lomiloml
Culinary Explorer
Doubles! This iconic street food from Trinidad is such a delicious treat—fluffy, spiced fried dough filled with curried chickpeas and topped with spicy sauces and tangy tamarind chutney. I made a batch recently, and it’s honestly one of the most satisfying handheld foods you’ll ever taste. It’s spicy, tangy, and perfectly soft, and each bite is packed with flavor.
Ingredients
For the Bara (Dough)
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp turmeric powder
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp sugar
- 1 tsp instant yeast
- 3/4 cup warm water
- Oil, for frying
For the Chana (Curried Chickpeas)
- 1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed (or 1 cup cooked chickpeas)
- 1 tbsp oil
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp curry powder
- 1/2 tsp ground cumin
- 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
- Salt, to taste
- 1/2 cup water
Toppings
- Tamarind sauce
- Mango chutney (optional)
- Hot pepper sauce (for some heat)
- Fresh chopped cilantro
Instructions
1. Make the Bara (Dough)
- In a large bowl, mix the flour, turmeric, cumin, salt, sugar, and yeast.
- Gradually add warm water, mixing until a soft dough forms. Knead for about 5 minutes until smooth.
- Cover the bowl with a damp cloth and let the dough rest in a warm place for 1 hour, or until it doubles in size.
- Once risen, divide the dough into small balls (about the size of a golf ball) and flatten each one into a thin round about 4 inches wide.
2. Cook the Bara
- Heat oil in a pan over medium heat. Fry each bara round for about 1 minute on each side or until golden and puffed. Drain on paper towels and set aside.
3. Prepare the Chana (Curried Chickpeas)
- Heat oil in a pot over medium heat. Sauté the onion and garlic until fragrant.
- Add the curry powder, cumin, turmeric, and a pinch of salt, stirring well.
- Add the chickpeas and water, simmering until the chickpeas are tender and the sauce thickens, about 10 minutes.
4. Assemble the Doubles
- Place a bara on a plate, then spoon a generous amount of curried chickpeas on top.
- Drizzle with tamarind sauce, mango chutney (if using), and hot pepper sauce.
- Garnish with fresh cilantro and top with another bara, like a sandwich.