Doubles (food)

Doubles is a popular street food originating from Trinidad and Tobago. It is a sandwich made with two bara (flat fried bread) filled with curry chickpeas or chana, and various chutneys and peppers. The name "doubles" is thought to have originated from the original serving size, which was two bara with chana.

History

Doubles was created by Emamool Deen (a.k.a. Mamudeen) in 1937, an immigrant from India to Trinidad and Tobago. The dish was initially sold as a single bara with chana, but customers found it not filling enough and started asking for "doubles". The name stuck and the dish has been known as doubles ever since.

Preparation

The preparation of doubles involves making the bara by mixing flour, baking powder, turmeric, and water, then frying spoonfuls of the mixture. The chana is prepared by soaking and boiling chickpeas, then cooking them with curry powder and other spices. The doubles is then assembled by placing a spoonful of chana on a bara, adding chutneys and peppers to taste, and topping it with another bara.

Consumption

Doubles is typically eaten for breakfast, but can also be consumed at any time of the day. It is a common sight at food stalls in Trinidad and Tobago, and has also gained popularity in other countries with a significant Trinidadian diaspora.

Variations

There are several variations of doubles, including "singles" (one bara with chana), "triples" (three bara with chana), and "channa and chips" (chana served over fried potato slices). The chutneys and peppers used can also vary, with mango, cucumber, and coconut being popular choices.

See also

• Roti
• Bake and shark
• Trinidad and Tobago cuisine