Pita Bread Sandwich with Charred Pepper Hummus - A heavenly combo

What do you do when the 'I do not want to cook' bug bites ?  Ahem, lately this bug has been harassing me steadily. The good news is that it gets booted out with fun assembling of sandwiches. Quick, easy and filling. Mostly with breads, and sometimes with left over rotis or parathas and generally simple and fuss free. I am sure you would all agree when I say that there's nothing like a hearty mouthful of a good sandwich. 

'You don't need a pack of wild horses to learn how to make a sandwich' - Phil McGraw 

It's no rocket science to assemble a sandwich !  Take a bread, spread some dip, top it with this and that, pack it with another bread & voila it is ready to be devoured. As a rule, you can not go wrong with a sandwich but an innate sense of the flavours adds to the punch. 

Last week I decided to flex my 'yeast' muscles and made Pita Bread. This staple middle eastern bread is a great confidence booster. When you have had some really bad baking days, try making this pocket breads. You will not go wrong. They come out all puffed up and swelling in pride. And together with hummus, they are indeed a made for each other combo. Hummus, the chickpea delight is a staple in my home and often used as a spread for the rotis. 

Did I tell you that pita & hummus are fertile grounds for innumerable ideas on doling out sandwiches ??? Good for me as the Sandwiches theme for this month's Avant Garde Cookies was a joy to dish out !

For the Pita Bread :-(Makes :12 Pitas)

(Prep Time: 30 mins, Rising Time: 45 mins, Cooking Time: 3 to 6 mins)

Puffed Pita breads are a pleasure to behold ! When the dough swells royally, the bread reciprocates equally!

• Active Dry Yeast - 4 grams (1/2 tbsp app) + Water (app) 50 ml to proof it
• Sugar - 1/2 tbsp
• Water - 200 to 250 ml warm water (or as required) {for kneading the dough}
• Whole Wheat Flour - 250 grams
• All Purpose flour - 150 grams
• salt - 1/2 tsp
• Olive Oil - 1 tbsp

Here's How :-

A good pita means a well proofed yeast. Dissolve the yeast and the sugar in 50 ml (approx) warm water. The yeast will slowly become a semi-pasty texture. Cover the bowl and set aside for 10-15 minutes. The yeast will turn all foamy and will be ready to use.

In a mixing bowl, tip in the flours and salt. Make a well in the center and add the yeast mixture. Mix well and add the warm water little by little while continuously kneading. Take care to pour water as required only. Knead for a few minutes. Tip in the olive oil and knead some more till the oil is absorbed.

Cover the vessel with a cling wrap/ or a wet kitchen cloth and set aside in a warm area. Let it double up; it approximately takes 45 minutes.

Knock down the dough and knead again for a few more minutes.

In the mean while preheat the oven to 175 C/350 F. Divide the dough in to equal sized balls. In a dusted surface roll out the ball in to a round disc.

Bake each side for 2-3 minutes, carefully flipping it for the other side to brown up.

If the power plays a spoil sport or you don't have an OTG, you can still make a swell pita on gas stove.

Roll out the dough in to a disc and place it on a hot tawa/pan. Let it cook on both sides for a few seconds till brown spots starts appearing. Pick the rolled thin with a tong and place it direct on the high gas flame. Watch it swell immediately and flip it over. Take off flame without over burning the disc

For the Charred Green pepper Hummus :-

• Green Pepper - 1 large
• Sesame Seeds - 3 tbsp
• Chickpeas - 300 grams (soaked & pressure cooked/ if using canned, drained)
• Garlic - 5 pods
• Cumin Seeds - a good pinch
• Lemon - juice from 1 big lemon
• Salt & Pepper powder - to taste
• Olive Oil - 4 to 5 tbsp
• Cold water - as required 

Oil the pepper well and thread it to a skewer, char it on a gas stove . Let it cool and dice it in to chunks. In the meanwhile dry roast the sesame seeds to a golden brown and let it cool. Tip in the diced pepper chunks,sesame seeds and all the other ingredients in to a processor and pulse until well blended adding cold water as required.The paste should be of a spreadable/dip consistency.

Assembling the sandwiches.

“Life is like a sandwich - the more you add to it, the better it becomes.” (Source: Net)

It is the most fun task of all. What I do is make all the breads and keep the various accompaniments ready. Then we sit down and make a sandwich tailored to each one's needs.

• Charred Pepper Hummus
• Onion
• Tomato
• Green /Red/yellow Pepper
• Black * Green Olives
• Grated Cottage Cheese
• Red Tabasco Sauce
• Minty Yogurt sauce (Beat yogurt,salt,pepper,finely chopped mint leaves, red chilli powder, a little apple cider vinegar and refrigerate)
• Honey & Mustard Salad Dressing (store bought)

Spread the hummus on a pita bread and top it with choice ingredients. Tip in the grated cottage cheese and finally drizzle the minty yogurt sauce or the store bought honey & mustard salad dressing. Finally sprinkle the red Tabasco sauce. Place another pita bread on top. Cut in to quarters and enjoy :)

E.N.J.O.Y