers can be frozen in an airtight container or ziptop bag and then reheated in the microwave or toaster.

GREEK FLATBREAD-PITA

Steps:

• In a bowl combine the sugar, yeast, water and milk. Set aside for 5 minutes until mixture starts to froth.
• In a large bowl, combine the flour, salt and the thyme leaves. Mix well.
• Add the olive oil to the yeast mixture and stir well.
• Gradually add the yeast mixture to the flour mix. Mix well each time you add the yeast mixture.
• Transfer dough mix to a lightly floured working surface. Knead for 4-5 minutes until the dough becomes smooth.
• Brush a bowl with some oil and add the dough. Cover with a damp towel and let it rest for about 40 minutes, until it rises and doubles in size.
• Cut dough into 6 equal sized pieces.
• With your hands, gently stretch each piece of dough to a circle about 7 -8 inch wide. You can also use a rolling pin.
• Place a cast iron pan over high heat. Add 1 tsp olive oil.
• Cook each pita bread for 1-2 minutes on each side in the pan, until it puffs up a little and starts browning. (Add a little olive oil to the pan after cooking 1-2 pitas).

GREEK CHICKEN PITA POCKETS - CROCK POT!

Steps:

• Place chicken in greased crock pot.
• Top the chicken with onions, lemon pepper and oregano.
• Cook on low for 6-8 hours.
• 10 minutes before serving, remove the chicken and shred it with two forks.
• It should just fall apart.
• Put the shredded meat back into the pot.
• Stir in the yogurt.
• To make the sandwich, split open your pita bread and spoon the chicken inside.
• This would be wonderful with some sliced tomatoes and cucumbers and some hummus on the side.
• Enjoy!

THE SOFTEST PITA POCKET RECIPE: THE OVEN METHOD

Steps:

• Combine the dry ingredients in a large bowl and whisk together. Set aside.
• In the bowl of a tabletop mixer that is fitted with the dough hook attachment, add all of the wet ingredients except for the olive oil. Allow the yeast to activate for 8 minutes. As soon as a puffy cloud forms at the top of the mixture, the yeast is active.
• Add the olive oil along with all of the dry ingredients and knead on low speed for 12 minutes.
• Lightly grease a large bowl with 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil and transfer the dough to the bowl. Toss to coat in oil and cover with plastic wrap. Set aside in the warmest room of your home to rise until doubled in volume. About 1 hour.
• Preheat the oven to 525 °F, 270 °C.
• Cut the dough into 10 equal portions.
• Lightly flour your work surface and roll each portion of dough out into about 6-7-inch circles. Keep their thickness even. Use as much flour as needed to roll them out evenly.
• Line 3 baking trays with parchment paper and sprinkle some semolina flour on top if desired.
• Place 3 pitas on each baking tray.
• Cover the dough with a clean kitchen towel and allow it to rise for 30 minutes.
• Bake the trays in the preheated oven for approximately 4 minutes or until the pockets are formed.
• Transfer the pitas to a plate and serve immediately.
• Leftover pitas can be stored in an airtight bag or container and kept in the freezer or the refrigerator until ready to use.

GREEK CHICKEN IN A PITA

Steps:

• In a blender combine juice, 1 tablespoon oil, garlic, coriander, cumin, salt and pepper and mint or cilantro leaves. Process until smooth and pour over chicken to marinate. Refrigerate chicken and allow to marinate for 30 minutes. In a small bowl stir together yogurt, cucumber and chopped mint.
• In a large skillet heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium high heat. Add marinated chicken and cook for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Heat pitas under a broiler or in a toaster oven. Slice open pitas and stuff with chicken, tomatoes, lettuce and top with yogurt dressing. Serve immediately.

GREEK CHICKEN SALAD PITA POCKETS

Steps:

• In a small bowl, whisk together vinaigrette ingredients; set aside.
• In a medium bowl, toss the lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, chicken and feta with Greek Vinaigrette.
• Split the pita in half to form a pocket. Spread 2 Tbsp. of hummus inside of the pita pocket. Fill the pocket with Chicken Salad. Enjoy!

GREEK PITA POCKETS

Steps:

• Combine first four ingredients until well mixed.
• stir in cucumbers, tomatoes, olives, and onion.
• brush pita pockets and toast until warm in toaster oven.
• generously spread pita pockets with hummus.
• fill with basil, greens, meat and yogurt mixture.

VEGGIE PITA POCKETS

Steps:

• On a sturdy cutting board, cut the pita pieces in half. Slowly pull each side apart to create a little pocket.
• In each separate pocket, spread 1 tablespoon of hummus and sprinkle 1 tablespoon of feta cheese.
• Fill the rest of the pocket with equal amounts carrot, cucumber, radishes, and sprouts.
• Sprinkle sunflower seeds into the pocket.
• For the sauce, mix the greek yogurt, lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, dill, salt, and pepper in a medium sized bowl.
• Serve the pitas with the greek yogurt sauce and fresh veggies on the side.