Pita bread is a staple in Middle Eastern cuisine and has become a popular bread option around the world. It’s versatile, easy to make, and pairs well with a variety of dishes. However, one question that occasionally arises when it comes to pita bread is whether or not it contains eggs. In this article, we’ll explore this question in depth and provide you with all the information you need to know about pita bread and eggs.
What is Pita Bread?
Pita bread is a type of flatbread that has been around for thousands of years. It’s a round, pocket-like bread that’s often made from flour, water, yeast, and salt. The dough is rolled out and then baked in a hot oven or cast iron skillet, where it puffs up to create the signature pocket.
Pita bread is a versatile bread that can be used in a variety of dishes. It’s commonly used to make sandwiches, stuffed with ingredients such as falafel, hummus, and vegetables. It can also be torn into pieces and used as a dipping bread for various dips, such as baba ghanoush, tzatziki, or hummus.
Does Pita Bread Contain Eggs?
In short, pita bread does not typically contain eggs. The traditional recipe for pita bread only uses four ingredients: flour, water, yeast, and salt. You’ll also find olive oil in some pitas as well. Eggs are an unnecessary ingredient in this type of bread.
Below is a random sampling of popular grocery store pita breads and their ingredients. This will provide you with an idea of what is in store-bought pita. As you can see, known of the breads contained egg ingredients at the time of this article.
| Pita Brand | Eggs (Yes or No)? | Ingredients |
|---|---|---|
| Tourza – Bakery | No | Enriched Bromated Flour Bleached [(Wheat Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate, Folic Acid), Benzyl Peroxide, Potassium Bromate, Enzyme], Water, Yeast, Salt, Sugar, Mono and Diglycerides, L-cysteine, Potassium Sorbate and Calcium Propionate, To Keep Freshness. |
| Joseph’s – Original | No | Water, Enriched Wheat Flour, ([Wheat Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid], Malted Barley Flour), Wheat Gluten, Oat Fiber, Potato Flour, Yeast, Contains Less Than 2% Of Each Of The Following: Soybean Oil, Grape Juice, Rice Syrup, Carrot Fiber, Sugar, Salt, Calcium Propionate, Monoglycerides, Citric Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Calcium Sulfate, Salt, Enzymes, Xanthan Gum, L-Cysteine (Plant-Based), Corn Starch. |
| Papa Pita – White Greek Flat Pita | No | Enriched Unbleached Flour (Wheat Flour, Malt, Barley Flour, Niacin, Ferrous Sulfate, Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Water, Oat Fiber, Sugar, Yeast, Wheat Gluten, Canola and/or Soybean Oil, Salt, Potato Flour, Vinegar, Psyllium, Cultured Wheat Flour, Soy Lecithin, Enzyme (Plant Based), & Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C). |
| Middle East Baking Co. – Organic Whole Wheat | No | Organic Whole Wheat Flour, Water, Fresh, Yeast, and Salt. |
| Kronos – Original | No | Wheat Flour Enriched ([Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid], Malted Barley Flour), Water, Soybean Oil, Yeast, Salt, Vital Wheat Gluten, Dough Conditioner (Mono-Diglycerides, Calcium Sulfate, Guar Gum, Wheat Starch, Sodium Metabisulfite and Ascorbic Acid), Oat Fiber, Sugar, Preservatives (Calcium Propionate, Fumaric Acid). |
| Sam’s Choice – Greek-Style Pita | No | Enriched Unbleached Flour (Wheat Flour, Malted Barley Flour, Niacin, Ferrous Sulfate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Water, Cane Sugar, Yeast, Wheat Gluten, Contains 2% or less of each of the following: Soybean Oil, Salt, Calcium Propionate (a preservative), Baking Powder (Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Sodium Bicarbonate, Cornstarch, Monocalcium Phosphate), Sugar Cane Fiber, Enzyme (plant based), Citric Acid (a preservative). |
| Favorite Day – Low Fat Original | No | Enriched Wheat Flour (Unbleached Wheat Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Water, Sugar, Yeast, Salt, Canola Oil, Calcium Propionate (Preservative), Vinegar, Enzymes. |
| 365 Whole Food Whole Wheat | No | Organic Whole Wheat Flour, Water, Organic Wheat Gluten, Organic Cultured Wheat Starch, Organic Potato Flour, Yeast, Organic Highly Refined Soybean Oil, Organic Cane Sugar, Organic Brown Rice Syrup, Organic Grape Juice, Organic Oat Flour, Ascorbic Acid, Microbial Enzymes, Sea Salt. |
Some commercially made pita breads may contain eggs as an ingredient. Do not assume all pita is egg-free. If you have an egg allergy or are following a vegan diet, it’s important to check the ingredient list/allergen information on the package of any store-bought pita bread you plan to purchase. Do not rely on the above since ingredients can change without notice.
There are numerous homemade pita recipes online that do not call for eggs as an ingredients. This Chef John Homemade Pita is our preferred pita recipe but there are certainly numerous other recipes out there that will produce tasty results. Keep in mind that we have no affiliation to Chef John we just like the recipe.
Final Thoughts
Pita bread is a delicious and versatile bread that can be used in a variety of dishes. While some commercially made pita bread may contain eggs as an ingredient, the traditional recipe for pita bread only uses flour, water, yeast, and salt. If you’re concerned about the ingredients in store-bought pita bread or have dietary restrictions, making your own pita bread at home is easy and allows you to control what goes into it.