Looking for an alternative to pita? There are plenty.Looking for an alternative to pita?

For a start, try Afghan bread. The Afghan Bread bakery turns out daily 3000 of those long flat ridged loaves that look like giant tongues. Abdul Karim and Mustafa Nazary run it, at 8532-Q Terminal Rd, Newington, 703 550 0422, but its breads can be found in supermarkets and groceries throughout the area. While in Afghanistan it is eaten warm for breakfast with hard mountain cheese or at other meals with rice, chicken or goat dishes, it makes a change from sandwich bread and a good soft base for home-made pizza.

Afghan nan and rogani breads can be found at Azim Akram's Afghan Market, 5713A Edsall Rd, Alexandria, 703 212 9529.

But at Middle Eastern markets, like Yekta on the Rockville Pike, you find very thin bread the size of a small tablecloth. If you fold them over in a triangle then wrap them round in a cone and heat them to a crisp in a hot oven, they look great on a table display and you snap of half-crispy, half-soft strips to scoop up your dip.

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