Kypriakes Pittes - Cypriot Pittes
INGREDIENTS
500g bakers flour, plus extra for dusting
7g yeast
1 pinch sugar
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
70ml tepid milk
250ml tepid water
METHOD
In a small bowl or jug, add the yeast and sugar to the lukewarm milk and olive oil. Mix and set aside while it activates. In a large bowl, sift the flour, add the salt and give it a little mix. Once your yeast has activated, pour it in with the flour and bring it together with a spoon or your hand. Pour in half of the water and combine. Gradually pour in the rest as it starts to come away from the sides of the bowl and your dough starts to form. Depending on your flour and the weather, you may need less or more water, so make sure you add it in parts until you've formed a rough dough that is slightly tacky, not dry.
Place the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead really well until you’ve formed a soft, elasticated dough. Shape into a smooth ball, rub with a drop of olive oil, and leave it in the same bowl you used. Cover with plastic wrap and a tea towel and let it proof somewhere warm for an hour, or until it's doubled. Once 30 minutes have passed, add two trays into your oven; one at the top and another in the middle. Preheat to 250C fan forced, or as high as your oven goes.
Once your dough has doubled, punch the air out, remove it from the bowl and cut it into pieces, about 100g each and shape into small balls. Please the dough balls on a lightly floured surface, cover them with a damp towel or plastic wrap and leave them to prove for another 10 minutes.
On a floured surface, roll each piece of dough into ovals, around 1/2 cm thick. Place your dough ovals on a lightly floured surface, cover with a damp towel or plastic wrap, and let proof until slightly puffy, for about 30 minutes. Remove the hot baking tray from the middle shelf and place it pitta top-side down. Immediately close the oven door and bake 2 at a time for 3-4 minutes until they puff up and are slightly golden around the edges. Remove from the oven and place them in between a clean tea towel. Repeat with remaining pittes.
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