Vegetable Frankie

Vegetable Frankie, the name may sound continental but it is a very "desi" Indian road side food. This is more known in Maharashtra and Gujarat.

What i made here is not totally Mumbai style Frankie but my own Gujarati version, they way i used to get it at my hometown. This time when we visited India, i made Ashu taste it and he immediately loved it so then i decided to try it at home as well to satisfy our taste buds.

Let's collect Ingredients:

For Wrap / Rotis:

1/2 cup Plain/ all purpose flour

1/2 cup self-rising flours

(i took all purpose and self-rising flour both but you can replace self-rising flour quantity with all purpose flour)

1/2 cup whole wheat flour

2 tsp oil

Salt to taste

Oil for kneading as needed.

Butter for cooking

For stuffing:

2 tbsp oil/ butter

1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste

2 cups boiled, peeled and mashed potatoes

1/2 cup boiled, mashed carrots (optional)

1 tbsp finely chopped coriander leaves

1 tsp chili powder

1 tsp garam masala

1 tsp chaat masala

Salt to taste

Bread crumbs (optional)

For Garlic-tomato Sauce: (optional)

1/2 cup tomato puree

1 tbsp hot tomato ketch-up

1/2 tsp oil

2 tbsp finely chopped garlic

1 tsp sugar

1/2 tsp red chili powder

Salt to taste

For Masala Water:

1/3 cup of water

1/2 tsp chili powder

1 1/2 tsp dried mango powder (amchur)

1/4 tsp garam masala

Salt to taste

Other Ingredients:

1 cup chopped onions

1/2 cup chopped capsicum

(Any vegetables / salad of your choice)

4 tsp Frankie masala or Chaat masala

Let's prepare Veg. Frankies:

For Wraps / Rotis:

- Combine all the ingredients in a bowl and knead into soft and pliable dough using enough water. Cover the dough with a wet muslin cloth and keep aside for 10 minutes.

- Knead again using some oil till it is smooth and elastic.

- Divide the dough into 6/8 equal portions in and roll out each into approx. 8"/ 10" diameter thin circle.

- Heat a tava (griddle) and cook each roti lightly on a medium flame and keep aside.

Let's prepare the stuffing:

- Heat the oil/butter in a pan; add the ginger-garlic paste and sauté on a medium flame for a few seconds.

- Add the potatoes, carrot (and any other vegetable of your choice as per your wish), chili powder, garam masala, chaat masala, coriander and salt, mix well and sauté on a medium flame for another minute. Keep aside.

- This stuffing can be used as it is but i prefer making patty from it. For the patty, divide the mixture in equal 6/8 portions. Shape them in to patty and shallow / deep fry them. If they don't hold together, add some bread-crumbs.

Let's prepare Garlic-tomato Sauce:

- Heat the oil and sauté the garlic for a few seconds.

- Add all the other ingredients to it and bring to boil.

- Let it cool down.

Let's prepare Masala Water:

- Mix all the ingredients in a bowl and keep aside.

Let's assemble Frankies:

1. Place a wrap/ roti on the tava (griddle) and cook on a medium flame using ½ tsp butter till both sides turn light brown in color.

2. Place it on a clean, dry surface; apply Garlic-tomato sauce on one end of the wrap / roti. Place the stuffing/ patty on it and top with ¼ cup of onions, capsicums (and salad of your choice).

3. Sprinkle 1½ tsp of masala water and ½ tsp of Frankie / chaat masala evenly over it and roll it up tightly. (Optional: you can also apply some tomato ketch-up on it)

4. Fold the edges at one end and wrap in an aluminum foil/tissue paper and serve immediately.

5. Repeat the procedure with the remaining ingredients.

Variations:

Cheese Frankie: sprinkle 1/3 cup of grated cooking cheese over the stuffing patty (at step 3) and proceed as per the recipe.

Schezuan Frankie: smear 1½ tbsp of schezuan sauce in stead of garlic - tomato sauce (or can add both) evenly on the roti (at step 2) and proceed as per the recipe.

Paneer Frankie: for the stuffing, half the quantity of boiled potatoes and add same quantity of chopped paneer in stead (no other veggies in patty) and proceed as per the recipe.

Vegetable Spring Rolls

Spring Rolls, i didn't make them often as felt it's too much to do from scratch but that was until i was not using ready-made spring roll wrappers and preferred making them at home. This time i made it using ready-made spring roll wrappers and believe me one of the fasted and easiest to prepare dish !

