Description
Calabrese Pitta is a traditional ring-shaped bread from Calabria with a golden crust and soft, chewy interior. Lightly sweetened with honey and enriched with olive oil, it’s a rustic Italian loaf perfect for serving with meats, cheeses, or hearty stews like Morzello.
Ingredients
4 cups all-purpose flour
4 tsp dry yeast
1 1/4 cups warm water
1 tsp honey
Pinch of salt
Olive oil, for greasing and brushing
Instructions
- In a small bowl, dissolve the dry yeast in warm water with the honey. Let it sit for a few minutes until frothy.
- In a large bowl, add the flour and gradually pour in the yeast mixture. Mix and knead until the dough begins to come together.
- Add a pinch of salt and knead for about 15 minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic.
- Lightly oil a large bowl, place the dough inside, and turn it once to coat. Cover with a clean towel and let it rise in a warm place for about 6 hours or until doubled in size.
- Punch down the dough and shape it into a disc. Using a glass, make a small hole in the center to form the traditional ring shape.
- Transfer the dough to a baking tray greased with olive oil. Bake in a preheated oven at 400°F (200°C) for 15 minutes.
- Lower the oven temperature to 350°F (175°C) and bake for another 15 minutes, until golden brown and hollow-sounding when tapped.
- Cool on a wire rack before slicing. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Notes
For a rustic texture, replace 1 cup of all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour.
Brush the top with olive oil and sprinkle with coarse salt or rosemary before baking for added flavor.
Make smaller pittas for individual servings or sandwiches — bake for 20 minutes instead of 30.
To revive leftovers, warm slices in the oven before serving.
Freezes well for up to 1 month; slice before freezing for easy reheating.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 190mg
- Fat: 3g
- Saturated Fat: 0.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 34g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
