Name: Surinamese Roti (home recipe)
Prep time: 40 min
Total time: 2 h
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Dutch
Ingredients: For the roti: 400g plain flour, 1 tsp baking powder, 1 tsp salt, 240ml warm water, 60ml neutral oil, plus extra ghee for cooking; For the masala chicken: 800g chicken thighs, bone-in, jointed; 3 tbsp Surinamese masala (or garam masala plus 1 tsp cumin); 1 large onion, finely chopped; 4 garlic cloves, crushed; 2 tomatoes, grated; 1 Madame Jeanette or Scotch bonnet chilli, whole and pricked; For the side: 400g waxy potatoes, cubed; 200g green beans, halved; 1 tbsp masala; Salt, black pepper, neutral oil

Make it at home

Yield 4Hands-on 40 minTotal 2 hrDifficulty Intermediate

Ingredients

For the roti: 400g plain flour, 1 tsp baking powder, 1 tsp salt, 240ml warm water, 60ml neutral oil, plus extra ghee for cooking
For the masala chicken: 800g chicken thighs, bone-in, jointed
3 tbsp Surinamese masala (or garam masala plus 1 tsp cumin)
1 large onion, finely chopped
4 garlic cloves, crushed
2 tomatoes, grated
1 Madame Jeanette or Scotch bonnet chilli, whole and pricked
For the side: 400g waxy potatoes, cubed; 200g green beans, halved; 1 tbsp masala
Salt, black pepper, neutral oil

Method

Mix flour, baking powder, salt, water, and oil into a smooth dough. Rest covered for 1 hour.
Brown chicken in oil, set aside. Soften onion and garlic 6 minutes. Add masala, fry 1 minute until fragrant.
Return chicken, add tomatoes and chilli. Cover with water, simmer 35 to 40 minutes until tender.
In a second pan, fry potato cubes 12 minutes until golden, add green beans and masala, cook another 8 minutes.
Divide roti dough into 8 balls. Roll each to a 22cm disc.
Cook discs on a dry hot griddle 90 seconds per side until lightly blistered. Brush with ghee and stack under a towel.
Serve hot: roti on the plate, chicken and sauce in the centre, potato-bean mix alongside. Eat by hand, tearing the roti.

Tip from the editors. Madame Jeanette chillies carry tropical fruit notes you cannot fake; if you can find Scotch bonnet at a Caribbean grocer, that is the closest substitute.