Doubles Recipes

DOUBLES

Steps:

• Make dough:
• In small bowl, stir together water, sugar, and yeast. Let stand until foamy, about 5 or 6 minutes.
• In large bowl whisk together flour, salt, turmeric, cumin, and pepper. Stir in yeast mixture, then add additional warm water, if needed, until mixture comes together into slightly firm dough. Knead dough in bowl 2 minutes, then form into ball and cover with damp cloth. Let dough rise in warm, draft-free place until doubled, about 1 hour.
• Make filling:
• If using dried chickpeas, drain and add 6 cups fresh water. Simmer until tender, about 1 hour. Drain. If using canned chickpeas, drain and rinse well with cold water.
• In heavy skillet over moderately high heat, heat oil. Add onion and sauté until translucent. Add garlic and sauté 1 minute more. Mix in curry powder and sauté 30 seconds, then add 1/4 cup water.
• Stir in chickpeas, cover, and simmer 5 minutes. Add 1 cup water and cumin. Season with salt and pepper and bring to boil. Lower heat and simmer, uncovered, until chickpeas are very tender, approximately 20 minutes.
• Assemble:
• Punch down risen dough and allow to rest 10 minutes.
• Dampen hands, pinch off walnut-size piece of dough, and flatten into 4 1/2-inch diameter circle. Set aside. Repeat with remaining dough.
• In deep frying pan over moderately high heat, heat oil. Fry dough circles, in batches if necessary, until lightly browned, about 40 seconds per side. Drain on paper towels or on wire rack set over baking sheet.
• Place 2 tablespoons filling on 1 piece fried dough. Add pepper sauce, kuchela, and cucumber. Top with another piece fried dough. Repeat with remaining dough and filling. Serve as snack or appetizer.

DOUBLES

Steps:

• For the bara (or flatbread): Put the sugar and yeast in a medium bowl. Stir in the warm water and let it sit until bubbles begin to form, about 5 minutes.
• Stir to combine the flour, salt, cumin, black pepper and turmeric in a medium bowl. Add the water and yeast mixture to the flour and knead, using your hands or a mixer with a dough hook attachment, until the dough is smooth and glossy, about 2 1/2 minutes.
• Lightly oil a large bowl with cooking spray and place the dough in the bowl. Spray the dough and place plastic wrap directly on top of the dough, then add plastic wrap to the top of the bowl as well. Let the dough sit in a warm draft-free place until doubled in size, about 2 hours.
• Heat the oil to 350 degrees F in a large Dutch oven or cast-iron skillet. Turn the dough out onto a flour-dusted work surface. Working one at a time and keeping the unused portions covered, flatten a small ball of dough with a rolling pin to the thickness of 2 tortillas, about 4 inches.
• Working in batches, fry the flattened dough until puffed and golden, about 45 seconds per side. Drain on a paper-towel-lined plate. Transfer the baras to a plate and cover with plastic wrap to steam and keep warm.
• For the chickpeas: Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large skillet over low heat. Saute the onion, garlic, minced chile and a large pinch of kosher salt, about 10 minutes. Add the curry powder, allspice, cumin, nutmeg, paprika, black pepper, cayenne, bouillon cube, chickpeas and chicken broth. Bring to a simmer and cook until all the liquid has reduced, about 1 hour. Right before serving, season with salt and lime juice to taste.
• For the tamarind sauce: Add the sugar, tamarind paste and 1 cup water to a small pot over low heat. Warm until the tamarind paste has dissolved into the water, about 5 minutes. Remove and cool.
• For the pepper sauce: Put the habaneros, garlic, white balsamic vinegar and a pinch of salt in a blender and puree until smooth.
• For the cilantro sauce: Add the cilantro, white balsamic vinegar, and salt to a blender and puree until smooth.
• For the garnish: Toss the cucumber and cilantro in a bowl with a pinch of salt.
• To assemble: Place two baras slightly overlapping on a plate, then top with 2 to 3 spoons of chickpeas. Top with a little tamarind sauce, pepper sauce, cilantro sauce and grated cucumber and cilantro.