Basic Ingredients of Pita Bread
Let's begin with the ingredients list. Those necessary are warm water, white flour, yeast, and salt.
- Water is vegan – obviously. The only exception being water that isn’t filtered or pure (think flavored water).
- Salt – also known as sodium chlorine – is okay as well. There are many different types of salt on the market – table salt, sea salt, Himalayan black salt, Hawaiian alaea red salt, and so on. But don’t get confused by their color or texture. These are the result of various mineral and iron components, not innocent animals.
- Flour – white wheat flour, all-purpose flour, whole wheat, or any other type of flour - is also vegan. Flour comes from cereal grains. This can mean either whole grains or just kernels. Cereals are plants, and plants are definitely vegan. Just be careful not to use flour with non-vegan additives, such as L-cysteine.
- Yeast is the most suspicious guy in the room. Some vegans even choose to avoid it just in case. Yeast is a living organism - true - but it isn’t considered an animal. Yeast belongs to the fungi family and is as vegan as mushrooms. So, ultimately, there’s no real need to avoid yeast.
Now that we know all of the core ingredients of pita bread are vegan. Is all pita bread vegan?
All ‘pure’ pita bread is vegan, but some kinds contain a fifth element, an additive that’s derived from animal origin. These are often found lurking in the dough. Let’s have a look at a list of possible additives.
Trouble Ingredients
From milk products to animal fat, including things that you had no idea come from animals, there are plenty of non-vegan ingredients that can find their way into pita dough. Check for the following.
- Butter, milk, yogurt, or sour cream – Milk and its derivatives are not typical ingredients of pita bread, but they are often added to other types of bread and pastries. A small amount of any of these could be added to make the pita bread tastier (although inauthentic), and even the most experienced vegan wouldn’t taste the difference. Always check the nutrition facts label, or don’t be afraid to ask to ensure no dairy products have found their way in.
- Eggs – Just like milk products, eggs are widely used in bakery products. If the pita (or any other kind of bread for that matter) has a golden, shiny surface, that’s probably egg wash. Vegans should be able to recognize this and avoid the food accordingly.
- Lecithin – Lecithin is an additive that’s frequently used in commercial bread production. Its main purpose is to increase the volume of dough. If it’s made from soy (like some are), it’s vegan. But lecithin can also be obtained from egg yolks, so beware and read any fine print carefully.
- Sugar – Unfortunately, sugar might be added to pita bread, and if it is, there’s a high chance that it isn’t vegan. Sugar is everywhere - especially in bread. Although it shouldn’t be used in a pita, we all know that a pinch of sugar makes yeast happy. So there’s always a possibility that a manufacturer used sugar to make the dough rise quickly. Now, apart from the fact that sugar is not really healthy to eat, most refined sugar is not vegan at all. If they use sugar that’s made from sugarcane, it contains traces of cattle bones (bone char - a common whitening agent).
- L-Cysteine – Commonly used in typical bread, this additive is made of pig hair, duck feathers, or other similarly animal-derived ingredients. It may be considered safe by the US Food and Drug Administration CFR, but this additive is gross and certainly doesn’t earn a vegan’s seal of approval.
- Palm oil – While not completely necessary, most pita bread doughs contain at least one tablespoon of oil. They may also get sprinkled with some oil elsewhere in the process. Palm oil is technically vegan, but many vegans avoid it because of ethical concerns. Better (and definitely vegan) alternatives are sunflower oil and olive oil. Keep in mind that in some parts of the world lard (pig fat) instead of vegetable oil is used.
The question seemed easy, but it’s becoming clear it may be more complicated than we originally thought. Let’s see what we’ve found out so far.
Is Pita Bread Vegan?
We’ve already seen that there are quite a few foods (excluding plain, non-processed fruits and veggies) that we can be sure are completely vegan. But some products that are made of plants contain traces of animal derivatives that are added in the manufacturing process.
The same is true for pita bread. In theory, pita should be made of simply four, yeast, water, salt, and perhaps a few drops of olive oil - entirely vegan ingredients. In reality, however, you never know whether someone has decided to improve the original recipe by adding a pinch of sugar, a tablespoon of yogurt, or even some animal fat.
So, while we can say that most pita bread is vegan, there’s always a possibility that it isn’t.
But we want to help you find pita that you can eat without a second thought. So let’s have a look at two different kinds of pita bread and see which one is more likely to be vegan.
Homemade Vs. Commercial Pita Breads
Just like any other type of food, homemade and commercially-produced pita bread differ a lot. Let’s have a look at both processes and what’s crucial to pay attention to.
Is Homemade Pita Bread Vegan?
First of all, if you’re going to prepare pita yourself, you’re in full control. Just make sure each ingredient is vegan, and you’ll quickly have a delicious vegan treat for your enjoyment.
But what if you went to dinner at your friend’s house and they’ve prepared their special, super-delicious pita bread that isn’t entirely the same as classic pita.
It might be a good idea to ask them politely for the recipe before you start eating. Make sure it doesn’t contain sugar that’s made of sugarcane, milk derivatives, or any egg products. And of course, If they used the classic recipe, you’re free to enjoy the meal. Bon appetit!
Is Commercial Pita Bread Vegan?
The situation is a bit more complicated with commercial pita bread. Commercial production often involves a number of additives that you won’t find in homemade food. Most of these additives are vegan and safe - but not all. Most manufacturers go for the cheapest option, and oftentimes this isn’t vegan friendly.
On the other hand, commercial bread always comes with a label that tells you exactly what has been used in the production process. Manufacturers must disclose every single ingredient that they use. Just read the fine print, and come back to us if you’re unsure about some of the ingredients.
Some manufactured pita breads have a vegan label on them - and that helps a lot. Just make sure to check whether they have some kind of certification before you eat.
And What about Street Food?
Street food is a whole other category. You don’t know where the pita comes from and how it is produced, and you also have to make sure the filling is vegan as well. The most obvious thing to do is to make sure you’re buying food from a trusted source.
But what if you’re traveling abroad and have a chance to try authentic Arabic (or Syrian) bread? You don’t know the language, and there’s no way to ask the seller whether their pita is vegan or not. Relax. These traditional dishes are often made by using the original, simple ingredients without any unnecessary additions. Enjoy your meal – and your travel too!
Final Thoughts
So, is pita bread vegan? As you already know, the answer is most of the time, yes. But of course not always.
Inspecting each ingredient of pita bread or any other food might be tedious, but it is worth it to be vegan. And this article should provide a useful guide to ease the process. We’ve included everything that needs to be checked and double-checked, so you won’t be found sacrificing your healthy lifestyle.
If you’re unsure whether any other type of food is vegan, check out our other articles. We’ve done in-depth research on many different kinds of food so you don’t have to!