This gluten-free pita bread is tender, fluffy, and pillowy – all without the use of wheat! With just 5 ingredients (not including water, salt, and oil) and a simple process – you can make delicious, cost-effective flatbread at home that will have you ditching store-bought versions for good!
Fluffy, Tender, Gluten-Free Flatbread
Having posted my naan recipe recently, I’m really getting into the spirit of home-baked GF bread, especially simple gluten-free flatbread style recipes like this pita bread (Pitta for those in the UK).
What is pita? Pita bread actually refers to a family of flatbreads that are yeast-leavened and originate in the Middle East and are also popular in the Mediterranean (e.g. Greece). There are several varieties, including the most common pita bread containing a pocket (aka pita pockets or Arabic/Syrian bread) which are perfect for stuffing with fillings. There are also thicker pocketless versions (similar to naan), used to serve alongside kebabs.
Is Pita Bread Gluten-Free?
Pita is traditionally made with wheat flour and is known for being light and pillowy – not exactly qualities synonymous with gluten-free bread. Luckily, inspired by my gluten-free pizza dough recipe and with something to prove, I got myself in recipe testing mode and didn’t stop until I had this fluffy gluten-free, vegan pita bread recipe.
I was actually blown away by how much I was able to get the pita to puff up, but I also love how cost-effective they are. The ‘free from’ aisles in stores aren’t exactly known for being easy on the bank balance (I mean, have you noticed the price difference between wheat pita and gluten-free pita bread?!) and so making these simple items at home is a great way to enjoy foods you love in a lower-budget way.
More than that, though, if you’ve ever taken the time to actually look at the ingredients found in many grocery stores’ GF bread options, you’ll notice lots of very questionable additives and preservatives. In the end, you have to pay more for a product that usually doesn’t taste as good and is filled with ingredients that many would rather avoid. All the more reason to turn to this simple, natural, homemade pita bread recipe!
How To Make Pita Bread?
I’ve included basic step-by-step instructions just below. For the full ingredients list, measurements, complete recipe method, and nutritional information read the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Prepare the yeast mixture
Heat your water to around 40°C (lukewarm), add the yeast, sugar, and stir well with a spoon. Then set aside for five minutes for the yeast to activate – it should begin to froth up and become slightly bubbly.
Make the gluten-free dough
Combine all of the remaining dry ingredients in a large bowl and mix, then add the yeast mixture and oil and stir with a wooden spoon until combined.
Knead it & allow it to rise
Knead the gluten-free dough for a few minutes, form a ball, and place it back into the bowl. Then, cover the bowl with cling film and allow it to rise in a warm area (preferably between 40-50°C) for 45-60 minutes.
Note: You could heat your oven for just a few minutes, then switch off and leave the dough in the warm oven.
Shape the pitas
Divide the dough into 5 pieces (around 90g), or 10 if you want mini pittas, and shape each piece into a ball.
Leave to rest for a further 10-15 minutes before rolling each dough ball into a circle around ¼-inch thickness using a floured rolling pin.
Cook the pita bread
This is the critical step in getting the gluten-free pita to puff up. Make sure not to use heat that is less than 390°F (200°C).
Heat a skillet over medium-high heat (I chose 390°F on my induction cooker). Once hot, cook a pita in the pan for 1 minute – until bubbles begin to form on the surface.
Then, flip the pita over and cook for a further few minutes on the other side. Flip once more, and it should puff up and form a large pocket.
Repeat this with the remaining pita dough. Keep all cooked ones covered with a clean, dry kitchen cloth to stop them from drying out/crisping up.
How much the gluten-free pita bread puffs up (if it does at all) can be solely down to how thick your dough is rolled out. If you test one pita and it doesn’t puff up, roll the next one thinner and try again. This can take a little bit of practice to get the thickness sweet spot, but when you do – hello pocket-y goodness!
How To Make Ahead & Store?
To Make Ahead:
You can prepare the gluten-free dough in advance and only cook a little at a time. The prepared, uncooked dough can be kept in the fridge, covered, for 2-3 days.
