Lebanese Bread Recipe - The Big Man's World ® (2024)

Home | Breakfast Recipes | Bread | Lebanese Bread

byArman Liew

updated on Sep 13, 2023

66comments

5from 5 votes

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Learn how to prepare the perfect Lebanese bread at home in just 10 minutes. Made with simple ingredients, it’s soft, fluffy and delicious!

Lebanese Bread Recipe - The Big Man's World ® (2)

If you love homemade flatbreads and tortillas, you need to try this Lebanese bread recipe.

It’s a healthy and delicious alternative to traditional flatbread. It’s easy to prep, and it’s the perfect vehicle for all the toppings and fillings.

Table of Contents
  1. Why this recipe works
  2. Ingredients (and substitutions)
  3. How to make Lebanese bread
  4. Tips to make the best recipe
  5. What to serve with Lebanese bread
  6. Storage instructions
  7. More homemade bread recipes you’ll enjoy
  8. Frequently Asked Questions
  9. Lebanese Bread (Recipe Card)

Why this recipe works

  • Perfect texture and flavor. The texture of this bread is flat, pliable, and airy in the middle. It’s savory and mild tasting, making it the perfect vehicle for anything.
  • Easy to make. Just five ingredients and 10 minutes is all you need to make your own homemade bread.
  • Versatile. It’s great for dipping in hummus or baba ghanoush, salad wraps and sandwiches, or even as a quick quesadilla.
  • Healthy. With very little fat and some added fiber (hello, whole grains!), these are fabulous slow-releasing carbs.

Ingredients (and substitutions)

This Lebanese pita bread is so easy to make and uses simple bread making staples. Here is what you’ll need:

  • Active dry yeast. Makes the bread rise.Avoid using old yeast as it can affect the leavening of the bread.
  • Water. To activate the yeast. Use warm water for the best texture of bread.
  • Granulated sugar. It feeds the yeast and doesn’t add much sweetness to the bread.
  • Bread flour. While all-purpose or whole wheat flour works, bread flour gives this homemade bread a lighter texture and a more refined dough. If you can’t find bread flour, regular all-purpose flour works fine.
  • Olive oil. A touch of oil in any bread recipe helps with texture.
  • Salt. To balance the overall flavor.

How to make Lebanese bread

These pitas may look incredibly fancy but I promise they are so quick to whip up.

  1. Activate the yeast: Combine the warm water, yeast, and sugar in a large bowl. Stir until dissolved, then add some flour. Let sit for 15 minutes until foam appears.
  2. Knead the dough: Combine the oil, salt, and more of the flour with the yeast mixture. Stir until a rough dough forms. Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic. Add more flour as needed if the dough is too sticky.
  3. Let the dough rise: Place dough in a bowl, cover, and let it rise.
  4. Form dough balls: Dust a clean surface with flour, divide the dough into portions, and cover and rest for 10 minutes.
  5. Roll out pitas: Roll each dough ball into 8-inch flatbreads.
  6. Bake the bread: Quickly place as many pitas as will fit on a hot skillet without touching. Bake for 3-5 minutes until the pitas puff up and turn golden brown. Repeat with the remaining bread.
Lebanese Bread Recipe - The Big Man's World ® (3)

Tips to make the best recipe

  • Use high-quality flour: Your bread will be chewy and flavorful if you use high-quality flour.Opt for anything labeled ‘bread flour’ or ‘baker flour’.
  • Enjoy the bread warm: Unlike other kinds of bread which typically should be cooled before slicing/serving, Lebanese bread is perfect to enjoy hot out of the oven.
  • Don’t open the oven door: Let the bread bake without checking up on it- you can see if its ready through the glass. Opening it up will deflate the bread and make it a little tough.
  • Don’t overmix the dough: Overmixing will develop too much gluten, and stretching the bread will be affected.

