Traditional Pita Breads

Ingredients

• 1 package active yeast dry
• 1.5 teaspoons salt 
• 0.3 cup vegetable shortening 
• 1.3 cups warm water (100 to 110 degrees F/40 to 45 degrees C)

Equipment

• baking sheet
• oven
• mixing bowl
• kitchen towels
• spatula

Directions

1. Sprinkle yeast over warm water in a mixing bowl and allow to stand until the yeast forms a creamy foam, about 5 minutes.
2. Mix in 2 cups of flour, salt, and shortening; beat for 2 minutes with a fork. Stir in as much of the remaining 1 1/2 cup flour as needed.
3. Turn dough out onto a floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, kneading in more flour if dough is sticky. Form into a ball, cover with a kitchen towel, and let rest in a warm area for 15 minutes.
4. Preheat oven to 500 degrees F (260 degrees C).
5. Divide dough into 12 equal portions; flour your hands and roll each piece into a ball. Cover dough balls with a kitchen towel and let rest for 10 minutes. Flatten the balls into rounds on a floured surface, cover with kitchen towel, and let rest 10 more minutes. Gently roll each dough ball into a circle about 6 inches in diameter on a floured surface.
6. Place pita breads in a single layer on ungreased baking sheets.
7. Bake in preheated oven until the pita breads puff up, 3 to 4 minutes. Flip breads over with a spatula, return to oven, and bake 2 more minutes.
8. Let cool on wire racks before cutting pita breads in half and gently separating tops and bottoms to form pockets for filling.