INTERNATIONAL DOUBLES DAY: A CELEBRATION OF THE TRINIDADIAN STREET FOOD
Have you heard of doubles, the iconic street food from Trinidad & Tobago? Hearty, bursting with flavour and vegan-friendly, doubles are the island's most popular street snack. Find out more about the history of doubles, how to join in the International Doubles Day fun on the 30th of May, and even how to make your own doubles at home with the recipe from LIMIN SOUTHBANK’s chef Sham Mahabir.
What are doubles?
Doubles are made of two (hence the name) fluffy, golden-fried flatbreads called ‘bara’ and curried chickpea filling called ‘channa’. It’s a sandwich of sorts, topped with fresh, grated cucumber and drizzled with scotch bonnet pepper sauce, tamarind sauce and mango chutney. The best doubles perfectly combine sweet, tart and spicy in one moreish dish.
In Trinidad & Tobago, doubles are sold on street corners all over the islands. They are the perfect go-to dish for any time of the day: a late-night snack (and hangover cure) after a night of clubbing or ‘limin’, a carnival staple and a satisfying breakfast for commuters. For Trinis living in London, fresh doubles are a taste of home.
A bite-sized history lesson: the origins of doubles
Like many Trinidadian dishes, doubles have Indian roots. The doubles are believed to have been created in the 1930s by the Deen family, Muslim Indians descended from indentured labourers.
The husband-and-wife team sold ‘channa’ in brown paper cones at the roadside. They soon innovated and started also selling ‘bara’, or flatbreads, as a base for the curried chickpeas. The name “doubles” was born when a customer asked to double the flatbread in their order.
Doubles have become Trinidad & Tobago’s unofficial national dish. They represent overcoming struggles and are loved by everyone. The Trinidadian parliament famously took a break for doubles during its longest-ever session (27 hours) of debate in 2012.
Since 2019, this ultimate Trini street food has been celebrated globally on International Doubles Day, the 30th of May.
International Doubles Day 30th May
Chef Sham Mahabir created LIMIN with one mission: to introduce Trinidadian cuisine to London. Growing up in Trinidad doubles held a special place in Sham’s heart. Naturally, perfectly cooked doubles found a permanent spot on the LIMIN menu.
Having his own Caribbean restaurant was just the beginning for Sham. In 2019, he established International Doubles Day with a mission to showcase the delicious dish and Trinidadian culture to the world.
Since then, every year on the 30th of May, social media has been buzzing with #InternationalDoublesDay, showcasing recipes and celebrating this ultimate Trini street food.
International Doubles Day on the 30th of May also coincides with Indian Arrival Day, marking the arrival of the first Indian workers in Trinidad in 1936. It’s an opportunity to raise awareness about Trinidadian cuisine and its rich cultural heritage. It reminds us that culinary gems are to be found in all corners of the world.
“I remember my childhood when, on a Saturday morning, Mum would bring doubles back for the family with her weekly shop at the market. As I grew older, I came to love the taste of doubles, but it wasn’t until I got to the UK in 1998 that I realised how much I missed doubles and how difficult they were to find here. I couldn’t help but become a Doubles’ Ambassador”
— Sham Mahabir, Chef-Owner of LIMIN Southbank
Join the International Doubles Day fun!
Newbie or doubles devotee, here's how to get involved:
Become a doubles chef: Unleash your inner chef and try making doubles at home using Sham’s family recipe below.
Pop into LIMIN SOUTHBANK: Show your support to the only independent Trini restaurant in London’s Zone 1 and enjoy a portion of Sham’s legendary doubles.
Spread your love for doubles on social media: Use #InternationalDoublesDay to connect with fellow food enthusiasts and celebrate this iconic street food.
Host a doubles party: get together with friends and family, cook doubles together & enjoy!
Where to get doubles in London?
While doubles can be found in roti shops around London, LIMIN SOUTHBANK confidently claims the crown for the best doubles in the city. Why not come and try them for yourself?
Sham’s Recipe for Doubles
Fancy trying to make doubles yourself? Follow this family recipe by our Chef-Owner Sham.
Trini doubles recipe (serves 6)
Ingredients (serves 6)
Bara (flatbread)
1 lb self-raising flour
½ tsp turmeric, yeast and salt
½ tbsp sugar
Channa (mild chickpea curry)
2 x 400 g chickpeas (tinned or dried)
1 tsp curry powder (optional)
2 tsp turmeric
½ cup chopped onions, spring onions and coriander
1 tbsp chopped garlic
1 Scotch bonnet (optional)
30 ml oil
Salt to taste
Method
Bara
Combine all ingredients, then add water until the dough is soft. Knead and drizzle some oil on top. Cover and let stand for 30 minutes, then make into small balls. Flatten on an oiled surface and fry.
Channa
Heat oil. Add all the ingredients except the chickpeas. Fry for 5 minutes, adding water if necessary. Add the chickpeas, stir, and add water to cover them. Cook on slow to medium heat until tender. Crush the chickpeas to make the sauce thicker (if desired)
International Doubles Day is celebrated on the 30th of May every year.
Follow International Doubles Day on Facebook or pop over to LIMIN to celebrate - over some doubles, of course!