Pita bread is a flat yeast bread that is popularly known for making Greek gyros. The word pita actually means flat in Greek. You can usually find pita bread in your local grocery store’s bakery or deli departments. You can find pita bread with pockets, without pockets, whole wheat versions, or even mini pita pockets. But what do you do with them?
Pita bread makes a great bread for making sandwiches. Just about any sandwich that you can make with traditional bread can be made using pita bread instead. One of my family’s favorite recipes for pita bread sandwiches are chicken pita pockets. They can easily be made with shredded or cut up pieces of chicken, fresh spinach leaves, and dressing. You can make vegetable pita sandwiches using sauteed bell peppers, onions, and zucchini marinated in your favorite vegetable marinade and that has been either grilled or broiled. Stuff the mixture of veggies into a pita pocket, or for pitas with no pockets place filling onto one half of pita bread and fold over. Tuna, chicken, or egg salad would also make great pita sandwich fillers. You can create sandwiches using mini pitas in the traditional way, replacing the slices of bread with the mini pitas. Place sliced apples or bananas with peanut butter into pocket pitas or on one half of a non-pocketed pita and fold over.
You can also use pita pockets in place of hamburger buns for sloppy joes. Or you can use them in place of tortilla shells for soft tacos. Pita pockets can be used in place of hoagie rolls for bratwursts, smoked sausage, or Italian sausage sandwiches. You can serve these sandwiches with grilled onions, peppers, mushrooms, and/or shredded cheese as toppers. You can stuff pocket pitas with scrambled eggs mixed with diced bacon, crumbled sausage, diced, ham, shredded cheese, diced sauteed onions, sauteed diced bell peppers, slice mushrooms, and any other ingredient you would typically find in omelettes and stuff the mixture into the pocket for a tasty and filling breakfast sandwich.
You can make pita chips by brushing pitas with olive oil then sprinkle with salt. Cut pitas into triangular wedges and place in a 400 degree oven until browned and crisp, for about five minutes or so. These chips can be eaten alone or dipped. Try dipping into salsa or hummus dips. For flavored chips sprinkle other seasonings on top of the olive oil, such as Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and other seasonings. You can also choose to use butter instead of the olive oil. Bake in a lower degree oven for longer to make a softer version. You can top the butter with garlic powder, Parmesan cheese, and Italian seasoning for garlic pita bread. Or you can sprinkle the pitas with cinnamon and brown sugar for a sweet treat.
You can also make pita pizzas using the pita bread as your crust. Mini pita pockets make great mini pizzas for younger children to enjoy. Or you can use mini pita pockets to make pita pizza appetizers for a party. You can have everyone make their own pita pizzas, setting out sauce, cheese, and other toppings for everyone to create their own personal pita pizzas. Pocketed pitas can be used to create calzones by stuffing the ingredients inside of the pita pocket rather than on top of them.
Using these ideas can help you to create more creative sandwiches and meals for you and you family. The next time you visit your local grocery store I recommend picking up a package of pita pockets, not only are they tasty alternatives to bread but also form the basis of quick and easy meals.
