Perfect fluffy Kuboos (Arabic pita bread)

Picture this: a warm, golden disc of freshly baked kuboos, still steaming from the oven, waiting to be torn apart and savored.

Making pita bread at home might seem like a daunting task, but trust me - it's wayyyyyyy easier than you think. With just a few simple ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry, you can have fresh, homemade pita bread that rivals anything you'll find in a store. Not to mention, the satisfaction that comes from creating something from scratch is unbeatable. The aroma that fills your kitchen as the bread bakes is pure heaven.

Its fluffy texture makes it the perfect vehicle for hummus, my vegan shawarma, kofta with tzatziki, Turkish shakshuka, or my easy-as-heck two-ingredient vegan labneh, or any other delicious Mediterranean dip.

So roll up your sleeves, dust off your apron, and let's start making some perfect fluffy kuboos.

🥰Why you are going to adore the ever-loving heck outta this recipe

While it's certainly convenient to pick up a pack of nothing-special-about-it pre-made (read: OLD) pita bread at the grocery store, there's something special about making it yourself at home. 

👉The flavor and texture of freshly baked whole wheat pita bread are unmatched. When you make your own kuboos, you have the opportunity to add delicious, aromatic additions to the dough (see my variations section in this post for some ideas).

👉Making your own kuboos is a fun and rewarding experience. It's a chance to learn a new skill and spend time in the kitchen creating something delicious. Plus, the aroma of fresh bread baking is intoxicating and can make your home feel warm and inviting!

👉This recipe is completely plant-based, and uses only 7 ingredients that you might already have on hand!  It's like that movie with Brad Pitt (Seven), except it's bread, and basically it's not that much like the movie with Brad Pitt at all... The only thing with fewer ingredients in the universe (maybe) is my Lebanese tarator recipe!

🌾A few of this recipe's notable ingredients

Active dry yeast

Active dry yeast is used to help the dough rise and create fluffy, delicious pita bread. If you're using instant yeast, you can use the same amount as called for in the recipe, but you don't need to activate it in water first. Simply mix it in with the dry ingredients and continue with the recipe as written. If using fresh yeast in place of active yeast, you’ll need to use double the amount of yeast, and dissolve it in water before adding to the dough. Keep in mind that the rising time may be slightly different depending on the type of yeast you use and the temperature, so keep an eye on the dough as it doubles in size.

Whole wheat flour

The use of whole wheat flour in this recipe for kuboos, is made by grinding the entire wheat kernel, including the bran and germ. This adds a unique flavor and texture that's authentic to traditional Lebanese pita bread. In addition to its distinct taste, whole wheat flour is a healthier alternative to white flour, providing more fiber, protein, and nutrients that contribute to the overall nutritional value of the dish.

Olive oil

When selecting olive oil for this recipe for kuboos, it's important to choose a high-quality oil that will add flavor and richness to the bread. Look for extra-virgin olive oil, which is made from the first cold pressing of the olives and has a fruity, aromatic flavor. Also, choose an olive oil with a low acidity level, as this indicates a higher quality oil.

Sugar

Cane sugar activates the yeast and adds a subtle sweetness to the bread. You can substitute brown sugar, date sugar, or coconut sugar if you prefer a darker, more complex taste. Simply swap out an equal amount of one of these dry granulated sweeteners in place of the cane sugar.

🥟The importance of blooming the yeast in bread making

Activating yeast, also known as proofing or blooming, is a crucial step in making kuboos (pita bread) and almost all other yeast-risen dough recipes. It involves mixing yeast with warm water and a sweetener, such as sugar, to create an ideal environment for the yeast to come to life and start fermenting. This process is important because it helps the dough rise and gives the bread its desired texture and flavor. It’s also a great way to determine if your yeast is no longer active, so that you can chuck the batch and start over before you waste costly ingredients and time on a dead batch of yeast.

The temperature of the water used to activate the yeast is critical. Water that is too cold may not activate the yeast fully, resulting in a slow rise or dough that fails to rise at all. On the other hand, water that is too hot can kill the yeast, rendering it ineffective in leavening the dough. That's why it's important to use water within the optimal temperature range of 105°F to 115°F (40°C to 46°C) for best results. If you don't have a thermometer, it should feel like warm (not hot) bath water.

