Whole Wheat Pita {Vegan}

Homemade pita bread is warm, soft and delicious - not to mention REALLY easy! Have your pita with sandwich stuff, salad stuff or just tear it to shreds and dunk it in your favorite dip.

Whole Wheat Pita

1 1/3 cup water, about 80*F (1/2 cup water separated)
8 tsp olive oil (4 tsp divided)
2 tsp sugar
1 1/4 tsp salt
3 1/3 cups 100% whole wheat flour (you can substitute up to a cup of the flour with milled flax seed, wheat germ or another favorite milled whole grain)
2 1/2 tsp active dry yeast

*Water should be just barely warm and all other ingredients should be at room temperature.

By Hand
1. In a small, warm glass bowl, add about 1/2 cup of warm water, the yeast and the sugar. Stir together to dissolve and let sit about 10-15 minutes.
2. In a large, warm glass bowl, combine flour and salt well. Create a well in the center of the flour mixture and then add the yeast mixture to the whole in the flour. Slowly add the rest of the water and 4 tsp of the olive oil and mix together.
3. Once mixed together well, turn dough out onto lightly floured surface. Wash out the bowl and then let it sit full of hot water while you knead the dough for 10-15 minutes.
4. Drain the bowl of water (it should be warm) and dry completely. Coat the bowl with the rest of the olive oil and then place the dough inside turning so that it is completely coated in oil. Cover and let it sit until doubled in size (about 60-90 minutes).
5. Place cooking sheet in oven and pre-heat the oven to 500*. Separate the dough into 8-12 balls (depending on how big you want your pita pockets to be). Let them rest NOT TOUCHING for about 20 minutes. Then, VERY gently roll 3 or 4 out with a rolling pin (not too much pressure) or press with your fingers into little pita circles. Place them on the hot pan and bake in the oven for about 5 minutes until puffed up and the tops begin to brown.
6. While the first 3-4 are baking you can roll or press out the next 3-4. Repeat until all the pita dough is baked.
7. Cut in half to make pita pockets or store whole.

With Bread Machine or Electric Mixer
1. Place all ingredients in the machine in the order listed above.
2 Turn on dough setting or knead in electric mixer for 5-10 minutes.
3. Repeat steps 5-7 listed above.