Trinidad Chicken Roti – Immaculate Bites

What Is Trinidad Chicken Roti?

Technically, roti is an unleavened flatbread popular in Indian and Caribbean cuisine. Trinidad chicken roti refers to the curry-like chicken filling that goes inside. This dish hails from Trinidad and Tobago, where the island nation’s inhabitants like to pay homage to their Indo-Caribbean roots. That delivers some insanely good curries and seafood dishes.

And this chicken roti from Trinidad is no exception. Think buttery-rich, spicy chicken without the copious amount of butter. Equally delicious, and maybe slightly healthier? That’s what I’m telling myself anyway. 😜

Recipe Ingredients

1. Chicken – Grab some boneless, skinless chicken thighs for this recipe and cut them into bite-sized pieces. 
2. Chickpeas – Canned chickpeas pack added fiber, protein, and flavor to this roti dish.
3. Potatoes – Cubed potatoes add substance and texture to this meal. They also taste divine slathered in the spicy sauce.
4. Chicken Broth – Trinidad chicken roti is saucy! It gets that way, thanks to the chicken broth.
5. Spices – This dish is so flavorful, thanks to an amazing list of herbs and spices. Here’s what you’ll need: diced onion, minced garlic, white pepper, thyme, chicken bouillon powder, cumin, smoked paprika, allspice, curry powder, nutmeg, and if you like some heat, a little cayenne powder too. 😅

How to Make Trinidad Chicken Roti

Marinate

• Prep Chicken – Place the chicken in a large bowl or saucepan. Then, add the salt, garlic, thyme, white pepper, and curry powder. (Photo 1)
• Season – Mix the chicken with a spoon or your hands until it is well coated with the seasonings. (Photo 2)
• Marinate – Set it in the fridge and marinate for 30 minutes or overnight.

Cook it Up

• Saute – Heat a large saucepan with oil. Add the onions, garlic, thyme, cumin, allspice, smoked paprika, nutmeg, and curry powder, and stir occasionally for 2-3 minutes. The onions should be translucent.
• Chicken – Next, toss the chicken into the pan. Sauté everything for 2-3 more minutes. (Photo 3)
• Simmer – Finally, add chickpeas, chicken bouillon, potatoes, cayenne, white pepper, and chicken broth. Bring it to a boil and then reduce it to a simmer until the sauce thickens, which might take about 20-30 minutes. (Photo 4)
• Serve – Taste test and adjust the salt, spiciness, and thickness by adding more broth as needed.

Recipe Variations

1. Use a different cut of chicken. Any cut of chicken will work in this dish. Just debone it (if needed), cut it into bite-sized pieces, and proceed.
2. Make it vegan. Skip the chicken altogether and replace chicken broth with vegetable broth for a vegan roti. Just make sure you double or triple the chickpeas. 
3. Add extra veggies. Feel free to add peas, carrots, or any other veggie you love that tastes great in curry.

Tips and Tricks

1. Add a little chicken broth if you notice the chicken sticking and starting to burn.
2. Cut up the chicken before you marinate it. That way, the spices have even more area to penetrate and can add plenty of flavor. 
3. Get all your spices together before you start sauteing. Otherwise, you might burn the onions, garlic, and chicken as you poke around for the seasonings. (It’s a long list, as you probably noticed.) 😆

Make-Ahead and Storage Instructions

Make the chicken roti, let it cool, and store it in the fridge for up to three days before serving. You can also freeze it for up to three months. Reheat thawed roti on the stovetop over medium heat until warmed through. The same goes for leftovers. 

What Goes With Trinidad Chicken Roti

Serve chicken roti with Buss Up Shut—Paratha for a more authentic take on this Trini dish. It also goes great with a steamy bowl of garlic rice and fried plantains or some Jamaican rice and peas. Wash it down with some sorrel drink, especially if you made it extra spicy. ❤️‍🔥

More Mouthwatering Trinidadian Recipes to Try

1. Corn Pie
2. Macaroni Pie
3. Corn Soup
4. Chicken Pelau
5. Doubles

This blog post was originally published in April 2017 and has been updated with additional tips and beautiful photos