To Store:
I prefer to make the gluten-free pita bread fresh, so they don’t dry and crisp up. However, leftovers can be stored in an airtight container (to avoid them from drying out), for a few days. I like to splash them lightly with a little water and microwave for 10-15 seconds. Or bake in the oven for a couple of minutes), to soften them.
This vegan pita bread should also be freezer friendly for up to a month, though it isn’t something I’ve tried. Make sure to wrap the bread well before freezing.
How To Serve?
- As pita pockets – i.e., stuffed with falafels, tahini sauce, and salad or even this Vegan Shawarma Kebab.
- Use leftovers of this gluten-free pita for traditional Lebanese and Middle Eastern dishes like fattoush salad.
- Cut and bake into pita chips for dips – like this Vegan French Onion Dip or Easy Vegan Spinach Artichoke Dip.
- Use as a makeshift gluten-free flatbread ‘pizza’. This is a great way to use any that don’t puff up as much as you’d like). Top with your toppings of choice and stick under the broiler for a few minutes. You could also oven-bake them for 10 mins or so until the toppings are warm/melted.
- Make pita pocket versions of your favorite taco/enchilada fillings. Like these Chickpea Tacos, Oven-Baked Spinach Tacos, or Enchiladas With Lentils.
- Use with burgers, as an alternative to burger buns.
Useful Recipe Notes
- Tapioca flour: You can most likely also use arrowroot flour instead, though I haven’t tried it.
- Psyllium husk powder: This ingredient is important and shouldn’t be substituted.
- Rice Flour: Unfortunately, with gluten-free baking, it isn’t simple to swap out the flours to whatever you’d prefer. Each flour reacts to ingredients in different ways. For that reason, I can’t easily suggest alternatives or guarantee results if you choose to use a different gluten-free flour.
- To make a version with wheat flour: Use 160 ml warm water, 10 g fresh yeast, 1 1/2 tsp organic cane sugar, 270 g all-purpose flour, 1/2 tsp salt, and 2 tsp oil.
- I tried making the pita bread in the oven, but they didn’t puff up. It may work with a pre-heated pizza stone in the oven, using the hottest setting. Pitas usually need temperatures of at-least 230C/450F to turn the water in the dough to steam and cause the pita to puff up into a pita pocket.
- You can optionally add some nigella seeds or poppy seeds to the dough for more flavor.
- For a Mediterranean style gluten-free flatbread, you can roll the dough out thicker. That way, it won’t puff up and have a pocket but should still have a fluffy, slightly chewy texture.
- When making this homemade gluten-free pita bread, you can control the size and shape of your individual flatbreads. If you want snack-sized mini pitta, go for it- pizza boat-shaped flatbread, sure!
Other Related Bread Recipes
- Moist Vegan Cornbread
- Gluten-Free Vegan Bread
- Gluten-Free Buns (Bread Rolls)
- Easy Spinach Tortillas Recipe
- Gluten-Free Tortillas
If you try this gluten-free pita bread recipe, I’d love a comment and recipe ★★★★★ rating below. Also, don’t forget to tag me in re-creations on Instagram or Facebook with @elavegan/ #elavegan – I love seeing your recreations.
Gluten-Free Pita Bread
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup + 2 tbsp (200 ml) warm water
- 10 g fresh yeast (see notes)
- 1 1/2 tsp organic cane sugar
- 1 cup (160 g) white rice flour (see notes for a version with regular flour)
- 2/3 cup (80 g) tapioca flour
- 2 tsp psyllium husk powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 tsp oil
Instructions
Make the yeast mixture
- I recommend using a kitchen scale for this recipe and measuring the ingredients in grams instead of cups. Also, watch the video in the post for easy visual instructions.Heat the water in a saucepan over medium heat for a few seconds until it's lukewarm (not hot!) about 40°C (104°F). Add yeast + sugar and stir with a spoon. Set aside for about 5 minutes to proof the yeast. If it starts to get a little frothy, then the yeast is still active and usable.
