Indian Frankie Recipe | 33,048 Variations

If you've never heard of a Frankie before, you're missing out. It is Indian food in minutes! A savory, spicy "Indian Burrito", Frankies are great for using up leftovers. A great no-mess way to make Indian Breakfast Burritos that kids will love.

What is a Frankie?

At its essence, a Frankie is a roti or chappati, with a layer of egg inside, smeared with a sauce or chutney, and then filled with whatever leftovers you have around. It is then lovingly rolled up into a piece of foil to contain it, handed to you, and you are sent off on your way, tucking into a wholesome snack as you walk around the streets of Mumbai--on in my case, the streets of Keller, Texas.

I often make my little Indian Burrito with Tortillas which are easier to find. This also allows me to make breakfast tacos that don't spill right out of the tortillas when I get distracted by a shiny object and stop focusing on my food.

What is the difference between a Frankie and a Kathi Roll?

Let me present an unpopular opinion--there is zero difference to someone who is eating them.

Sure, purists can point to the fact that Frankies were originated in Mumbai, and Kathi Rolls started in Kolkatta. There will be great discourse on the fact that one has cutlets (maybe?) one has pieces of meat (sometimes?)--but all of this is arbitrary and easily overridden.

When you're sitting in your kitchen, tucking into one of these delightful Frankies, you will absolutely not care.

Why You Will Fall in Love With This Frankie Recipe

• Fast. If you watch the accompanying video, you will see that it takes no time at all to make these Kathi rolls. Whether you start with a cooked tortilla or you cook up your own, it is but the work of a few minutes to get these Indian Frankies to the table.
• Cheap. Egg, any sort of flatbread, and a variety of fillings. You can literally make dinner for 4 under $10 at this rate.
• Filling. I would be very surprised if anyone were able to eat more than 2 Frankies for a fulfilling dinner. The protein from the egg and fillings, vegetables for fillings, the whole wheat of a chappati--all of those fill you up and stay with you for hours.
• Neat & Portable. A Frankie is much neater than a burrito or Taco if you cook the fillings along with the egg. If you want a breakfast taco, for example, you can cook sausage or bacon in a pan, pour in the eggs on top, and then proceed as directed. Once you roll it all up, there's nothing to spill in the car as you're dashing around trying to eat and drive at the same time (Not that I would ever do that but I have a FRIEND....)
• Versatile. What I love most about these Frankies is that you are limited only by either your imagination or the contents of your refrigerator. I will list some great Frankie variations for you below, so you can see what I'm talking about. Don't let it bother you one bit that some of these combinations are not at all Indian. Just #trustUrvashi and have at it.

How To Make This Indian Frankie Recipe

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• Whisk. Whisk together Eggs and salt in a medium bowl and set aside.
• Heat. In a nonstick pan, heat 2 teaspoons oil. When the oil is hot, pour half the egg mixture into the hot pan.
• Cook eggs. When the sides of the egg are just begining to set (about 15 seconds), place the tortilla on top and press down to embed the tortilla into the egg.
• Flip. Allow the egg to cook completely. Flip the egg-tortilla on a plate so that the egg is facing up. Repeat with the other tortilla/egg combo.
• Add. Meanwhile, smear 2 tablepoons of the sauce on to the egg. Smoosh the kababs a little and place them on top of the sauce.
• Roll. Roll up the frankie as you would a burrito, and wrap in a piece of foil or a napkin. Serve!

Different Types of Frankie Recipes

Below is a list of mix and match recipe ideas. This will allow you to make a low carb Frankie, a vegan Kathi roll, or a veg Frankie Recipe.

Choose one bread, one sauce--unless your dish was saucy (like me) and then you can omit--one filling, and maybe a few extras. Cook, roll, eat. Repeat.

Bread + Egg + Sauce + Filling = Frankie

So what's up with the 33,048 Variations you ask? Well, if you take one bread, one sauce, one filling, and one garnish from the lists below?

33,048 combinations 🙂

I will be the first one to tell you that Naan + Chicken Salad + Ketchup + Avocado is NOT a good one but you know, you do you.

Bread options for Frankies

Sauce options for Frankies

Fillings for Frankies | Indian Burritos

Garnishes and Extras for Frankies | Indian Burritos

Halp! Too Many Options!

I get it. Where do you start? So I put together a few classics for you (they just happen to be vegetarian recipes as well).

• Kabab Roll: Chappati+Egg+ Green Chutney + Seekh Kabab
• Aloo Tikki Roll: Chapatti + Egg + Savory Potato Patties + Ketchup
• Not at all Indian Roll: Flatout Bread + Egg + Gyro Meat + Tzatziki
• Chana Masala Roll: Naan + Egg + Chana Masala + Chopped Red Onions

Are there really NO RULES for How to Make A Frankie??

Just one. For the love of all that is sacred, do not put rice in your Frankie!

I don't know why this is true because really Indians think nothing of making a potato curry and eating it with rice or chappatis. But for some reason, we absolutely never combine rice and chappati!

Actually you know what? You want to combine them? You go right ahead. As long as everyone enjoys them, who cares?

Just... don't do that in an Indian restaurant. Because yes, when you make a burrito at your local Indian buffet and put rice inside your naan, most of us are almost certainly judging you 🙂

Looking for more great Indian street food recipes? Check out my list of 35+ Tantalizing Indian Street Food Recipes!

So I hope you found this post for how to make Frankies, a popular Indian Street food--a.k.a, how to repurpose leftovers with flair--helpful for you.

Leave me a comment to let me know your favorite Frankie Recipe combinations!