Trinidadian doubles is a tasty, easy vegan snack formed of spiced flatbread with a simple chickpea curry filling. This take is slightly healthier than the traditional, but still full of flavor and perfect finger food.
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Today's Sunday Supper has a Mardi Gras food theme, and I decided to take a step a little further away than NOLA classics. Trinidadian doubles are a very typical street food that you'll find at various festivities, including carnival/Mardi Gras.
The name doesn't really tell you much about what they are, though. It's basically a sandwich made with a spiced flatbread filled with chickpea curry. It makes a really tasty snack, whenever you eat it. Plus it's vegan too.
A feast of Carnival food
If you're a regular, you might have noticed I have been sharing a few recipes that might be eaten for Carnival/Mardi Gras recently. I've meant to look into Carnival food for ages but keep thinking of it too late in previous years.
This year, I decided to finally get on to it. I'm so glad I did, as it has meant that we have enjoyed crawfish etouffee and discovered pineapple chow, oysters Rockefeller as well as these Trinidadian doubles. (By the way since then I've collected more ideas for Mardi Gras food around the world.)
How to make Trinidadian doubles
Trinidadian doubles are not difficult to make, you just need to allow a little time since the flatbread is made with yeast and so needs to rise. But you simply mix the yeast with warm water and a little sugar to get it going while you mix the dry ingredients, then mix it together.
You don't need to knead the dough as much as a typical bread, just enough to stretch the gluten a little. Leave it to rise while you make the chickpea curry, which is as simple as softening the onion and garlic, adding the spices, chickpeas and water then cooking down a few minutes.
Traditionally, you would fry the flatbread but I decided to bake it instead, a bit as you would pita bread. I'm sure this would be heresy to anyone who grew up with this, but to me, it's both healthier and easier. Since it comes out a little puffier than frying, you can also then stuff the bread rather than use two as a sandwich which is a little less messy, too.
Trinidadian doubles make a great snack plus with my slight adaptation, they're pretty healthy too. While they might be a street snack for breakfast, late night or festivals in their native home, I think they'd be good any time. Give them a try and you may agree.
Try these other foods from the Caribbean:
- Pineapple chow (Trinidadian spiced fruit)
- Jamaican jerk chicken
- Plus see more international recipes in the archives.
Trinidadian doubles
Ingredients
For the flatbread
- 6 tablespoon water warm, 90ml, ¼c plus 2tbsp
- 1 teaspoon instant yeast fast acting yeast
- ½ teaspoon sugar
- 2 cups all purpose flour 280g plain flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- ½ teaspoon turmeric
For the chickpea curry
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 2 cloves garlic large
- 1 onion medium, finely diced
- 2 teaspoon curry powder
- ¼ teaspoon allspice
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- ½ cup water 120ml
- 15.5oz chickpeas 1x 15.5oz/440g can
Instructions
- Sprinkle the yeast over the warm water, add the sugar and mix all together so the sugar and yeast dissolve. Leave to start activating around 3-5min while you measure out and mix together the remaining dry ingredients - flour, salt, pepper and turmeric.
- Add the yeast liquid to the seasoned flour and mix until well combined.
- Tip the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead just a couple minutes to stretch the gluten a bit. Form the dough into a ball and put in a clean, lightly oiled bowl. Cover and set aside in a warm place for around an hour to hour and a half, until it has doubled in size.
- Meanwhile, make the curry. Warm the oil in a small pan over a medium heat and add the garlic and onion. Cook, stirring now and then, until they are softened, around 3-5min. Add the curry powder, allspice, paprika and cumin, stir and cook a minute then add the water and chickpeas. Bring to a simmer, reduce the heat, cover and simmer for around 20min.
- Preheat the oven to 425F/220C and line a large baking sheet/tray.
- Once the dough has risen, knock it back (prod it with your fingers to get air out) then divide into around 6-8 pieces, each about the size of a walnut. Flatten each out into a thin circle. Transfer them to the lined tray and bake for around 8-10min until lightly brown.
- Allow the flatbreads to cool slightly before topping or filling with the curry. Top with a little cucumber, chutney and/or hot sauce, as you prefer.
Notes
Nutrition
See some of my favorite cooking tools and ingredients in the Caroline's Cooking Amazon store.
See all the other Mardi Gras ideas being shared today:
Appetizers
- Andouille and Crawfish Pimento Cheese Fries by Soulfully Made
- Mardi Gras Muffaletta Dip by For the Love of Food
- Piquant Shrimp Balls by Food Lust People Love
Main Dishes
- Blackened Shrimp Pasta by Seduction in the Kitchen
- Cajun Courtbouillon by Culinary Adventures with Camilla
- Cajun Pasta Carnivale by Palatable Pastime
- Chicken and Shrimp Gumbo by The Freshman Cook
- Creole Beef and Rice Bowls by Renee’s Kitchen Adventures
- Easy Shrimp and Grits Recipe by Life Tastes Good
- Gumbo Z’herbes by Monica’s Table
- Overnight Muffuletta Sandwich by A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventure
Sides
- Creole Potato Salad by Cosmopolitan Cornbread
- Easy Buttermilk Cornbread by The Wimpy Vegetarian
- Red Beans and Rice by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
Desserts & Drinks
- Bananas Foster by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
- New Orleans Mardi Gras Beignets by Big Bear’s Wife
- Traditional Mardi Gras King Cake by Curious Cuisiniere
- New Orleans Brandy Milk Punch by Tara’s Multicultural Table
Remember to pin for later!
Taylor
I live in Miami and eat doubles regularly but I never knew how easy it was! I will definitely be making this at home. Thanks for such a great recipe!
Caroline's Cooking
Hope you enjoy, as I mention above these are a slightly healthier form with how the bread is cooked but has the same basic flavors.
Wendy Klik
Thanks for sharing this traditional food. Love it.
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks Wendy!
Cindys Recipes and Writings
I love the spice mix in here. What a great idea and vegan too!
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks Cindy, it's a tasty mix!
Sarah Reid, CNP (@jo_jo_ba)
LOVE doubles!! Great recipe
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks Sarah!
Carlee
I have never seen anything quite like this before, but it looks amazing and so full of flavor!
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks Carlee, it's a little different, I know, but it's tasty!
Julie
I'm just getting into learning about curries and the flavors and so glad that I have another delicious recipe to try. It looks great too.
Caroline's Cooking
Ive been brought up eating curries so I'm always up for new ones. This is a very easy one to make but tasty too.
Renee @ReneesKitchenAdventures
So interesting! I bet it's got amazing flavor!
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks, it is indeed tasty.
Tara
Such a delicious street food! I love all those spices
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks Tara, street foods can often be some of the best, I think!
Christie
It's always interesting to me to see how other countries celebrate carnival. These look like they're going on the menu! So so good and perfect little bites.
Caroline's Cooking
I agree, Christie, there are so many great dishes around the world for the same event and this was a tasty one to try. Thanks!
Denise Wright
These look delicious Caroline! I love curries of all kinds. Can't wait to try these.
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks Denise, hope you enjoy!
Liz
I have never heard of doubles before, but they look like a flavorful, delicious snack!!
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks Liz, indeed they are!
Katherine
Hi!
What is the flatbread dough supposed to look like before rising ? Mine was super crumbly and wouldn’t stay together am I missing something?
Caroline's Cooking
It sounds like you might need a little more liquid in there - flours can vary a little in how much they absorb so sometimes you need to adjust a bit by eye.