Make the dough
- Combine rice flour, tapioca flour, psyllium husk powder, and salt in a large mixing bowl and stir with a whisk. Add the yeast mixture and oil, then stir with a wooden spoon until combined.
Knead it and let it rise
- Knead the dough with your hands for a few minutes, form a dough ball, and place it back into the bowl. Cover the bowl with cling film and set aside preferably in a warm place (40-50°C / 120°F would be perfect*) for about 45-60 minutes. The dough should rise nicely after that time.*Note: You can heat your oven for some minutes until it's warm, then turn it off and put the bowl with the dough inside the oven.
Shape the pitas
- Divide the dough into 5 equal pieces (about 90 grams each) and shape them into balls. Cover them again and leave them to rest for about 10-15 minutes.
- Roll out one piece into a circle about 1/4 inch (0.6 cm) thick by using a floured rolling pin. Repeat this step with the other dough balls.
Cook the pitas
- Heat a skillet over medium-high heat for a few minutes. I chose 390°F / 200°C on my induction cooker. Place a pita in the skillet and cook for about a minute. After a while, you will see that bubbles start to form on the surface. Flip the pita over and cook it for a few more minutes on the other side. After flipping it one more time it should puff up and form a large pocket.Note: How much the pita bread puffs up (if it does at all) can depend on how thick your dough is rolled out. If you test one pita and it doesn’t puff up, roll the next one thinner and try again. This can take a little bit of practice.
- Repeat this step with the other pitas and keep the cooked ones covered with a kitchen towel. Serve with falafel and a tahini dressing.
Notes
Video Of The Recipe
- Yeast: I recommend fresh yeast, but you could also use 1 tsp dry yeast.
- Tapioca flour: You can most likely also use arrowroot flour instead.
- Psyllium husk powder: This ingredient is important and shouldn't be substituted.
- For a yeast-free flatbread, check out my Gluten-Free Naan Recipe.
- I tried making the pita bread in the oven but the pitas didn't puff up. It might work if you have a pizza stone in the oven and use the hottest setting.
- Check the step-by-step photos in the blog post.
- The total time doesn't include resting time.
- 2/3 cup (160 ml) warm water
- 10 g fresh yeast
- 1 1/2 tsp organic cane sugar
- 2 1/4 cups (270 g) all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 tsp oil
Nutrition information is an estimate and has been calculated automatically
JHM
I’m not a vegan but gluten-free. This recipe was so easy and I loved how it cooked up so beautifully and puffy! It’s a keeper! Thank you!
Ela
Yay! So good to hear it turned out great! Thanks for your feedback. 🙂
Émilie
Hey there !
I made these, and here’s what happened :
1) I may have somehow mismeasured because the final taste was pretty yeasty. Is this normal?
2) they puffed up just fine, but I find that they don’t cook evenly on both sides. By the time you flip it, it’s already puffing up and so the sides don’t get cooked.
Thank you for the recipe, I will try again.
Ela
Hi Emilie, did you use fresh yeast or dried yeast? The taste shouldn’t be pretty yeasty.
Yes, they do not always puff up evenly, I had this happen too, a few times. Not sure how to solve it. 🙂
Vern
I am glad to have found your site and will try to make some in the morning. With my regular pitas, I got this crazy idea to use my hot air fryer that has multiple options. Using the toast function, I have been making perfect pitas, up to four at a time under under 4 minutes. 450 F. Today, made a nan-e barbari in 4.35 minutes.
Again, thanks for sharing your expertise with gf cooking
Ela
That sounds really amazing! I had no idea you can make pitas in an air fryer! Thanks so much for sharing, Vern, I will try it! 🙂
Vern
You’re welcome.. my first attempt at this recipe was semi successful. I used the last of my gf King Arthur flour. Tasted great however only partial puffing. Now, I have a baseline to work from
Mariam
Which brand of air fryer do you use please?
