Perfect Pillowy Pitta with Heavenly Harissa Hummus

Super simple
Super simple
Super simple
Super simple
timer
2:50 h
shopping_cart
13
Ingredients
eco
2879
kcal

Is there anything better than homemade pitta bread? Warm, pillowy and soft, they are the perfect vehicle for another one of life's great delights - hummus. In this punchy Middle Eastern recipe we've paired our perfect pittas with our heavenly harissa hummus to create a snack sensation. If you've never made your own pitta before, don't worry, we will show you how!

Start cooking ➞

Serves

6

Ingredients

For the Perfect Pillowy Pitta

<item-todo-done>250ml tepid water<item-todo-done><item-todo-done>2 tsp fast-action yeast (around 1 sachet)<item-todo-done><item-todo-done>2 tsp caster sugar<item-todo-done><item-todo-done>300g plain flour<item-todo-done><item-todo-done>50g wholemeal flour<item-todo-done><item-todo-done>1 tsp fine sea salt<item-todo-done><item-todo-done>1 tsp olive oil<item-todo-done>


For the Heavenly Harissa Hummus

<item-todo-done>1 x 400g can chickpeas<item-todo-done><item-todo-done>1 small garlic clove<item-todo-done><item-todo-done>1 lemon<item-todo-done><item-todo-done>3 tbsp tahini<item-todo-done><item-todo-done>60ml olive oil<item-todo-done><item-todo-done>2 tbsp rose harissa paste<item-todo-done><item-todo-done> salt and pepper to taste<item-todo-done><item-todo-done> chopped parsley leaves<item-todo-done><item-todo-done> toasted pine nuts<item-todo-done><item-todo-done> pomegranate seeds (optional)<item-todo-done>

Before you start

2 mixing bowls | Damp, clean tea towel | Large lined baking sheet | Floured rolling pin | Heatproof mat | Oven glove | Food processor | Microplane

Activate the yeast

  • Pour the water into a mixing bowl, sprinkle over the the yeast and sugar and leave to rest for 5 minutes until little bubbly.

    Prepare the dough

  • Add both flours and the salt to a mixing bowl and mix with a balloon whisk or wooden spoon to combine.
  • Make a well in the flours.
  • Add the oil and the activated yeast liquid to the well and use a silicone spatula to bring the mixture together.
  • Flour a clean work surface with plain flour, turn the dough out onto the surface and knead for 8-10 minutes until the dough is smooth, elastic and has a little stickiness to it.

 

Let the dough rise

  • Drizzle a little olive oil into the mixing bowl and rub down the insides.
  • Put the dough in the bowl, cover with the tea towel, put the bowl in a warm place (an oven set at 50˚C works well if you can’t find a decent warm spot) and leave to prove for 1-2 hours until doubled in size.

Make the Heavenly Harissa Hummus

  • Drain, rinse and gently rub the chickpeas, removing any loose skins.
  • Peel and grate the garlic.
  • Halve the lemon.
  • Add the chickpeas, garlic, tahini and olive oil to the food processor and blitz until smooth.
  • Taste the hummus and season to taste with lemon juice, salt and pepper.
  • Blitz again until very smooth (adding a little splash of water here can aid the creaminess of your hummus.
  • Transfer the hummus to a serving bowl, spoon the rose harissa into the bowl and swirl it through the hummus to mix and marble.

Prepare the pitta

  • Flour a clean surface with plain flour.
  • Gently push the air out of the dough, bring it together with your hands in the bowl, and then add to the floured surface and cut into 6 equal pieces.
  • Roll the pieces into smart, smooth balls, put them on a baking sheet, cover with the tea towel and leave to rest for 20-25 minutes. 

    Cook the Perfect Pillowy Pitta

  • Turn the oven on and set it to the highest setting.
  • Put the lined baking sheet in the oven to warm up.
  • Use a rolling pin to roll 3-4 of the balls out into 10cm thick discs - as many as you can fit onto the baking sheet with plenty of space around each to grow (don’t over roll the dough if you want nice pillowy pitta!)
  • Set the hot tray on the heatproof mat, place the pittas on the tray making sure they have room to grow.
  • Put the tray in the oven and cook the pitta bread for 5-6 minutes until lightly golden and puffy.
  • Remove the tray from the oven, transfer the pitta to a bowl, cover with a tea towel to keep warm and repeat until all the dough balls are cooked.

Time to serve

  • Plate up the Perfect Pillowy Pitta and serve immediately with your freshly made Heavenly Harissa Hummus, garnished with a handful of fresh chopped parsley and toasted pine nuts.
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