Kuboos, also known as Khubz or Arabic pita bread, is a leavened flatbread that is round in shape and made from whole wheat flour. This type of bread is healthier since it is rich in fiber and is best used to wrap sandwiches such as shawarma, kebab, or falafel.
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In the Middle East and Arab countries, kuboos is a popular staple food that has been a traditional favorite for thousands of years. When I was still a kid living in Kuwait, I always ate kuboos or khubz for breakfast and sometimes dinner. We would serve this bread with other mezze platters such as hummus or use it as a sandwich filling for shawarma or kebab.
The word 'kuboos' or 'khubz' comes from an Arabic word meaning bread, referring to a pocket pita bread that puffs up during baking or cooking on a pan. If you encounter the word 'kuboos', it basically refers to pita bread, which is similar to Greek flatbread or Emirati Khameer Bread.
If you visit the Middle East, you'll find many variations of this type of bread, with some using all-purpose flour while others use whole wheat flour. In this post, I have made my Arabic kuboos using whole wheat flour, inspired by my childhood experiences in Kuwait. It is cooked on a pan rather than in an oven, and yet it has a soft and fluffy texture that is best enjoyed warm.
What makes this bread better?
Arabic kuboos has been a part of my childhood, bringing back good memories of the food I enjoyed in the Middle East.
- This Arabic kuboos is a gluten-free recipe and it is high in fiber since we use whole wheat flour. Making brown bread is more traditional and tastes much better than using white flour.
- This bread is considered very healthy and nutritious since it is rich in extra virgin olive oil, and no chemicals are added.
- The bread is so soft and fluffy that you can use it to make sandwiches or serve it as a mezze platter.
Recipe Ingredients
Here are the ingredient I use to make an Arabic kuboos bread:
Flour: I am using whole wheat flour since it is healthier than refined white flour and is high in fiber.
Olive Oil: I am using extra virgin olive oil since it gives a richer flavor than ordinary olive oil, and it helps keep the dough soft and moist during the kneading process.
Yeast: Because this is a leavened bread, I am using instant yeast to help the dough rise and create a fluffy texture.
Salt and Brown Sugar: Salt and brown sugar are used to add flavor to the bread and balance its sweetness and saltiness.
SUBSTITUION SUGGESTION: If you don't have brown sugar, you can use white sugar instead.
Water: I use warm water to mix with the instant yeast and other ingredients to make the dough.
Step by Step Instruction
To make Arabic Kuboos bread, there are 3 things to do: Making the Dough; Assembling and Rounding the Pita Bread, and Cooking the Kuboos.
I. Making the Dough
- Firstly, I mix the warm water with the instant yeast in a cup, and then set it aside.
- Next, I add the flour, salt, brown sugar, and olive oil in a large bowl before pouring the yeast-water mixture which I gently stir them using a wooden spoon.
- After that, I kneaded the dough using my clean hand until it achieve a soft & fluffy consistency.
- Cover with the plastic wrapper and leave it for 1 hour to double in size.
Note: When you are using whole wheat flour, it will require more water for the dough to be elastic and soft. If the dough is too dry or rubbery, add more water if needed.
II. Assembling and shaping the Pita Bread
- Once the dough already doubled in size, I transferred into the cutting board, and roll it into a cylindrical shape using my hand. After that, I divided them into 7 to 8 pieces of ball shape.
- In each dough, I use the rolling pin to make it into a round shape with at least 7 inches in width. Transfer into the plate and set it aside.
III. Cooking the Bread in a Stove
- In this part, I use an ordinary pan which I heated before I put the round pita bread. You just need to heat it on each side for at least 30 seconds before you notice it will start puffing up. After that, I inverted it and repeat the process.
- This is best to serve when its still warm and soft.
- Remember, if it doesn't puff up, it is still considered cooked, as long you saw a round spot of the bread.
What to serve this Pita Bread with?
This Arabic Kuboos is traditionally served and eaten along with other mezze platters
- For dips, it is best paired with hummus, labneh, shakshuka or moutabal
- This can also be used as wrapper to make sandwich dishes like shawarma, kofta kebab, or falafel sandwiches.