Yasmine
Hi Michaela!I just wanted to say thank you!! I just made your gluten free pita bread and I cant believe the results! My son was diagnosed with celiac 4 years ago and since then, I have been on a mission to find/make him pita bread that “kinda tastes” like the one we are used to. I am Lebanese so Pita bread is what we eat every day with literally everything and it has been a challenge for us (the whole bread situation) ! And for the 1st time I can say I finally found the recipe!!
Ela
That makes me so happy, Yasemine! Thanks so much for your lovely feedback. 🙂
Liz Kash
Hi Yasmine! I am excited to try this recipe because my granddaughter has celiac disease as well and I make arabic bread for the family but she can’t have any….I saw your comment and wondered if there is anything you did differently or did you follow the recipe exactly? I tried another recipe that was ok, but if you really liked it, and with you being Lebanese, that is a real bonus! I hope you see this comment! Have a great day! Liz
Yelena Borohov
I like your blog with so many different ideas. I tried this recipe for the pita, for some reason it did not puffed up, I follow the recipe. What do you think caused it? It still was a great hit, kids loved it and even use it for pizza base.
Ela
Hey Yelena, I am so glad your kids loved it and used it for pizza! As mentioned in the post, try to make them thinner, add a little more heat, flip the dough frequently. It doesn’t always work though. I also tried the recipe with regular flour and strangely it didn’t puff. I only had luck with the gluten-free version.
Mo
Hi there. Your recipes look amazing! I haven’t tried any yet. I just discovered you. For this recipe can you please let me know if coconut sugar or monk fruit sub would work in place of cane. I don’t do regular sugar. Thanks.
Ela
Hi Mo, I am glad you like my blog! I normally don’t eat sugar either, but I think it’s necessary for the yeast to work, so I am not sure if you can use any other sweetener. Coconut sugar might work though, but I haven’t tried it. 🙂
Lucy
if you use yeast it eats up all the sugar so really its like you have none so just use regular sugar and you’ll be fine. Also honey is a natural sweetener.-same sugar as in apples and stuff so i guess you could use that if you want…
Joy Graham
Hi Ela, thank you for the recipe. I just made them with no puff but I probably rolled out too thick and didn’t have my pan hot enough.
Question: I have never used fresh yeast and not familiar with where to get or how to use. Sorry if I missed in your post above. Any guidance would be appreciated. Thank you, Joy
Ela
Hi Joy, fresh yeast is available in every grocery store in the dairy section. How to use it, is described in the recipe. I hope this helps. 🙂
Lulu
Hi, I’ve tried this recipe twice now..the taste is absolutely great (!) but I can’t get the pita to puff..What am I doing wrong..? Thx
Ela
Hey Lulu, as mentioned in the post, try to make them thinner, add a little more heat, flip the dough frequently. It doesn’t always work though. I also tried the recipe with regular flour and strangely it didn’t puff. I only had luck with the gluten-free version. 🙂
Christina Lepage
Hello! I only have quick rise yeast, do I follow the directions on the jar, or still your recipe?
Thanks!
Ela
Hi Christina, I think you can follow the directions on the jar. I had the best result with fresh yeast though. 🙂
Sally
Thank you for the delicious looking recipe! May I substitute the tapioca flour with chick pea flour?
Ela
Hi Sally, no, that won’t work in this recipe, unfortunately. 🙂
Casandra
Hi Ella.
Where did you get the inspiration to make these pita?
Ela
Hey, as mentioned in my post, the recipe is inspired by my gluten-free pizza crust (almost the same recipe, just slightly adapted). 🙂
Xora Mora
This recipe is a total game changer! Gluten free can be a challenge, especially when trying to replicate the texture and flavor of glutinous goodies. This recipe achieves exactly that and so much more! It’s got the chewy-ness of real pita, and the rice flour is mild enough to go unnoticed as an alt ingredient. In addition, it splits apart to create a pocket!!! I am so impressed with how easy and simple this recipe is. I made this pita along with Ela’s hummus recipe and even my 6 yr old was in love. This will be our family’s new go to!
