Learn more about the ancient art of bread baking by rolling up your sleeves and making a batch of homemade pita bread! This kid-friendly recipe is easier than you think, and encourages children to explore tasty ethnic foods they may not normally eat. It's a healthy and versatile vehicle just waiting to be stuffed with some turkey, veggies, falafel or hummus.
What You Need:
- 2 tablespoons yeast
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- ½ cup warm water
- 1 ½ cups flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
- Mixing bowl
- Spatula
- Rolling pin
- Sheet pan
What You Do:
- Have your child place the warm water in the bowl and sprinkle with the yeast and sugar. Yeast is a living organism, which causes the bread to rise. Working with the sugar, the yeast activates and leavens, or foams and aerates, the bread.
- After a few minutes, invite your child to take a look at what’s happened in the mixing bowl! You should see a frothing, bubbling mixture, which means its ready for the next step.
- Add the salt, vegetable oil and flour, using a spatula to incorporate.
- Lightly dust a clean workspace with flour and dump out the dough. Spend 5-minutes kneading the dough by rolling it forward and then back while pressing it with the heels of your hands.
- The dough can be placed back into the mixing bowl to rest for at least an hour.
- Preheat the oven to 400 F. Pinch off some dough about the size of a golf ball. Once again, lightly dust your workspace with flour and roll the dough into a round circle about half an inch thick.
- Place the rolled rounds of dough on the sheet pan and then place in the hot oven for 10 to 15 minutes or until they have puffed up and are lightly browned!
Once the pita bread has cooled, you can taste test it with your favorite stuffings and dips, like hummus, veggies, turkey or tuna salad!
By Sarah Lipoff
Sarah Lipoff has a K-12 Art Education degree and enjoys working with kids of all ages.
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