Herbed Pita Bread No Fat No Sugar Food

HERBED PITA BREAD - NO FAT NO SUGAR

Steps:

• Add all ingredients in the order suggested by your bread machine manual and process on the dough cycle according to the manufacturers instructions.
• Preheat the oven to 500 degrees.
• At the end of the dough cycle divide the dough into 8 equal pieces.
• On a floured board with floured fingers, press each piece into a circle.
• Use a floured rolling pin to roll each into a very think 6 inch circle. Do not roll more than absolutely necessary, or they will not puff up.
• Place on non stick baking sheets.
• DO NOT LET RISE.
• Immediately bake until each pita puffs up and browns, about 12 to 15 minutes.
• Preparation time will depend on the length of your dough cycle in your bread machine, plus rolling time.
• Turn over half way through cooking, to get a bit of colour on both sides.

HEALTHY WHOLE WHEAT PITA BREAD (NO OIL OR SUGAR)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 500°F.
• Sift together 2 cups of flour and the yeast.
• Add water and salt and mix well.
• Gradually add in the remaining flour just until the dough begins to clean the sides of the bowl. Once this happens, stop adding flour (so, you might not use all the flour the recipe calls for.).
• Knead the dough for about 4 or 5 minutes, or until dough is smooth and elastic. (While you're kneading, you can get creative and add in some herbs or spices, but only if you want to do that). Be careful not to over-knead the dough.
• Form dough into 10 balls.
• On a floured surface, roll each ball into a 5-6 inch circle, about 1/4 inch thick. (Be sure to sprinkle a little flour on both sides to prevent sticking).
• Place on a non-stick baking sheet and allow to rise 30 minutes, or until slightly raised.
• Just before you place the pan in the oven, flip each pita over on its other side.
• Bake on the bottom rack of the oven for 5 minutes. (The instant hot heat will help them puff up).
• When the pitas come out of the oven they will be hard, but they will soften as the cool.
• Store them, while they're still warm, in plastic baggies or an airtight container.
• Cut the pitas in half crosswise and stuff with your favorite fillings (beans and rice, taco fixings, thick stews, curries - anything goes).
• Pitas can be reheated in a 350°F oven or in the microwave.

PITA BREAD

Steps:

• In the bowl of a heavy-duty electric mixer fitted with a dough hook, combine the yeast, sugar, and warm water; stir to blend. Let the yeast stand until foamy, about 5 to 10 minutes.
• Stir in the salt. Add the flour, a little at a time, mixing at the lowest speed until all the flour has been incorporated and the dough gathers into a ball; this should take about 4 minutes.
• Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead until it's smooth and elastic. Transfer the dough to a lightly oiled bowl, turn it over to coat, and cover with plastic wrap. Allow to rise until double in size, about 1 1/2 hours.
• Place a large pizza stone on the lower oven rack, preheat the oven (and stone) to 500 degrees F.
• Punch the dough down, divide it into 8 pieces, and gather each piece into a ball; keeping all of them lightly floured and covered while you work. Allow the balls of dough to rest, covered, for 15 minutes so they will be easier to roll out.
• Using a rolling pin, roll each dough ball into a circle that is about 8-inches in diameter and 1/4-inch thick. Make sure the circle is totally smooth, with no creases or seams in the dough, which can prevent the pitas from puffing up properly. Cover the disks as you roll them out, but do not stack them up. Put 2 pita rounds at a time on the hot pizza stone and bake for 3 to 4 minutes, or until the bread puffs up like a balloon and is pale golden. Watch closely; they bake fast. Remove the bread from the oven and place on a rack to cool for 5 minutes; they will naturally deflate, leaving a pocket in the center. Wrap the pitas in a large kitchen towel to keep them soft.

FAT FREE WHOLE WHEAT PITA BREAD

Steps:

• In a large mixing bowl, combine the warm water the sugar and the yeast, mix well and let sit 5 minutes. Stir in the unbleached flour and the salt, mixing until smooth. Slowly beat in the whole wheat flour. Knead dough on lightly floured surface for 3 minutes or until smooth and elastic. Cover dough and let rest 10 minutes. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Devide dough into 6 equal pieces. Roll each piece out into an approximately 6 inch circle. Bake on a cookie sheet that has been sprayed with non stick spray for 8 - 10 minutes.

HERB-RUBBED PITAS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Stir herbs together in a small bowl. Season with salt and pepper, and whisk in oil. Rub over pitas, and cut each into triangles.
• Bake pitas on baking sheets until crisp and just golden, 10 to 14 minutes.