If you were born or live in Trinidad and Tobago, you know how seriously we take breakfast.
We wash it down with a hot cup of Choco tea, Milo, ginger tea, or strong black coffee. From savory to sweet, our breakfast table has the best of everything. The doubles man will come out as early as 4 am to cater to those who need to reach work early.
Thus, here are 20 Trinidadian-inspired breakfast ideas that you should try whenever you are in the mood for Trini dishes.
1. Crix and Tea
Crix crackers soaked in hot choco tea. This was one of my favorite breakfasts growing up. It is cost-effective and always tastes best when you add butter to the Crix.
2. Doubles
Soft bara filled with channa, slight pepper, sweet sauce, and cucumber. Perfect for on-the-go mornings when you want something filling and full of flavor. Most people skip the tea and wash it down with a red Solo.
3. Fry Bake and Anything
Fry bake is a golden, puffed bread that goes with nearly anything. You can pair it with saltfish, egg, sausage, and smoked herring. You name it.
4. Sada Roti
Soft, simple roti made fresh on the tawa. Pair it with baigan choka, tomato choka, pumpkin, or even fried eggs. Some people like it with butter and tea, too.
5. Porridge
Cream of wheat, oats, cornmeal, or plantain porridge. Sweeten it with condensed milk, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla essence. Granny-style breakfast.
6. Aloo Pie
Aloo pie stuffed with seasoned mashed potato, fried till golden. Some like it plain, some with chutney, and others add channa for a doubles-style twist.
7. Bread And Cheese Paste
Thick-cut slice of bread slathered with Trini-style cheese paste. Toast it if you want a crispy edge.
8. Bread And Channa
Soft hops bread packed with spiced curried chickpeas, maybe some cucumber or shadow beni chutney on the side.
9. Roasted Baigan Choka with Sada Roti
Sada Roti and baigan choka are one of my favorite breakfasts. I would add extra pepper and raw onion to the choka for an added crunch.
10. Baiganee with tamarind chutney
I have not added this recipe to my blog post. But baiganee is a classic. If I don’t make it at home, I will find them at the doubles man and dress it with channa, sweet sauce, and slight pepper.
11. Pepper Roti
I love pepper roti. Similar to the flaky buss up shot dough, you add potato, seasoning, cheese, and pepper.
12. Fry Bake and Shark
Bake and shark is one of Trinidad’s most famous street-side breakfasts, especially on a beach morning at Maracas Bay. But it is the ultimate breakfast choice for many Trinidadian and Tobagonian.
13. Sada And Okra
Sada and fry okra is one of those humble but hearty Trini breakfasts. The okra is sliced and sautéed with onion, garlic, and a little pepper until tender and slightly crispy on the edges, then served alongside sada roti.
14. Sada And Fry Plantain
Sada roti and plantain is one of those sweet-and-savory Trini breakfasts. This combo hits just right with a hot cup of cocoa tea or ginger tea on the side.
15. Sada And Tomato Choka
Sada and tomato choka is one of those breakfasts that proves simple food can taste delicious. The tomatoes are roasted or sautéed, then mashed with garlic, onion, and hot pepper. Paired with sada roti hot off the tawa.
16. Two Beef Pies
For me, JTA has the best beef pies, but you can always make them at home. It is flaky and has a beef filling.
17. Saheena
It’s a savory fritter made from a thick batter of seasoned flour, fresh green leaves like spinach or dasheen bush, and spices like turmeric, cumin, and curry powder. It is fried and you can add sweet sauce, channa, and pepper.
18. Fry Bake and Saltfish Buljol
Fry Bake and Saltfish Buljol is one of those breakfasts that is not easy to prepare, but worth it in the end.
19. Saltfish Accra
These golden fritters are made with seasoned flour batter mixed with flaked saltfish, chopped herbs, onion, and pepper. Another dish you can eat with sweet sauce and pepper.
20. Crix and Sardines
Crix and sardines are one of those no-fuss, full-flavor Trini breakfasts that plenty of people grew up on. It’s budget-friendly, filling, and full of that salty-savory bite that hits different first thing in the morning.
Trini breakfast is one of the best meals of the day. Most are very easy to make, while others can take hours. It is up to you to decide which one you are in the mood for.