Ela
That’s awesome, Xora. Thanks so much for your wonderful feedback! 🙂
Yael
Where I can buy psyllium husk powder?
Ela
Should be available in any health food store.
Amala
I don’t see a recipe for the all purpose flour, but that could be my eyes. It might be here. Is it? Thanks.
Ela
Hi Amala, it’s mentioned twice in the post, once above, in the section “Useful Recipe Notes” and then below the recipe card under “Notes“. 🙂
Angela
Recipe looks great! Unfortunately, I am very sensitive to psyllium as are many people with allergies. I also notice that a lot of g-frre bread companies use it. It seems to add the softness that g-frre lacks. Hopefully, something else will be discovered that works just as good as psyllium.
Thanks for the recipe.
Ela
You are welcome, Angela. Check my previous comment which I wrote yesterday. There I explain that xanthan gum might work too. 🙂
Barbra
I have the opposite problem! I ‘m sensitive to xanthan gum, so psyllium has been a bit of a saving grace for me.
Eric
This looks wonderful. But can Xanthum gum replace Physillium husk? I’ve never tried anything with Physillium before. What does it do to the dough? Also, what is the purpose in kneading the dough? With regular flour, kneading helps develop the gluten structures; what it is purpose here? Is it an activator with the Physillium?
Thanks!
Ela
Hi Eric! Psyllium contains 70% soluble fiber, which creates a gel once you add water (or any other liquid). I used it in my gluten-free pizza crust recipe and also in my popular gluten-free bread which has hundreds of positive reviews (you can check out the video to see how the psyllium husk powder turns into a gel).
Psyllium husk replicates the structural strength + elasticity that gluten adds to a dough. I believe it’s quite similar to xanthan gum, which also acts as a binding agent. However, I don’t use xanthan gum since I prefer psyllium, and therefore, I never tried it in this recipe. It might work just fine, but you will need less (I guess 1 teaspoon should be enough) and possibly less water.
I only knead the dough for 2 minutes until it comes together and is completely smooth. You don’t have to knead it for longer. I hope this answers your questions! 🙂
Carmen
Hi all your recipes are amazing!!! I have tried most of them. Thank you. My question is if a can use brow rice flour instead of white rice flour?
Ela
That should be fine, Carmen. 🙂
PS: White rice flour is lighter than brown rice flour and will probably make the bread fluffier, but it should still work.
Kat
Literally just made this recipe and they came out delicious. I didn’t get much puff but I think I made them too thick.
One question – with the skillet so hot I ended up getting some significant charging on the outside that has an unpleasant burnt taste. Any suggestions?
Ela
Hi Kat, I am so glad they turned out delicious! I would suggest flipping them more often so that they don’t burn. 🙂
Priscila Quiste
Hello Ela.
Can i use psyllium husk flakes? thats what I have in hands right now.
Thanks for the great recipe.
Ela
Sure, just blend the flakes in a blender or electric spice/coffee grinder to make powder. If you don’t have a blender then simply use 4 teaspoons of the flakes. 🙂
Mary
Hello!
This looks wonderful! Do you think Cassava Flour would work in place of the tapioca flour?
Thank you!
Mary
Ela
Hi Mary, it might work, but I am not sure. I guess arrowroot flour would work better. Please report back if you give it a try. 🙂
Sal
hi Ela,
they look awesome!
can i substitute tapioca flour with cassava flour or potato starch?
hear from you soon.
Sal
Ela
Potato starch might work but I never tried it. Arrowroot flour is normally a better sub for tapioca flour. 🙂
Steph
So excited to try this recipe! Would I be able to use brown rice flour ok?
Ela
Hi Steph, I think that should be fine. 🙂
PS: White rice flour is lighter than brown rice flour and will probably make the bread fluffier, but it should still work.
Rebecca
I made these tonight and they turned out great. I will definitely be making them again. Thank you!
Ela
I am glad they turned out great, Rebecca. 🙂