West Indian Style Channa Wrap Food

CHANA MASALA (SAVORY INDIAN CHICK PEAS)

Steps:

• Grind onion, tomato, ginger, garlic, and chile pepper together in a food processor into a paste.
• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Fry bay leaves in hot oil until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Pour the paste into the skillet and cook until the oil begins to separate from the mixture and is golden brown in color, 2 to 3 minutes. Season the mixture with chili powder, coriander, powder, gram masala, turmeric, and salt; cook and stir until very hot, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Stir enough water into the mixture to get a thick gravy; bring to a boil and stir chickpeas into the gravy. Reduce heat to medium and cook until the chickpeas are heated through, 5 to 7 minutes. Garnish with cilantro.

WEST INDIAN-STYLE CHANNA WRAP

Steps:

• In a deep skillet, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the onions and cook until slightly soft, about 8 minutes. Add the garlic, chili pepper and ginger, cook for about 2 minutes. Add the spices and salt, stir well. You'll end up with a paste.
• Add chick peas, plus enough water to barely cover (at least 3 cups). Bring to a lively simmer, then lower heat and cook at a gentle simmer, stirring occasionally until most of the liquid evaporates, 50 to 60 minutes. You're looking for very soft chick peas with a thick gravy, not soup.
• Tast for salt and season accordingly.
• Place a few tablespoons of channa into warmed tortilla with any or all of the optional add-ons. The channa is also great over rice.
• Keeps well in an airtight container in the fridge for at least 5 days.
• NOTE: recipe wouldn't take 2 x 1 inch piece of ginger, or 8 tortillas, but those are the amounts.

TRINI ROTI - FLAVOUR FROM THE WEST INDIES

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine yogurt, minced garlic, and spices. Season chicken thighs well with salt before adding them to yogurt curry marinade, and covering to rest in the fridge for eight hours or (preferably) overnight.
• Remove chicken from the fridge and with hands, wipe away most of the marinade and cut into good-sized strips/chunks and reserve wet and cold. Heat good-sized pot with about half the oil and sweat onions until tender. Add remaining oil, garlic, ginger, spices, and chilies and cook, stirring constantly to prevent burning and create a thick curry paste, allowing flavors to release.
• Saute the chicken in hot curry paste to seal the flesh, about 5 minutes, then cover with stock and coconut milk and stir to coat and cover. Add potato and taro root and bring to a boil (add water if needed to cover) and reduce heat to a low and simmer - an hour or more.
• As the sauce thickens check seasoning, add additional heat (chilies) if needed add salt to taste. As roti wraps are finishing, add fresh coriander and stir, removing from heat to serve.
• In a large bowl sift together flour, salt, yeast, and baking powder, and begin adding water, about a 1/4 cup at a time. Knead in as much water as required to come to a firm dough, then cover with plastic wrap or a clean tea towel and let it rest for about 20 minutes in a warm spot. Note: depending on your flour you may need more water, dough should be springy, not tough.
• Knead rested dough for about 90 seconds. Divide dough into six even balls, pat or each into a round, flat disk. Move the dough onto a floured surface and roll into round sheets with a rolling pin until they are roughly 10-inches wide and a 1/4 inch thick.
• Lightly brush flat roti wrap with oil and place on a hot, flat skillet. Cook each side for about 2 minutes until brown bubbles begin to appear. Remove and cool.