Pita
bread is one of the most popular wheat-based
flat breads in the United States, and
many other regions of the world. Pita
bread is leavened by yeast, rolled into
round disks, and baked in very hot ovens,
which give the bread its unique two-layer
structure. Unlike focaccia bread, which
usually has toppings piled on top of it,
pita bread is commonly cut into halves
that are each then filled with various
ingredients.
Because it is usually made with whole
wheat flour, pita bread is considered
to be one of the more nutritious breads,
with large amounts of vitamin B, protein
and iron. The origins of pita bread have
been traced to the Middle East, particularly
Israel and Syria. This bread type was
extremely popular in dry climates because
it requires little water to make, and
stores well due to its thick yet flexible
crust.
Pita bread was first introduced to the
United States by Middle Eastern restaurants,
and is now a popular addition to thousands
of hot and cold dishes in ethnic and health
food eateries. Pita is used to scoop sauces
or dips such as hummus, and to wrap sandwiches
such as kebabs, gyros and falafel. It
is also readily available in many supermarkets,
and is easier to make at home than most
traditional loaf-style breads. Pita bread
can be stored frozen for over six months,
but has no artificial preservatives.
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