Folded Pitas
These folded pitas make for the most perfect little sandwiches, ideal for evening snacks or packed lunches. They are also awesome to carry during road trips or picnics and make for a great Iftar starter. The best thing about these is that the folded pitas can be prepared ahead and frozen, then just warmed up and filled when needed. You can make these with plain flour or a combination of plain and wholemeal flour.
Ingredients
Ingredients for Filling
- 1 red onion finely sliced
- 1 cup sliced cabbage
- 1 small red capsicum finely sliced
- 1 small green capscium finely sliced
- 1 carrot finely grated
- 1 cup pre-cooked chicken or steak shredded (you can use any type of cooked chicken, boiled, roasted, grilled, etc)
- 2 tbsp oil
- 1/2 tsp garlic paste
- 1/2 tsp ginger paste
- 2 tsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp ketchup/tomato sauce
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- salt and pepper to taste
Ingredients for the Pitas
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose/plain flour I personally prefer to use a mixture of half plain flour and half wholemeal flour
- 3 tbsp oil
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp instant yeast
- milk and water for kneading
- margarine butter or oil, as needed
Instructions
- First, prepare the filling. Heat the oil in a wok or wide pan and add the onion slices, stir fry for a minute followed by the ginger and garlic pastes. Stir these in for a few seconds. Then add the cabbage, capsicum, carrot and chillies. Add the soy sauce, salt and pepper. Cook over high heat whilst stirring regularly until the veggies soften. Add the cooked shredded chicken or steak, ketchup and lemon juice. Stir well and taste. Adjust seasoning if needed. Set aside to cool.
- Next, prepare the folded pitas.Warm the milk and water. Mix the flour, oil, salt and yeast then make a hole in the center and pour the water & milk. Gently combine, and knead thoroughly until the dough is soft and smooth.Wipe some oil on the palms of your hands and rub over the ball of kneaded dough, then cover and let it stand in a warm place for about an hour or until it rises to about double it’s size.Once well-risen, make 8-10 balls of equal size. Roll out each ball gently and evenly (do not lean/press down hard on the ball of dough, you need to use a light hand) to a diameter of about 3.5 inches each.Brush each rolled out circle lightly with margarine, butter or oil and then fold it over in half to form a semi-circle. Repeat with all the remaining balls of dough.Place the folded pitas on a lightly floured surface and cover them with brown paper or a light towel so that not too much air can get in. Leave them to stand for about 2 hours until they rise again.Heat up a heavy roti pan, and place a few folded pitas on it. Put the heat on medium and cook the pitas, turning them until both sides are golden. You can dip the tip of your spoon in oil n gently wipe over the pita n under it to give it a good colour as it cooks. Once done on both sides, remove and place them on a wide plate. Continue until all are done. Gently open the folded side slightly just to ensure it does not seal shut with the steam as they cool.Try not to pile the folded pitas on top of each other until after they have cooled. This keeps them nice and plump for filling. To store these, you can wrap them in cling film and freeze for up to 3 weeks.Fill the pitas with the prepared filling and serve.Enjoy! 🙂
Notes
My favourite chicken to add in here is either shredded tikka or tawa chicken, recipes for both are in the chicken folder. However, even simple chicken that has been boiled with ginger, garlic, salt and pepper works well.
Salaam, cooking the pita
Salaam, cooking the pita while folded, will they be cooked well inside? I remember my cousin making these pockets back home and she used to cook the pitta as it is after rolling and while cooking she used to fold them?
W/Salaam, yes they always
W/Salaam, yes they always cook perfectly well for me.
Salam, what if you dont have
Salam, what if you dont have roti pan?
W/Salaam, any heavy flat pan
W/Salaam, any heavy flat pan will do.
What of grill fan?
What of grill fan?
A grill pan with ridges might
A grill pan with ridges might not work as well, if possible use a flat pan or even a frying pan will be fine.
Ok tnx dear..
Ok tnx dear..
Salams. What’s your contact?
Salams. What’s your contact? Or you don’t give ?
W/Salaam, fauziaskitchenfun
W/Salaam, fauziaskitchenfun@hotmail.com
Doesn’t th two folded sides
Doesn’t th two folded sides stick after u mek th semi circle dear fauzia
No they do not if you follow
No they do not if you follow the instructions of applying butter/margarine or oil before folding.
Salams Fauzia… is it necessary to keep the folded pitas to rest for 2 hours before cooking it?? Why is kept so long?
Salams Fauzia… I have tried several recipes of yours and almost all of them turned out well…and for the folded pitas
is it necessary to keep the folded pitas to rest for 2 hours before cooking it?? Why is kept so long?