Information AboutPita |
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Pita (also called '''pitta ''' or '''pita bread''' and pronounced "bitta" in greek) is an often round, brown, Wheat Flatbread made with Yeast . Similar to other double-layered Flat or pocket breads, pita is traditional in many Middle Eastern and Mediterranean Cuisine s. It is prevalent from North Africa through the Levant and the Arabian Peninsula to India and Afghanistan , coinciding with the spread of the Hellenistic world. The original pita is cooked flat without any rising. This type, known as the Greek pita, is the most well known and universal type; others include Indian pitas. ETYMOLOGY According to the Oxford English Dictionary , the first mention of the word in English was in 1951, with references to Balkan , Greek , and especially Arab cuisine in the next two decades. The American Heritage Dictionary traces the word's origin to modern Greek for "pie," "cake," or "bread"; Webster's Unabridged Dictionary attributes it to the Hebrew פת (''pat''), for "loaf" or "morsel". The word ''pita'' (as פיתא) exists in the Aramaic of the Babylonian Talmud , referring to bread in general. In Serbian it means Pie in general. Another possible etymology is from a Romanian archaic word for bread, ''pită''. An alternative etymology traces the word to a cognate for pine pitch, which forms flat layers that may resemble pita bread, which in turn may share an origin with Pizza (Italian, "pie"). EATING HABITS Pita is used to scoop sauces or dips such as Hummus and to wrap Sandwich es like Kebabs , Gyros or Falafel . Most pita breads are Baked at high temperatures (700° F or 370° C ), causing the flattened rounds of Dough to puff up dramatically. When removed from the Oven the layers of baked dough remain separated inside the deflated pita, which allows the bread to be opened into pockets, creating a space for use in various dishes. In modern history (in the 1970s) much of pita's popularity in the Western world is due to this pocket. Instead of using pita to scoop foods, the pocket is filled with various ingredients to form a sandwich. These are sometimes called "pita pockets" or "pocket pitas". Certain manufacturers have taken steps in packaging to clarify the difference between pita (which has no pocket, and historically meant "flat") and pita pockets (which have pockets). In Turkey , pita (called ''pide'') typically has a soft, chewy texture and is pocketless. The pizza-like food called '' Lahmacun '' is made with oval-shaped pieces of pide dough that are topped with finely chopped meat and herbs before baking. In Greece, pita is eaten with dips such as Tzatziki . In Bulgarian cuisine, pita is served on special occasions. Its preparation and consumption have ritual meaning. For example, on the night before Christmas Eve, (" (since bread is an important part of Bulgarian Cuisine - and as a Bulgarian proverb says, "no one is bigger than bread", and the salt is the basic ingredient that gives flavour to every meal). This is how the hosts show that the guests are desired and that they wish to share their meal with them. VARIATIONS The Lebanese pita is similar to the Cyprus pita except that the Lebanese pita is 2" longer in elongation. The pita bread of the baked type such as the Agio Basilo pita is a Byzantine Christian tradition shared by all nations that once were part of the Empire, again reinforcing the Hellenistic Christian culture that spread the pita. Pita bread or Basilo pita is like a cake or tart, with a single layer of sponge cake or bread that is typically circular and flat. SEE ALSO EXTERNAL LINKS |
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