During the activation process, the yeast consumes the sugar in the water and produces carbon dioxide gas as a byproduct. The carbon dioxide gas gets trapped in the dough, causing it to expand and rise. This creates the characteristic airy and light texture of kuboos or pita bread, with its distinct pockets that can be filled with delicious ingredients.

The proofing step also helps to develop the flavor of the bread. As the yeast ferments, it produces various compounds that contribute to freshly baked bread's complex and delicious taste. This is why properly activating the yeast is crucial for achieving the desired taste and texture in kuboos.

In addition to using the correct water temperature, it's also important to let the yeast mixture sit undisturbed for a few minutes during proofing. This allows the yeast to fully activate and ferment before mixing it with other ingredients.

This pre-ferment stage helps the yeast become strong before it is mixed with the other ingredients like salt, which may slow the fermentation process. I use a similar process in my Amritsari Kulcha recipe, and my apple fritters too!

🤷‍♀️Why the mixture of wholewheat and all-purpose flours in this recipe make the absolutely best kuboos!

The basic premise is that wholewheat makes for yummy, more nourishing pita bread and all-purpose makes it softer and fluffier. If you are interested in understanding this more deeply, here are the deets:

Why the wholewheat is important-

Whole wheat flour contains enzymes and enzyme inhibitors that can affect the fermentation process. Enzymes are natural proteins that can break down starches and other nutrients in the dough, while enzyme inhibitors can slow down or inhibit these enzyme activities. The presence of these enzymes and inhibitors in whole wheat positively (in my opinion) impacts the fermentation process and results in a more robust flavor profile.

Whole wheat flour contains more natural oils, bran, and germ compared to all-purpose flour, which can provide additional nutrients and flavors for the yeast to ferment. These extra nutrients can affect the yeast's fermentation process and produce a much more complex flavor than pita made with all-purpose flour.

Here is why I call for still using SOME all-purpose flour in my recipe-

All-purpose flour has a lower protein content than whole wheat flour, resulting in a softer and more tender texture in the final bread. Whole wheat flour, on the other hand, has a higher protein content and can create a denser texture. All-purpose flour generally has a finer texture than whole wheat flour, allowing for better gluten development and gas retention during fermentation. 

By incorporating some all-purpose flour in the flour mix, you can achieve a balance between the desirable characteristics of whole wheat flour and the softer texture of all-purpose flour, resulting in the perfect flavor, and texture in the finished bread.

I have tested different ratios of flours, and know you will love the result of following my recipe!

📖Step-by-step instructions

Here is a visual guide to making perfect kuboos! Or you can follow along with the easy-to-print recipe card towards the bottom of this page.

Step 1

Activate the yeast by mixing warm water, yeast, and sugar in a bowl. Set aside to bloom.

Step 2

In a large mixing bowl, mix the whole wheat flour, all-purpose flour, and salt. Pour in the yeast mixture and olive oil. Knead on a lightly oiled work surface for 4-5 minutes until soft and smooth. Alternatively, you can knead it for three minutes on low speed in a stand mixer using a dough hook attachment.  

Step 3

Cover the dough and let it rise for one hour.

Step 4

Divide the dough into 8 pieces and shape them into balls.

Step 5

Roll out each ball on a lightly oiled or floured surface to form round, flatbread shapes.

Step 6

Cook each flatbread on a low to low-medium heat in a pan or iron skillet. Flip when it starts to puff up.

Step 7

Cover the cooked pita breads with a towel to keep them warm and maintain their softness.

Step 8

Optionally brush the hot pita with olive oil and dust with homemade baharat or za'atar.

💡Serving Ideas

Stop using stale packaged pitas that you found in a musky old dungeon. Homemade fluffy pita is going to bring everything you serve with it to the next level!

Definitely use this kuboos as a flat bread for my , serve it alongside some of my easy-to-make tabouli, eat a giant mountain of my vegan butter chicken and/ or ridge gourd curry with it, serve it with a hot bowl of dal tadka, or red lentil dahl.

Make it to have alongside Turkish classics like Barbunya Pilaki, Bulgur Pilavi (Turkish Cracked Wheat Pilaf), Turkish lentil soup, or Cig kofte. It also compliments Moroccan dishes (alllllmost as much as Msemen does) such as Loubia, or the classic Ramadan fast-breaker harira (tomato soup with chickpeas and lentils)

🇬🇷Want to make Greek-style pita bread?

