Best Trinidad Roti Bread Recipes

PARATHA ROTI (BUSS UP SHUT)

Steps:

• Mix the flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar. Add the water gradually to make a dough. The dough will be slightly sticky and very flexible. However, after some gentle kneading it should come clean off your hands. Knead the dough together until it comes together in a nice ball, don't knead it any further.
• Leave to rest for at least 15 minutes to relax the gluten.
• Split the dough into 4 separate balls to make 4 paratha roti with a diameter of about 22cm each. Adjust the number of portions based on your pan size.
• Roll out the dough in flat circles. It will be slightly sticky, so use ample flour.
• Cover the dough with a thin layer of ghee, make sure to spread it out evenly.
• Lightly dust the top with a little flour (this makes it easier to roll).
• Now make a cut from the center of the dough circle to the outside and start rolling the dough from that cut in a circle to the other side of the cut (see image in the post). You will end up with a cone. Ensure that the bottom doesn't have fat sticking out, stretch the outer layer of dough to cover the inner layers. Now push the pointy top of the cone inside to tighten and dust with some flour. Pushing it into the middle helps create all those dough layers!
• Leave to rest for another 15-30 minutes, even better would be at least an hour. A longer resting period makes it easier to roll out the dough.
• Heat a flat baking surface on a medium heat (e.g. using a tawa).
• Roll out the balls of dough and bake on the flat surface on a medium heat. Coat the top with a thin layer of ghee (or clarified butter). When the top starts getting drier, turn the dough around. Again, cover the topside with a thin layer of ghee.
• Towards the end, when the dough starts to be cooked through, take two spatulas and loosen the paratha by inwards pushing on the sides of the paratha. Due to all the rolling you should have made layers of dough with fat in between. By 'beating' the paratha and folding it together you help all the layers get loose and flaky.
• You want the different layers to separate, so crinkle and beat until you see them coming apart. The paratha is ready once it has turned slightly brown and a loosened up structure.

CARIBBEAN TRINIDAD ROTI

Steps:

• Combine the dry ingredients in a mixing bowl. Gradually add the oil and water while mixing and kneading the dough, Set the dough aside for 15 minutes.
• Divide the dough into 6 equal-sized balls. Flatten each slightly and roll out into 8 inch squares.
• Fill the middle of each square with about 1/2 cup of filling mixture. Wrap the dough around the mixture to seal the filling inside.
• To cook the roti, place the butter in a skillet over high heat until it sizzles. Reduce the heat to medium and place the rotis in the pan.
• Cook for 2-3 minutes, until the crust is light brown. Turn with a wide spatula and continue cooking. Repeat the process with the remaining rotis. Serve immediately.
• SWEET POTATO FILLING: Place the butter, garlic, and onion in a deep skillet and sauté for 3-4 minutes over medium heat. Add the potato, water, curry powder, hot sauce, and salt and cook for 15 minutes, until the potatoes are soft but not mushy. Add the chickpeas and cook another 5-10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Set the filling aside.
• CHICKEN FILLING: Place the butter, garlic, onion and pepper in a deep skillet and sauté for 3-4 minutes over medium heat. Add the curry powder, hot sauce, coriander, and salt and sauté for another 2 minutes. Add the pumpkin and water and cook over medium heat for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in the chicken and simmer for another 5 minutes. Set aside.

TRINIDAD ROTI BREAD # 2

Steps:

• Mix together warm water, yeast,sugar in bowl.
• Sift together flour. baking powder, & salt into another bowl.
• Stir to mix & make a well in centre.
• Add yeast mixture & enough water to make a smooth , malleable but firm dough.
• dough must not be too sticky or too stiff.
• Cover dough with cloth and allow to stand for 1 hour allowing dough to rise.
• when risen, pinch off golf size portions of the dough
• Form into balls in your hands.
• Roll out balls (1 by one )on a floured board into thin flat circles.
• Brush or spray griddle with oil & heat until hot.
• Cook the roti one at a time until brown on both sides for about 1 1/2 - 2 mins per side.
• As you cook the roti, make sure the griddle stays coated with oil.
• Keep warm until ready to serve.
• To serve fill centre of roti with curry of choice, fold over, wrap, eat & enjoy.

CHANNA (CURRIED CHICKPEA FILLING FOR ROTI)

Steps:

• Heat the oil or ghee in a skillet and saute the onions over medium high heat, stirring constantly, for about 6 minutes, or until they are golden brown. When the onions are almost done, add the garlic and saute 2 minutes more. Add the curry and amchar powders and stir for 1 minute.
• Transfer the onion mixture to a cast iron or other heavy pot and add the chickpeas. Stir over medium heat until chickpeas are coated with the spices and onions. Add 1 cup of water, the Scotch bonnet pepper and salt to taste; stir. Bring to a simmer, cover and let simmer over low heat for 1/2 hour. (If the mixture dries out, add a little more water; the finished channa should be slightly thicker than a thick bean soup.) Let cool for a few minutes before adding to the roti.