Air Fryer Recipes - Instant VortexOther CuisinesDurban Indian

Air Fryer Pita Bread

Air Fryer Pita Bread – yup you read that correctly! I love pita bread & these are by far the tastiest ones I have ever made.

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By DenisiyaPublished on June 28, 2022
Air Fryer Pita Bread
⏱️
Prep Time25 mins
🍳
Cook Time81 mins
⌛
Total Time106 mins
🍽️
ServingsMakes 10 Pitas
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This Recipe Makes 10 Pitas

Air Fryer Pita Bread – yup you read that correctly! I love pita bread & these are by far the tastiest ones I have ever made.

I have opted to using my Instant Vortex Air Fryer Oven for this recipe, unfortunately I haven’t tried them in the basket air fryer (Instant Vortex Air Fryer) but I am sure they will turn out just as good.

With this recipe, you can also opt to making them on the stovetop or in a regular convention oven. Air fryers are basically mini ovens so they can be used for just about anything. I must admit though that these are time consuming but I made a small batch just for my husband & I, & it was definitely worth it – so if you need to make a larger batch then I suggest placing them onto a baking tray & doing them all in one go (or however many can fit on the tray at a time).

🥗

Ingredients

Scale:
Base Yield: Makes 10 Pitas
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Step-by-Step Instructions

38 Steps
  1. Step 1

    Add the flour, salt, sugar & instant yeast to a mixing bowl.

    Step 1 visual guide
  2. Step 2

    Give the dry ingredients a mix.

    Step 2 visual guide
  3. Step 3

    Pour in the vegetable or olive oil.

    Step 3 visual guide
  4. Step 4

    Pour in the warm water & warm milk.

    Step 4 visual guide
  5. Step 5

    Mix with a spoon & then with your hands until it forms a dough.

    Step 5 visual guide
  6. Step 6

    If the dough is too dry, add in a little warm milk or water & if the dough is too sticky, add in more flour.

    Step 6 visual guide
  7. Step 7

    Place dough onto a floured surface.

    Step 7 visual guide
  8. Step 8

    Knead for 10 minutes. The longer it is kneaded, the softer it will be. This process can be done by hand or with a stand mixer.

    Step 8 visual guide
  9. Step 9

    Lightly oil a bowl & place the dough into the bowl. Rotate the dough in the bowl coating with the oil so it does not dry up.

    Step 9 visual guide
  10. Step 10

    Cover with cling/plastic wrap & leave in a dark place to rest for 1 hour or more. I usually pop it in a turned off oven or microwave.

    Step 10 visual guide
  11. Step 11

    After an hour, the dough should double in size.

    Step 11 visual guide
  12. Step 12

    Remove the cling/plastic wrap.

    Step 12 visual guide
  13. Step 13

    Punch down dough.

    Step 13 visual guide
  14. Step 14

    If using a convection oven – Preheat oven to 260° Celsius or 500° Fahrenheit at this point.

  15. Step 15

    Roll into a ball & divide into 10 equal parts.

    Step 15 visual guide
  16. Step 16

    Roll each portion into balls.

    Step 16 visual guide
  17. Step 17

    Working with one ball of dough at a time, tuck, roll into a ball & flatten on the floured surface.

    Step 17 visual guide
  18. Step 18

    Using a rolling pin, roll each ball out into a circular shape.

    Step 18 visual guide
  19. Step 19

    Continue this process until all the dough is rolled out.

    Step 19 visual guide
  20. Step 20

    They should be about ½ centimeter thick.

    Step 20 visual guide
  21. Step 21

    As they are being rolled out, be sure to cover them with a dish towel to prevent them from drying.

    Step 21 visual guide
  22. Step 22

    Turn on your air fryer. I am using my Instant Vortex Air Fryer Oven.

    Step 22 visual guide
  23. Step 23

    Press the “Bake” button on the Instant Vortex Air Fryer Oven. Or you can press the “Air Fry” button if your air fryer doesn’t have that option.

    Step 23 visual guide
  24. Step 24

    Adjust the “Time” to 00:04 (04 Minutes) & the “Temperature” to 180° Celsius.

    Step 24 visual guide
  25. Step 25

    Press “Start” & allow the air fryer to Preheat.

    Step 25 visual guide
  26. Step 26

    Place one of the rolled pitas onto the air fryer tray (or into the air fryer basket).

    Step 26 visual guide
  27. Step 27

    Once the Air Fryer reads “Add Food”, open it & slide in the tray on the middle rack (or simply pop the air fryer basket in). Alternatively, place the pita dough onto a baking tray & pop it into the preheated oven & bake for about 3 minutes or until golden & puffed.

  28. Step 28

    For the stovetop, preheat a pan or cast iron skillet over medium high heat. Lay pita on the hot skillet for 30 seconds, once you see it bubbling, flip the pita & toast for 1 minute – it will puff then flip & cook another minute.

    Step 28 visual guide
  29. Step 29

    After 2 minutes, you will notice it start to puff up.

    Step 29 visual guide
  30. Step 30

    Pull out the tray (or basket).

    Step 30 visual guide
  31. Step 31

    Carefully flip it over.

    Step 31 visual guide
  32. Step 32

    Pop the tray or basket back into the Air Fryer & allow it to bake for the remaining 2 minutes. Depending on your Air Fryer, keep an eye on it as you don’t want it to get too browned because it will result in hard pitas.

    Step 32 visual guide
  33. Step 33

    Once done, they should be perfectly cooked.

    Step 33 visual guide
  34. Step 34

    Serve these Air Fryer Pita Bread however you prefer.

    Step 34 visual guide
  35. Step 35

    Usually they are cut in halves or at the tip & it should become a pocket. To this any filling can be added with salads & sauces for a perfect meal.

    Step 35 visual guide
  36. Step 36

    As you can see, the inside is super fluffy & these pitas are absolutely soft & delicious.

    Step 36 visual guide
  37. Step 37

    Store in an air tight container for up to a week.

    Step 37 visual guide
  38. Step 38

    Apart from serving it as a pocket, I actually love serving it with Dhall Gosht – yes that seems odd but do give it a try, its something will definitely stick because those two just pair so well together.

    Step 38 visual guide
Video Tutorial

Watch How It's Made

Follow along with Denisiya's step-by-step video guide for Air Fryer Pita Bread.

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Frequently Asked Questions & Cooking Tips

Expert kitchen guidance and troubleshooting for making the best Air Fryer Pita Bread

What is the secret to making soft rotis that stay soft for hours?

The golden secret is kneading the flour with boiling hot water, which pre-gelatinizes the starches. Roll thin, cook on a hot tawa with a light brush of butter or ghee, and stack inside a covered container wrapped in a clean kitchen cloth.

Can I freeze the roti dough or cooked rotis?

Yes! Cooked rotis freeze exceptionally well. Place sheets of wax paper between each cooked roti, wrap in foil or a zip-top bag, and freeze for up to 2 months. Reheat directly on a hot pan for 30 seconds.

Why did my rotis turn out stiff or hard?

Stiff rotis are caused by rolling the dough with too much dry flour, rolling too thick, or cooking on too low heat for too long, which dries out the moisture. Cook on medium-high heat quickly.

Denisiya - Founder & Chef at EatMee Recipes
About the Creator

Meet Denisiya

Hi, I'm Denisiya! Food lover, recipe developer, and founder of EatMee Recipes. I specialize in authentic South African Durban Indian cuisine, comforting curries, and modern Instant Pot adaptations. Every recipe on this site is tested in my personal kitchen to ensure you get mouth-watering, foolproof results every time.

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