- You can also serve with other protein side dishes like kofta tahini, galayet bandora, kebda eskandarani
Troubleshoot and Questions
1. Why is my Kuboos too chewy?
If your bread is too chewy, there are two possible reason:
A: It could be you added too much flour & less water, which made the dough too dry. One of the concerns of using whole wheat flour is that it tends to make the dough drier and it requires more water.
B: You didn't give enough time for the dough to rise before cooking, as whole wheat flour takes longer than all-purpose flour. Additionally, if the instant yeast is expired or old, it may not activate properly when mixed with the flour and other ingredients during the kneading process.
2.What simple kitchen appliances or equipment do you need to make this Arabic Kuboos bread?
You will need a wooden or plastic dough roller pin to make a nice thin and round pita bread. Also, you need a pan or skillet to cook the flatbread.
3. Is pita bread and Arabic flatbread the same thing?
Pita bread is a type of yeast-leavened Middle Eastern bread that is found in most Arab countries. Calling it an Arabic flatbread or 'Kuboos' in our language is just another name for pita bread.
4. How do you reheat kuboos bread?
First, you can heat it directly on the fire of the cooking stove, where it will just soften and warm the bread. Or, you can use a microwave and set it to medium-setting, heating it between 1-2 minutes maximum or until warm. Make sure you do not set it in high setting as this will make the pita bread hard and chewy.
5. How long can it last in the Fridge?
I highly recommend you store it in the freezer since it will last up to 1 month. If you use the refrigerator, it will only last up to 1-2 weeks.
Cooking Video using All-purpose flour
For variation of making Arabic pita bread using all-purpose, I have a cooking video of how to make pita bread by using all-purpose flour which the technique is similar to this recipe.
📋 Recipe Card
Arabic Kuboos Pita Bread
Equipment
- 1 Skillet Pan to cook the pita bread
Ingredients
- 3 cups of whole wheat flour
- 1-11/4 cups of water
- 2 teaspoons of instant yeast
- 1 tablespoon of brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon of salt
- 3 tablespoons of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Instructions
Making the Dough
- Mix warm water with instant yeast in a cup, and set it aside.
- Add flour, salt, brown sugar, and olive oil to a large bowl. Pour in the yeast-water mixture and gently stir it using a wooden spoon.
- Knead the dough using clean hands for several minutes until it achieves a soft and fluffy consistency.
- Cover the dough with plastic wrap and let it sit for 1 hour to double in size.
Shaping the Pita Bread
- Once the dough has doubled in size, transfer it to a cutting board and shape it into a cylindrical form using your hands. Then, divide it into 7 to 8 equally-sized pieces.
- Using a rolling pin, flatten each dough piece into a round shape with a minimum width of 7 inches. Place them on a plate and set aside.
Cooking the Bread on a Stove
- For this step, heat an ordinary pan before adding the round pita bread. Cook each side for at least 30 seconds until it starts to puff up. Then, flip it and repeat the process.
- Serve the bread warm and soft. Remember, even if it doesn't puff up, it is still cooked as long as you see a round spot on the bread.
Notes
- When using whole wheat flour, it requires more water for the dough to be elastic and soft. Adjust the water as needed if the dough feels too dry or rubbery.
- If it is too dry, add ¼ cup of water and repeat the process. Add more water if needed
- To make sure it puff up, cover the pan with the lid when cooking so the heat will distribute equally.
- The video in this recipe is made using all purpose flour instead of whole wheat flour.
Wow! Love this! Will surely try to make it using your recipe. Thanks for sharing!
I love pita bread and this one is a winner!
It is the best since this pita bread is whole wheat
I love trying new bread recipes. Thank you for providing all the helpful tips, I couldn't have made it without them!
No problem. Glad you love it
This is much easier than I thought it would be to make. I can't wait to make them again.
Thank you
I love brown khubz bread. It is healthier than the white one since it contain whole wheat. In Bahrain, they serve this type of pita bread and it was the best.
Thanks for sharing your experience Far. Pita bread that is made from whole wheat is the best.