What to serve with Lebanese bread

Like any good bread out there, this particular kind pairs well with almost anything. Here are some ideas to get you started-

  • Stews– Some dahl, carne guisada, and crawfish etouffee are all international hybrids begging this bread to dip into it!
  • Curries– While some naan is more traditional, Lebanese bread is just as delicious and perfect for mopping up the flavorful sauces. Pair this with some chicken tikka masala, paneer tikka masala, or a lamb Rogan Josh.
  • Protein– Keep things simple with plain protein, like an air fryer chicken breast, pork chops, or salmon.
  • Soup– Classic and simple, we love this with some chicken soup, broccoli cheddar soup, or a simple asparagus soup.

Storage instructions

To store. Leftovers will remain fresh at room temperature in an airtight container or plastic bag for up to 3 days. To keep it longer, store it in the fridge for up to one week.

To freeze. Leftover bread can also be frozen in a freezer-safe bag or container for up to 6 months.

More homemade bread recipes you’ll enjoy

  • Protein bread
  • Keto bread
  • Coconut flour bread
  • Naan

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to make Lebanese bread?

The total baking time to make this bread is less than 10 minutes. However, the prep is a little longer and requires some resting time.

What can I use to replace yeast in this recipe?

While yeast is preferred, baking powder can be used instead of yeast.

Lebanese Bread Recipe - The Big Man's World ® (4)

Lebanese Bread

5 from 5 votes

Learn how to prepare the perfect Lebanese bread at home in just 10 minutes. Made with simple ingredients, it’s soft, fluffy and delicious!

Servings: 8 servings

Prep: 1 hour hr 5 minutes mins

Cook: 5 minutes mins

Total: 1 hour hr 10 minutes mins

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Ingredients

Instructions

  • Combine warm water, yeast, and sugar in a bowl. Add ½ cup flour and let it sit for 15 minutes until foamy.

  • Mix in oil, salt, and 2 cups flour. Knead until smooth, adding reserved flour if needed. Rest dough for 10 minutes.

  • Preheat oven to 500°F (260°C) and place a large skillet inside.

  • Roll dough into 8 balls, then into ¼-inch thick 8-inch circles, adding flour as needed.

  • Moving quickly, add enough dough balls to fit on the skillet and bake until puffed and golden (3-5 minutes each).

Notes

TO STORE:Leftovers will remain fresh at room temperature in an airtight container or plastic bag for up to 3 days. To keep it longer, store it in the fridge for up to one week.

TO FREEZE: Leftover bread can also be frozen in a freezer-safe bag or container for up to 6 months.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 189kcalCarbohydrates: 35gProtein: 6gFat: 3gSodium: 1309mgPotassium: 55mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 1IUVitamin C: 0.003mgCalcium: 8mgIron: 0.5mgNET CARBS: 34g

Course: Breakfast

Cuisine: Lebanese

Author: Arman Liew

Tried this recipe?Give us a shout at @thebigmansworld or tag #thebigmansworld!

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. I may earn a small commission for my endorsem*nt, recommendation, testimonial, and/or link to any products or services from this website.

Lebanese Bread Recipe - The Big Man's World ® (2024)

FAQs

What is the Lebanese bread called? ›

Pita bread

It is thin and puffs up as it bakes. Since it does not contain any added fat, it dries out rapidly and is best consumed while still warm; later, it may become chewy. The "pocket" pita originated in the Middle East. It is also known as Arab(ic) bread, Lebanese bread, or Syrian bread.

What type of bread is eaten with most meals in Lebanon? ›

The two common types of bread consumed are marcook (a thin bread baked on a doomed dish over fire), and flat pita pockets. Coffee is a staple in the Lebanese diet; it is drunk throughout the day.

What is the difference between pita and khubz? ›

Pita bread is typically cut into half and eaten stuffed with filling, “pocket” style. Lebanese Khubz or Khuboos is torn into pieces, and wrapped around food to pick it up and eat. It's typically eaten with stews and curry like dishes which can also be mopped up with flatbread.

