Like all the stuffed rotis I have made, this too requires the same process, patience, skill and dedication.
For the filling, pigeon peas are first boiled until tender but still firm, then ground in a food processor, and seasoned with bandhania(culantro, shado beni, recao), garlic, hot pepper, and ground roasted cumin.
If you do not have access to bandhania, scallion or cilantro is a good substitute in this recipe.
Prepare Peas: (Can be made ahead, refrigerated for a few days or frozen until ready to use)
Pick through peas and remove any that are bad and wash with several changes of water. Drain.
In a medium pot over high heat, bring water to a boil and add peas. When it comes to a rolling boil, lower heat to medium and cook for 15 minutes or until peas are cooked and firm (not soft) and crushes easily between thumb and forefinger. Drain and allow it to cool completely and air dry.
In a food processor, add garlic, hot peppers and bandhania (culantro) leaves. Process until fine. Add 1/3 pigeon peas and process until very fine. Remove to a bowl and repeat two more times. Mix well.
Form into equal 6 or 8 sized balls, depending on the amount of roti you are making.
Knead Flour
In a large bowl, add flour, baking powder, salt, sugar and yeast if using. Mix and gradually add water until there is no more dried flour. Knead to make a soft dough. Let dough rest for 30 minutes.
Separate dough into 3 balls, then separate each into two equal pieces (or 4 and 8 for smaller roti). Form into smaller balls (making 6 balls) and let it rest for 10-15 minutes.
Fill dough
Flatten dough into a disk, place ¼ cup of peas or peas ball, if you followed that step, onto the dough and stretch the edges over and around the peas, to meet at the top, then press together, rotating and pinching to properly seal. Place on a tray, repeat and keep covered while you move on to the next step.
Cook roti
When ready to cook(do not allow the dough to rest too long as it will get too soft and unmanageable), heat tawa over high heat until smoking. Lower heat and brush with oil.
Sprinkle flour on counter and place filled dough. Press gently to make a round disc.
Roll out dough to an 8-inch circle or wide enough to fit into your pan or tawa, making sure that the surface is even and edges are thin.
Pick it up gently resting it on the palm of your hand and fore arm and place on the hot tawa. When tiny bubbles appear on the surface brush with oil and flip. Brush the other side with oil and flip. When the roti swells, is lightly brown on both sides and the edges are fully cooked, it is ready. Remove carefully from tawa and place in a large tray, lined with a kitchen or paper towel.