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Hummus Elite
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Sunday - Thursday: 11:30 AM - 10:00 PM /
Friday: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM /
Saturday: Closed / 201.569.5600
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Four
Classic Ways to Eat Pita Bread
Made with leavened wheat bread, water, salt and baked
as a round piece of bread containing a pocket, pita
bread is a staple of many Balkan, Middle Eastern and
Mediterranean dishes. Pita bread gets its famous "pocket"
when raw pita bread is baked and subjected to a steaming
process that causes the dough to puff up in the middle
of the bread. Eventually, it begins to flatten as it
cools, leaving the famous pocket behind into which all
kinds of foods are placed and eaten as a sandwich-type
meal.
Historical records of Egyptians baking bread using barley
and wheat exist in various excavations of scrolls and
sculptures. Researchers believe that the ancient Egyptians
may have accidentally discovered leavened bread when
dough left in the sun or other warm place activated
the yeast and cause the dough to rise or "puff".
However, full credit may be due to the Bedouins who
are thought to have baked the first pita bread for use
as a consumable eating utensil.
During the 1970s, many immigrants from the Middle East
arrived in the U.S., introducing Americans to their
spicy cuisine as well as to pita bread. When health-minded
individuals found that the bread was low in fat and
sugar, the market for pita bread exploded. Yearly sales
of pita bread are currently well over $100 million.
As a Scoop
Pita bread can be used as a scoop for dips and sauces
like hummus or tahini sauce. Essentially, pita bread
can substitute for any kind of eating utensils if none
are available. Simply scoop thick soups, meats, vegetables
or any other food into its pocket and eat.
As a Wrap
When pita bread is baked flat without allowing it form
a pocket, it can be used as a wrap for gyros, falafel
and kebabs. Greek pitogryos and pita-souvlakis are pita
wraps made with chicken or pork strips, onions, tomatoes
and various desired condiments.
Created using pita bread, Turkish kebabs such as yogšurtlu
kebap, iskender kebap and sis kebab are popular lunch
and dinner dishes served with salads and Turkish tea.
A Turkish food similar to pizza called lahmacun uses
round, thin pieces of pita bread topped with a variety
of spices, herbs, potatoes and chopped meat.
Stuffing the Pita
Pocketed pita bread can be stuffed with just about any
kind of food, from meat to vegetables to thick stews.
Traditional chicken shawarma pitas are a favorite of
Middle Eastern residents and contain many delicious
ingredients, such as hummus, garlic, onions, cucumbers,
cilantro and tomatoes.
Falafel pitas are stuffed with tahini sauce, vegetables,
tomatoes, parsley and falafel. Falafel is a traditional
Israeli dish made with garbanzo or chickpeas, onions,
garlic, cumin, flour and corianda that are shaped into
small balls and fried in oil.
Crispy Pita Chips
As a healthy alternative to crackers or potato chips,
toasted pita chips provide sturdy support for sauces,
dips and melted cheeses. Cut into slightly larger than
bite-sized triangles and brushed with cooking oil, pita
bread chips are baked until brown, light and crispy.
Incorporating cumin, garlic, coriander and black pepper
into a pita bread recipe makes for spicy and flavorful
pita chips as well. |
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