Similar to flaky pastry, this step helps to fold the butter into the dough completely; it makes it easier to flake apart, when it is mashed up in the final step.

W The flour has to be kneaded soft . If you kneaded the flour and it was stretchy and soft then you did it correctly. It may be a little unmanageable if you never kneaded flour this soft but soon you will get the hang of it. It is not how long you knead the flour but rather how soft you knead it. Thank you for your comment :^)

oh man, this looks fantastic. i love roti, and our trinidadian friend used to feed me up with it after my babies were born. love your explanations, too. thanks so much!

Thank you so much for this recipe! I just did a google search for “buss up” and came across your blog! My husband is from Trinidad and I have learned much from his mother, but I am not able to see her enough to learn all I would like to. (We live in NY.) When she was last here, I learned to make dal puri (spelling?) The dal puri is good, but it’s a lot of work, and I like the buss up much better anyway. My husband doesn’t care which – just wants some food like home! This recipe came out great for me but I had a little trouble rolling the roti out once I added the butter and did the “cone” step. I served it with curry chicken and potatoes. My husband was excited to get some roti and he enjoyed it a lot. Your blog is my new secret in the kitchen! Thank you again!!

Thanks for your kind comments! I was wondering if you know how to make “aloe pie.” I’m not sure if that is the correct spelling, but that’s how it sounds when I hear it. Anyway, my mother-in-law always makes those for us to bring on the plane when we’re leaving Trinidad. I would love to learn how to make them! I can’t wait to try your pastelles! I don’t care for those because of the olives, but I will make them for my hubby. Also, he likes “Areupas.” Again, I’m unsure of the spelling, but that’s how it sounds to me. You have no idea how grateful I am for this blog! I agree that there aren’t enough Trini recipes out there and I need more variety in my kitchen! I can cook all kinds of American food, but I have a lot to learn about West Indian cooking! Bye for now!! -Aimee

Thanks so much for the recipes. I wish you could make Youtube videos that would be super super great. I am using youtube to learn how to cook but there are hardly any carribean recipes and all the roti recipes are from India, they make there’s different than Trini’s. Please consider it. Please.

Thank you sooo much for this recipe! After we got married my husband migrated from Trindad to be with me. I was feeling some Trini vibes this week so I made pelau on Monday then I said why not try some buss up shut on Tuesday. It was great. Your step by step instructions made it so easy. I made it with curry chicken, potatoes and pumpkin. The internet was down so I couldn’t find how to make curry mangoes. But my husband was really happy to get some Trini food. He was oohing and aahing about how good it was. He thought I got it from a Trini friend! Well, he was right – you are definitely a friend of mine now. I’m so excited I think I’m cooking callalloo tomorrow!

My friend has married a guy from Trinidad, and when we last went to there place his cousin taught me how to make this roti. From what I have seen of your blog so far I really like it Keep up the good work of cataloguing food from your part of the world. It will be good to see what the vegetarian food will be like

Hey Felix, in the recipe, it doesn’t explain what to do with the 2 tbs of oil. Do you combine it with the ghee when you spread on the the dough? Is it combined with the ghee and then use the cup to press it on the roti when you are frying it?

Do you use crushed curried chick peas as well on the roti after it is done, a lot of my friends from Trini do , but fam from Belize and Guyana does not, I am looking for that step in a recipe but cannot find it no where. Any help ? I love your blog and a youtube channel would be delightful. Thank you

I think T meant substituting the flour for the crushed chick peas or chick pea flour, I was wondering the same thing, and also can you add turmeric or curry powder to give it color, if so whats best and how much?

Ah does love me bus up shut, I rub in olive oil instead of butter. Wish I could get the dablas here in UK to bus it up…..My problem is I can never get the heat under the tawa correct…its either too low or too high….

How long do you leave it to rest?

Probably, but remember to leave it to rest for another 30 minutes after you make the “cone”. It should be good by then.

I think it matters if you use a nonstick frying pan. Frying pans are thin and would cook the roti too fast thus making it stiff plus, you won’t be able to spread it out as thin like if you used a tawa. Youtube sounds like a good idea

Nothing is wrong with how thin…The fire was too high and cooked it too fast. With practice you will get it …and don’t forget the tawa

Thank you for your recipes. I am first generation of my Trini family to be born in America. I lost my mother and grandmother seven years ago, which left a large empty space in my heart. Your recipes help me to keep those happy memories I have of them alive, especially during the holidays when we would all be in kitchen cooking. Thanks again for making this AMERICAN BOOP feel at home.

Thank you barrot_7

You’ll have to explain all that you did.

It could possibly be the heat from the tawah together with how thin you rolled it out. If the tawah was too hot, the roti would have cooked too fast or got over cooked causing the crispiness.

I’m still wondering about the heaviness though. care to elaborate?

my roti came out heavy and cripsy too. i used a griddle to make my roti. what temp should i put the stove to cook my roti correctly???

@ Blessed I think you roti stone is too small and you cones are too big and you try to roll it out to fit the stone hence, the heaviness take your time Trini cooking is an art not to be hurried, you will get it right

Man you just saved my life. I made some dhal puri for hubby and he laughed me to scorn. He said it is no buss up shut. So thanks to your wonderful post I can fulfill his wish. Love the step by step instructions.

What is the oil for?