Frankies(fankies) are a common snack in Mumbai and other cities across India. They are also known as Indian burritos, Bombay wraps, and Bombay veg frankie rolls. They have a filling of spiced potatoes and vegetables, sliced onions, green chutney, chaat masala, and pickled green chilies, all wrapped in a whole wheat flatbread or chapati. They’re simple to whip up at home and can serve as a quick bite before, during, or after a meal. Here are detailed directions and helpful hints for making them at home.
Ingredients
- 4 whole wheat rotis or chapatis
- 2 large potatoes, boiled and mashed
- 1/4 cup green peas, parboiled and crushed
- 1 medium carrot, grated
- 1/4 cup cheese, grated (optional)
- 1/4 teaspoon chaat masala
- Salt to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
- Oil for shallow frying
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1/2 inch ginger, finely chopped
- 1 green chili, finely chopped
- 1/4 teaspoon red chili powder
- A pinch of turmeric powder
- 1/4 teaspoon garam masala powder
- 1 tablespoon fresh coriander leaves, chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon dry mango powder (amchur)
- 4 teaspoons green chutney
- 1 medium onion, sliced
- 1 teaspoon vinegar
- Pickled green chilies (see below for recipe)
Pickled green chilies
To make pickled green chilies, you need:
- 4-5 green chilies, sliced
- 1/4 cup vinegar
Combine the sliced chilies and vinegar in a small bowl and keep aside for at least 15 minutes.
Method
Step 1: Make the potato stuffing
- In a large bowl, add the mashed potatoes, cheese, chaat masala, salt and lemon juice and mix well.
- Divide the mixture into eight equal portions and shape them into cylindrical logs.
- Heat oil in a non-stick pan and shallow fry the potato logs on medium heat until golden brown on all sides.
- Drain on an absorbent paper and keep aside.
Step 2: Make the vegetable mixture
- Heat butter in another non-stick pan and add the cumin seeds. Once they crackle, add the ginger, green chili, red chili powder, turmeric powder, garam masala powder and salt and sauté for a few seconds.
- Add the carrot, green peas, coriander leaves and amchur powder and cook on medium heat for about two minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Transfer the mixture to a plate and let it cool slightly.
Step 3: Assemble the frankies
- Heat a tawa or griddle and cook each roti or chapati on both sides using some butter until light brown spots appear.
- Place a roti on a flat surface and spread a teaspoon of green chutney evenly over it.
- Place a potato log on one end of the roti and some vegetable mixture over it.
- Sprinkle some sliced onions over the filling and drizzle some vinegar over it.
- Sprinkle some chaat masala and some pickled green chilies over it.
- Roll the roti from one end to the other and wrap it in an aluminum foil or parchment paper.
- Repeat with the remaining ingredients to make three more frankies.
FAQs
Q: What is chaat masala?
A: Chaat masala is a tangy spice blend that is commonly used in Indian street food. It usually contains ingredients such as cumin seeds, black salt, dry mango powder, black pepper, asafoetida, mint leaves and coriander seeds. You can buy it from any Indian grocery store or online.
Q: What is green chutney?
A: Green chutney is a spicy and refreshing dip that is made with fresh mint leaves, coriander leaves, green chilies, lemon juice, salt and sugar. You can make it at home by blending all the ingredients together in a blender or food processor. You can also buy it from any Indian grocery store or online.
Q: How can I make frankies more healthy?
A: You can make frankies more healthy by using whole wheat flour instead of refined flour for making rotis or chapatis. You can also use low-fat cheese or skip it altogether for the potato stuffing. You can also add more vegetables such as cabbage, capsicum or paneer to the filling. You can also use less oil and butter for cooking and use low-fat yogurt instead of vinegar for drizzling.
Q: How can I store and reheat frankies?
A: You can store the cooked frankies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two days. To reheat them, you can microwave them for a few seconds or heat them on a tawa or griddle until warm. You can also freeze the cooked frankies in a freezer-safe container for up to a month. To thaw and reheat them, you can microwave them or heat them on a tawa or griddle after removing the foil or paper.