What do you eat with Markouk bread? ›

Other local names include saj or khubs tabouni. Markouk is typically eaten with some combination of olives, labneh or other cheeses, mint, or zaatar.

What is the difference between pita bread and Lebanese bread? ›

Let me make a little clarification before we start, there is a difference between "Lebanese bread" and "Lebanese pita bread" in our house. Traditional Lebanese bread is an unleavened (without leavening, or yeast) that is baked in a special oven. It is very thin and it is not pita bread, nor does it have pockets.

Is Lebanese bread better than normal bread? ›

Despite their difference in shape, pita and bread have similar ingredients - largely water, yeast, flour, and salt. Because of the similarity in ingredients, the nutrient profiles of pita and normal bread are basically identical. Both pita and loaf bread have relatively low fat, fiber, and protein content.

Is Lebanese bread healthier than white bread? ›

Pita Bread Nutrition Facts

When made with whole-grain wheat flour, it also contains more fiber and antioxidants than regular bread (especially white bread). Depending on the type of pita bread, it may also contain slightly less sodium than other types of wheat bread and tends to be low-fat.

What is the most eaten meat in Lebanon? ›

Lebanese cuisine is the culinary traditions and practices originating from Lebanon. It includes an abundance of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, fresh fish and seafood. Poultry is eaten more often than red meat, and when red meat is eaten, it is usually lamb and goat meat.

What is the most eaten food in Lebanon? ›

Kibbeh is considered to be one of the best Lebanese foods in Lebanon and across the Arab world. It is made of ground meat, typically lamb or beef, mixed with bulgur wheat and spices. You can find kibbeh at each and every meal - breakfast, lunch or dinner.

What do Arabs call pita? ›

In Arabic, the phrase خبز البيتا (khabaz albayta, lit. "pita bread") is sometimes used; other names are simply خبز (khubz, "bread"), الخبز العربي (al-khubz al-ʿarabiyy, "Arab bread") or خبز الكماج (khabaz al-kimaj, "al-kimaj bread").

What do Arabs eat pita bread with? ›

Pita bread is used for picking up meat, vegetables, and salads and serves as a scoop for sauces, dips, yogurt, and other semi-liquids.

Do Muslims eat pita? ›

The region is home to Christians, Jews, and Muslims, and bread is common to all of them. Actually, for all three religions, bread is considered to be holy, a gift from God. What we know in the United States as Pita is known by other names across the Middle East.

What is thin Lebanese bread called? ›

Markouk Bread - This is a thin, unleavened bread that is popular in Syria and Lebanon. It is typically served with meze and can be used as a wrap for sandwiches.

What is a Nigella bread? ›

Introduction. Look, the name is meant to be a bit of a joke, but what I'm talking about is a pitta-like bread, glazed golden with beaten egg and sprinkled with nigella seeds. This is what I make when I'm in mezze-mode.

What kind of bread do Lebanese eat? ›

Lebanese bread, also known as pita bread, is a popular type of flatbread that is enjoyed throughout the Middle East and North Africa. The dough for Lebanese bread is typically made from all-purpose flour, salt, and water.

What is another word for Lebanese flatbread? ›

Pita (/ˈpɪtə/ or US: /ˈpiːtə/) or pitta (British English) is a family of yeast-leavened round flatbreads baked from wheat flour, common in the Mediterranean, Levant, and neighboring areas.

Is Lebanese bread the same as naan? ›

A: No, they are not. White both leavened flatbreads, pita bread and naan are different in origin, ingredients, flavor, texture, and size.

Is naan bread Lebanese? ›

Naan is found in the cuisines mainly of Iran, Afghanistan, Central Asia, the Indian subcontinent, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, and the Caribbean. Primarily composed of white or wheat flour combined with a leavening agent, typically yeast, naan dough develops air pockets that contribute to its fluffy and soft texture.

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