Street Classic · Curry Wrap

Roti (Buss Up Shut)

Photo: Jason Lam / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0

Its nickname literally means 'busted-up shirt' — the flatbread is deliberately beaten to shreds on the griddle right before it's served.

Buss up shut is a flaky, layered paratha-style flatbread that's beaten apart with two spatulas the moment it comes off the griddle, then torn and dipped into curried chicken, goat, or vegetables. It's a staple at roti shops and stands across the islands.

Why it's made this way: It descends from Indian paratha, brought by indentured laborers after 1845, and the tattered presentation grew out of the traditional technique of loosening the dough's layers so the bread better soaks up curry.