So here we go... Enjoy the Spring Rolls :)

Let's collect Ingredients:

Spring roll wrappers

2 cups mixed vegetables ( shredded cabbage, grated carrots, french beans, green bell peppers cut into strips)

3/4 cup bean sprouts

1 onion, thinly sliced

3/4 cup spring onion with greens, finely chopped

2 tbsp vegetable oil ( i used chilly oil)

2 tbsp Soya sauce

1 tbsp hot and sweet chilly sauce

1 tsp white pepper powder

1 tsp ginger powder

2 tsp garlic powder

salt to taste

Let's start cooking:

1. Heat the oil in a wok over medium heat. Add onions and carrots and stir-fry for half a minute.

2. Add green bell peppers and cabbage and continue to stir-fry for one minute. Add the ginger, garlic powder, white pepper powder, salt, soy sauce and hot and sweet chilli sauce.

3. Add bean sprouts and spring onions with greens and cook until veggies are crisp-tender. Set aside to cool until they are lukewarm.

4. Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C).

5. Divide the veggie mixture into equal portions.

6. Lay a spring roll wrapper on a dry flat surface. Place a spoonful of the filing mixture in one corner of the wrapper.

7. Roll the wrapper over the filling, folding the sides as you go to form a small spring roll. Press the seams together with a little water and seal the edges.

8. Lightly brush the rolls with vegetable oil or whisked egg whites.

9. Bake 15-20 minutes, then flip on the broiler for a few minutes until they turn golden brown.

Tips:

1. You can also add noodles relacing sprout beans with them.

2. In stead of baking you can also deep fry them in oil till golden brown. I find baking healthier.

Have a nice time this weekend, Have a Good Friday and Happy Easter weekend. :o)

The growing trees, the new flowers

And birds that sweetly sing

Whisper to me that it’s Easter

Here is wishing warmth for your soul

On Easter and always!

Happy Easter !!

Stuffed Jalapano Peppers / Mirchi Pakoda

I love stuffed vegetables and stuffed Jalapanos is such an exotic combination, i just love them ! :)

Let's collect Ingredients:

4-5 Big Jalapenos
Oil for deep frying

Basic Batter:

1&1/2 cups Gram flour (Besan)
1/2 tsp paprika
A pinch baking soda
Salt to taste
3/4 to 1 cup water

Potato Filling:

2-3 Potatoes, boiled
1 tsp Cumin seeds
1/2 tsp ginger, grated
1/2 tsp garlic, grated
1/2 tsp Green chilly, crushed*
1/2 tbsp coriander powder
1/2 tsp cumin powder
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
1/2 tsp garam Masala
1 1/2 tsp sugar
1 tsp amchur (mango Powder)
2 tbsp Gram Flour
Salt to taste
1 tbsp oil

Let's prepare Potato filling first:

1. Mash the potatoes well.
2. Heat oil in a saucepan.
3. Add Cumin Seeds, let them splutter.
4. Add Gram flour, ginger, garlic. and chilly paste*.
5. Quickly add all the dry spices and turn off the gas.
6. Mix this with the Potatoes and Mix well and keep aside.

Let's assemble the Pakodas:

1. Wash the Jalapenos well and dry them.
2. Slit them length wise making sure not to cut it in half.
3. Remove some or all the seeds from inside. (This is optional, if you can take the heat then skip this step, I removed all the seeds as we don't eat that spicy)
4. Fill each jalapeno with the Potato filling and keep aside.

Let's prepare the Batter for Pakodas:

1. Mix salt, paprika, coriander leaves together in a bowl.
2. Add the baking soda in 1/2 cup of water and mix well.
3. Add this 1/2 cup of water with the soda to the besan mix.
4. Mix in the rest of the water to make a smooth batter. The batter should be thick enough to coat the jalapenos. Make sure not to make it too liquid-like / runny.

Let’s start cooking:

1. Heat the oil for deep frying.
2. Once hot add about 1 tbsp of the hot oil to the batter and mix the batter well.
3. Take the Jalapeno, dip in the batter, coat well.
4. Slowly drop it in the hot oil, and fry it on medium temperature, to make the sure it’s cooked through inside.
5. Once it is golden brown in color, remove and drain on paper to remove excess oil.

Tips:

You can also add the chopped onions and fresh coriander leaves in Potato filling if you like, I didn't.
Make the Batter just before you are starting to fry them.

*You can skip adding chilies in Potato filling if you think variety of Jalapenos you have are very spicy, you can play around with the dry masalas to suit your taste.