Mediterranean Pita Food

FATTOUSH SALAD

Steps:

• Break the pita bread into small bite-size pieces. Heat 3 tbsp of olive oil in a large pan until shimmering, and add the pita bread. Fry briefly until browned, tossing frequently. Using a pair of tongs, transfer the fried pita chips to a plate lined with paper towel to drain. Season with salt, pepper and sumac.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine the chopped lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes, green onions with the sliced radish and parsley.
• To make the dressing, in a small bowl, whisk together the lemon or lime juice, olive oil, pomegranate molasses (if using), salt, pepper and spices.
• Pour toss lightly. Finally, add the pita chips, and more sumac if you like, and toss one more time. Transfer to small serving bowls or plates. Enjoy!

HOMEMADE PITA BREAD RECIPE

Steps:

• In a large mixing bowl add 1 cup lukewarm water and stir in yeast and sugar until dissolved. Add 1/2 cup flour and whisk together. Place the mixing bowl in a warm place, uncovered to form a lose sponge. Give it 15 minutes or so, the mixture should bubble.
• Now add salt, olive oil and almost all the remaining flour (keep about 1/2 cup of the flour for dusting later). Stir until mixture forms a shaggy mass (at this point, the dough has little to no gluten development and just looks like a sticky mess and you can easily pull bits off). Dust with a little flour, then knead the mixture inside the bowl for about a minute to incorporate any stray bits.
• Dust a clean working surface with just a little bit of flour. Knead lightly for a couple minutes or so until smooth. Cover and let the dough rest for 10 minutes, then knead again for a couple more minutes. The dough should be a little bit moist, you can help it with a little dusting of flour, but be careful not to add too much flour.
• Clean the mixing bowl and coat it lightly with extra virgin olive oil and put the dough back in the bowl. Turn the dough a couple times in the bowl to coat with the olive oil. Cover the mixing bowl tightly with plastic wrap then lay a kitchen towel over. Put the bowl in a warm place. Leave it alone for 1 hour or until the dough rises to double its size.
• Deflate the dough and place it on a clean work surface. Divide the dough into 7 to 8 equal pieces and shape them into balls. Cover with a towel and leave them for 10 minutes or so to rest.
• Using a floured rolling pin, roll one of the pieces into a circle that's 8-9 inches wide and about a quarter inch thick. It helps to lift and turn the dough frequently as you roll so that dough doesn't stick to your counter too much. (If dough starts to stick, sprinkle a tiny bit of flour). If the dough starts to spring back, set it aside to rest for a few minutes, then continue rolling. Repeat with the other pieces of dough. (Once you get going, you can be cooking one pita while rolling another, if you like). You have two options for baking the pita from here.
• Heat the oven to 475 degrees F and place a heavy-duty baking pan or large cast iron skillet on the middle rack to heat. Working in batches, place the rolled-out pitas directly on the hot baking baking sheet (I was only able to fit 2 at a time). Bake for 2 minutes on one side, and then, using a pair of tongs, carefully turn pita over to bake for 1 minute on the other side. The pita will puff nicely and should be ready. Remove from the oven and cover the baked pitas with a clean towel while you work on the rest of the pitas.
• To cook pita on stovetop: Heat a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. (Test by adding a couple drops of water to the skillet, the skillet is ready when the beads of water sizzle immediately). Drizzle a tiny bit of extra virgin olive oil and wipe off any excess. Working with one pita at a time, lay a rolled-out pita on the skillet and bake for 30 seconds, until bubbles start to form. Using a spatula, flip the pita over and cook for 1-2 minutes on the other side, until large toasted spots appear on the underside. Flip again and cook another 1-2 minutes to toast the other side. The pita is ready when it puffs up forming a pocket (sometimes, with this method, the pita may not puff or may only form a small pocket. Try pressing the surface of the pita gently with a clean towel). Keep baked pita covered with a clean towel while you work on the rest.

MEDITERRANEAN PITA PIZZAS

Steps:

• 1. Preheat a grill on medium-low heat. Using a fork, mix together the feta, 1/3 cup warm water, 1/4 teaspoon of the Italian seasoning, the lemon zest, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper in a small mixing bowl until the mixture comes together and the feta is in small chunks. Set aside.
• 2. Heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sirloin, the remaining 1/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and cook until the meat is no longer pink and begins to brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Drain any liquid off and set aside.
• 3. Spread the feta mixture on the pitas and top with the cooked meat. Place a large piece of nonstick foil directly onto the preheated grill. Place the pitas on the foil, cover and grill until the bottoms begin to char and the cheese melts, about 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and sprinkle with the sliced mint, olives, tomatoes and onions. Serve warm.

MEDITERRANEAN PITA TRIANGLES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
• Place whole pitas on baking sheet.
• Mix yogurt, tahini, lemon juice, water and garlic until smooth.
• Spread half of yogurt mixture on each pita bread.
• Cut yellow pepper lengthwise into strips about 1/8 inch wide, then cut strips in half and place decoratively on pitas.
• Then top each pita with half of the tomatoes, olives and feta.
• Bake for 8 minutes, until pita begins to crisp and feta is beginning to melt.
• Remove from oven, cut pitas into 6-8 triangles and serve warm, or leave whole and serve as individual pizzas.

MEDITERRANEAN PITA BREAD

Steps:

• In a large mixing bowl soften yeast in warm water.
• Add 2 cups flour, shortening and salt.
• Beat at low speed of electric mixer for 1/2 minute, scraping bowl.
• Beat 3 minutes on medium.
• Stir in as much remaining flour as you can mix in with a spoon.
• Turn onto a lightly floured work surface.
• Knead in enough remaining flour to make a soft dough that is smooth and elastic.
• Cover, and let rest in a warm place about 15 minutes.
• Divide into 12 equal portions.
• Roll each piece with floured hands into a smooth ball.
• Cover with a damp cloth, let rest 10 minutes.
• Using fingers, flatten balls.
• Cover, let rest 10 minutes.
• On a well floured surface lightly roll one piece of dough at a time into a circle 6 inches in diameter, turning dough over once.
• Do not puncture or tear dough.
• (Work with enough flour so dough does not stick) Place on baking sheet.
• Bake one sheet at a time, in a 450 F oven about 3 minutes or until dough is puffed and softly set.
• Turn with a spatula, and bake 2 more minutes until dough is light brown.
• Repeat with remaining dough, baking one batch before uncovering and rolling the next.
• To serve, slice bread crosswise and fill the pockets with a filling or cut into wedges and pan fry to a crisp for dipping.

MEDITERRANEAN PITA POCKET SANDWICHES

Steps:

• 1. Adjust oven rack to middle position. Heat oven to 350 degrees.
• 2. In a small bowl, mix sour cream, yogurt, cucumber,lemon juice, 2 minced garlic clove, feta, pepper to taste;.
• 3. Wrap pitas in foil and Place in oven; bake until warm and pliable, 5 minutes. Cut in half.
• 4. Meanwhile, heat oil in a large skillet over high heat saute onion until golden brown. Add meat, oregano and remaining minced garlic; continue to saute for about 2 minutes.
• To serve first fill pitas with lettuce, followed by meat, tomatoes and cucumber sauce.

MEDITERRANEAN PITA

Steps:

• Mix beans, artichokes, dressing, horseradish sauce and oregano in medium bowl.
• Add spinach and tomato; toss lightly.
• Spoon evenly into pita halves.