Roti

What is Roti?

Roti, in the Caribbean sense, is a soft flatbread wrap filled with a spiced curry or stew. The bread itself may be a paratha (layered flatbread), dhalpuri (flatbread stuffed with ground split peas), or dosti roti (softer, thinner roti). The filling is most often curried chicken, goat, or beef, but can also be vegetarian, using potato and chickpeas. The whole wrap is usually hand-sized or larger, rolled up for easy eating. The taste is rich and savory, with the bread soaking up the spicy, fragrant filling.

Where does Roti come from?

Roti wraps trace their roots to Trinidad and Tobago, where Indian indentured workers brought their bread-making traditions after 1838. Originally, roti was a side dish, but in the late 1930s, a Trinidadian snack bar owner in San Fernando began wrapping curries in roti for takeaway customers. This innovation quickly spread across Trinidad and then to Guyana, Suriname, and Jamaica. As Indo-Caribbean people moved abroad, they brought the roti wrap with them, making it a familiar street food in cities with Caribbean communities.

How is Roti made?

To make a Caribbean roti, a large flatbread is cooked on a tava, a flat griddle. The bread may be plain or filled with ground split peas (dhalpuri). The filling is a thick curry, often made with chicken, goat, beef, or sometimes seafood, along with potatoes and chickpeas. The curry is spooned onto the bread, which is then folded or rolled to enclose the filling. The wrap is served whole or cut in half for easy eating.

How and when is Roti eaten?

Roti is eaten as a main meal or a snack, often bought from roti shops or street vendors. It is typically eaten with the hands, as the soft bread holds the curry inside. In Trinidad and Tobago, both meat and vegetarian versions are popular, reflecting the diverse population. Roti is a common lunch or dinner, but can also be eaten as a filling snack throughout the day. It is enjoyed across the Caribbean and in diaspora communities.

Kinds of Roti

There are several variations of roti wraps, depending on the bread and filling. Paratha roti is flaky and layered, while dhalpuri roti has a split pea filling. Dosti roti is thinner and softer. Fillings range from chicken, goat, and beef curries to vegetarian options like potato and chickpeas. Each Caribbean country has its own preferred style, and fillings may also include seafood or other local ingredients.

What Roti means

Roti wraps are a symbol of Indo-Caribbean heritage and everyday Caribbean life. They are sold in dedicated roti shops, especially in Trinidad and Tobago, and have become a staple street food. The dish reflects the blending of Indian and Caribbean culinary traditions. Roti is not tied to any particular festival or religious event, but its popularity is linked to the large Indo-Caribbean communities in the region.

Questions people ask about Roti

Good reading and sources

• Roti (wrap) on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos
• Wikidata recordOpen data