Sunday, December 9, 2012

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

29 comments:

  1. delicious looking Pita Sandwich Pri!! I worry about baking coz I'm not sure how they would puff up.. but I totally forgot we could do it on stove like phulkas! :)

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  2. pita has been on my bucket list for a while now PS I m liking the sound of that hummus... A sandwich that will keep my tummy immensely happy!

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  3. Looks delicious...very tempting

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  4. Healthy and yum sandwich,home made pita and hummus,filling and yummy

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  5. wow delicious bread sandwich,luks yum...

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  6. Hummus and Pita bred is one of my favourite starters.. this one has come out really well, especially as a sandwich!

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  7. Inviting plate...
    http://recipe-excavator.blogspot.com

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  8. omg this is awesome.. love that stove top method.. i was looking out for a perfect pita bread recipe.. bookmaked,,

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  9. Do you leave the skin on the pepper for the hummus? Thanks!

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    1. yes khadijah- the skin is on; it parts a smoky flavour to the hummus; cheers

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  10. Have heard and seen so much about Pita Bread on Food shows on TV and this is the first time, I am reading a recipe of it! All the sandwiches look awesome and I can certainly do with one now!!

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  11. Would love to have one.. Looks gorgeous and well explained

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  12. I love the hummus and assembling part Priya. Love the way you had done the pita on stove top.

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  13. Loved the Pita. Never thought of making it. will have to try soon... and the sandwich looks awesome. hummus is one of my fav spreads

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  14. Wish i live near you Priya, sandwich looks simply awesome,flavourful and wonderfully filling.

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  15. Now here is another reason to miss Trichy.. Yummy and tempting Priya.. Someday am going to knock your door and please dont mind.. :) :)

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  16. I'm swirling and did you hear a thump...that's me falling for these sandwiches. Amazing and perfect...suddenly I'm out of words. Superb Priya.

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  17. Pita bread from the scratch...Its unimaginable..Wow..Its puffing like puri...great work..priya..

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  18. Well explained pita bread recipe! have never come across a pita recipe like this before...

    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.

    This is called Punch Dialogue!! Clap clap! wonderfully written!!!

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  19. detailed explaination of pita bread! never heard abt disrecipe like...
    Maha

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  20. Perfect pita bread and loved the sandwich...delicious..

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  21. delicious and yummy sandwich
    http://great-secret-of-life.blogpot.com

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  22. Super yummyyyyy sandwich!!!

    http://vegetarianmedley.blogspot.com/

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