To create a more typical Greek-style pita (which is even better for serving my vegan kofta with tzatziki on), you need to dimple the dough before baking. Here's how:

• Substitute the whole wheat flour in the recipe for all-purpose (so you are only using white flour, and not a mix).
• After rolling out the dough into the desired oval or round shape, use your fingertips to make small indentations all over the surface of the dough. These indentations will help the pita bread to puff up.
• Be sure not to press too hard, as you don't want to poke holes in the dough. The indentations should be shallow and evenly spaced.
• Once you've dimpled the dough, allow it to proof for 30 minutes on a covered tray.
• Add a teaspoon of olive oil to your pan, and when you are cooking the pitas, cover the pan so that they cook partially by steaming in the pan.

🤷‍♀️FAQ

❤️ My favey things to serve with homemade pita:

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Perfect fluffy Kuboos (Arabic pita bread)

Homemade Kuboos! This Soft and Fluffy Whole Wheat Arabic Pita Bread Recipe Uses Ingredients You Probably Already Have on Hand. Perfect Texture and Flavor. Easy to Make and Perfect for Shawarma, Sandwiches, Dips and More!

5 from 3 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Bread

Cuisine: Middle Eastern

Keyword: Kuboos

Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour hour 15 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour 35 minutes minutes

Servings: 8 pitas

Calories: 240kcal

Cost: $3

Equipment

• large frying pan
• large mixing bowl
• stand mixer
• Rolling Pin

Ingredients

• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 ¼ cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup warm water
• 2 ½ teaspoons active dry yeast
• 2 teaspoons brown sugar or granulated sugar
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• Optional: extra virgin olive oil to brush the fresh pitas and za’atar to garnish

Instructions

Step 1: Forming the Dough

• In a small bowl, mix warm water (between 105°F and 115°F, or 40°C and 46°C), yeast, and brown sugar. Set aside for 5 minutes until the yeast becomes active and foamy.
• In a large bowl (or bowl of a stand mixer with a dough hook if you are not kneading by hand), add whole wheat flour, all-purpose flour, and salt. Pour the proofed yeast mixture into the bowl and mix gently. Make sure to use a rubber spatula to scrape out all of the yeast residue and settled sugar.
• Mix by hand for about two minutes to form a smooth, soft dough.
• Add the olive oil to the flour mixture and start kneading for 4 minutes until the dough is soft, and smooth. If you are using a stand mixer, this should take 3 minutes on low speed.
• Cover the bowl with a moistened kitchen towel, and set it aside for an hour at room temperature, allowing it to double in size.

Step 2: Dividing and forming the pitas

• Once the dough has doubled in size, remove it from the bowl and transfer it onto a clean work surface.
• Divide the dough into 8 even portions using a knife. Shape each piece into a ball shape with lightly oiled hands.
• Take each ball and gently roll it out using a rolling pin until it becomes a round flatbread 6-7 inches (15-17 cm.) in diameter.
• Cooking Tip: You can adjust the thickness of the flatbread to your preference by rolling it out thinner or thicker. If you make it on the thicker side, it may take a little longer to cook.

Step 3: Cooking the dough to make Kuboos

• Heat a frying pan or cast iron skillet over medium heat.
• Working one at a time, place each round of flatbread dough into the dry pan and let it heat for 3 minutes on each side until it starts to puff up.
• Flip the flatbread using a spatula and let it heat for another 30 seconds or until it forms a pocket and puffs up.
• As you cook additional bread, cover the cooked kuboos with a kitchen towel to help maintain their warmth.
• Brush the cooked kuboos with a little olive oil for added flavor before serving.

Notes

Dough Tip: 

If the dough feels sticky, you can sprinkle some flour on your hands to make it easier to handle.

Rising Tip: 

If your kitchen is cold or drafty, you can place the covered bowl with the rising dough in a warm spot or near a warm oven so that it stays in the 70-84 degree range.

Nutrition

Calories: 240kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Sodium: 147mg | Potassium: 141mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 3IU | Vitamin C: 0.003mg | Calcium: 14mg | Iron: 2mg