Introduction

 

Hi, I’m Ajay Chopra and welcome to my YouTube channel. Today, I’m going to make a very special street style dish – Noodle Frankie. I have made many types of frankies before like paneer frankie and aloo frankie. But today’s frankie is something very different. It is very popular on the streets of Bombay. I will also make Schezwan sauce at home for this recipe.

We will make Schezwan noodles, then wrap them nicely in a soft roti and make the Noodle Frankie. I remember tasting something like this during a street food shoot. It was spicy, tasty and crunchy – just perfect. I knew then that I have to show this recipe to all of you. Let’s start cooking!

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Ingredients of Street Style Noodle Frankie

 

Portion Servings: 4–5 pax
Preparation Time: 15 mins
Cooking Time: 50 mins

 

For Schezwan Sauce:

• Oil – 2 tbsp
• Garlic, chopped – 2 tbsp
• Ginger, chopped – 1 tsp
• Star anise – 1 pc
• Boiled red chilli paste – 1 cup
• Water – as required
• Ketchup – 1 tbsp
• Red chilli sauce – 1 tbsp
• Vinegar – 1 tbsp
• Salt – 1 tsp
• MSG – ½ tsp

For Frankie Base Roti:

• Refined flour – 1 cup
• Salt – ½ tsp
• Sugar – ½ tsp
• Water – as required
• Oil – 1 tbsp

For Schezwan Noodles:

• Oil – 1 tbsp
• Cabbage, shredded – 1 cup
• Capsicum, julienned – 1 cup
• Onion, sliced – ½ cup
• Boiled noodles – 2 cups
• Salt – ½ tsp
• MSG – ¼ tsp
• Schezwan chutney – 3 tbsp

For Assembling:

• Mayonnaise – as required
• Schezwan chutney – as required
• Schezwan noodles – prepared above
• Cabbage, shredded – as needed
• Onion, sliced – as needed
• Spring onion, chopped – as needed

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Instructions of Street Style Noodle Frankie

 

Step 1. Prepare the Schezwan Sauce

Heat 2 tbsp oil in a pan. Add 2 tbsp chopped garlic and 1 tsp chopped ginger. Sauté until aromatic. Add 1 star anise and stir well.

Next, add 1 cup of boiled red chilli paste (made by removing seeds, boiling and grinding dry red chillies). Cook the paste until oil starts to separate and the raw smell is gone. Add a splash of water to control the consistency and avoid burning.

Mix in 1 tbsp ketchup, 1 tbsp red chilli sauce, 1 tbsp vinegar, 1 tsp salt and ½ tsp MSG. Let it simmer till thick and glossy. Set aside to cool.

 

Step 2. Make the Frankie Roti Base

In a mixing bowl, combine 1 cup refined flour with ½ tsp salt and ½ tsp sugar. Gradually add water and knead into a soft dough. Add 1 tbsp oil and knead again till smooth.

Cover with a damp cloth and rest for 15–20 minutes. Divide the dough into equal portions and roll out thin rotis.

Heat a tawa and cook each roti till about 70% done—light brown spots should appear, but it should not be fully cooked. Stack with a tissue or damp cloth in between to prevent drying.

 

Step 3. Prepare the Schezwan Noodles

In a hot wok, heat 1 tbsp oil. Add 1 cup shredded cabbage, 1 cup julienned capsicum, and ½ cup sliced onion. Stir-fry on high flame to retain the crunch of vegetables.

Add 2 cups boiled noodles and toss everything together. Season with ½ tsp salt, ¼ tsp MSG, and 3 tbsp prepared schezwan chutney. Mix well until the noodles are evenly coated and aromatic. Remove from heat and cool slightly before use.

 

Step 4. Assemble the Noodle Frankie

Place a half-cooked roti on a hot tawa. Add a few drops of oil and cook both sides until fully done—golden but not crispy. It should remain soft for folding.

While still warm, spread mayonnaise in the center of the roti, then layer some schezwan chutney over it. Place a generous amount of prepared schezwan noodles in a line.

Top with shredded cabbage, sliced onion, and chopped spring onion for crunch and freshness.

 

Step 5. Roll and Toast the Frankie

Carefully fold the sides of the roti over the filling and roll into a tight wrap. Place it back on the tawa with a touch of oil and toast lightly to seal and crisp the outer layer.

Cut in half if desired and serve immediately. For that authentic street-style presentation, wrap in butter paper before serving.

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About the Street Style Noodle Frankie

This Noodle Frankie is a special type of frankie that you will find on the streets of Mumbai. First, I make the Schezwan sauce at home. I heat oil in a pan and sauté chopped garlic and ginger. I also add one small star anise. This gives a nice street style flavor to the sauce.

At home, I take whole Kashmiri red chillies, remove the seeds, boil them, cool them and make a paste. This paste gives nice red colour but not too much spice. When garlic and ginger turn light golden, I add the chilli paste and a little water so that the garlic doesn’t burn.

Then I add ketchup, a little red chilli sauce, some vinegar, and salt. I also add MSG – which is also called magic salt. It gives very good taste. If you don’t want to use it, it’s okay. After cooking this for 2-3 minutes, our bright red Schezwan sauce is ready.

Now for the frankie roti, I use maida (refined flour), a little salt, a pinch of sugar, oil and water. I knead a soft dough and roll it out. I cook the roti on a tawa without oil – only half cooked for now. We will cook it fully later while making the frankie.

Next, I make the noodles. Heat a wok till very hot. Add some oil and put in cabbage, capsicum, onion, cooked noodles, some salt, and a little MSG. Add the Schezwan sauce we made and toss everything well. The noodles are now ready.

Now it’s time to assemble the frankie. Heat the half-cooked roti with a little oil on both sides. Do not make it too crispy. We want the roti to stay soft. Spread a little mayonnaise and Schezwan chutney on the roti. Then add the noodles on top.

For extra crunch, I add more cabbage, onion, and some spring onion. These give a nice crispy texture. Every frankie has different textures – the soft roti, the tasty stuffing, and the crunchy vegetables. Now fold the roti nicely and the Noodle Frankie is ready. Just like the ones on Mumbai streets. Try it and tell me how you liked it!

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Cooking Tips for Noodle Frankie

• Add star anise in the Schezwan sauce. It gives that street style flavor.
• Remove seeds from red chillies before making the paste. This gives colour without too much spice.
• Half cook the roti first. Cook it fully only while making the frankie so it stays soft.
• Toss the noodles on high flame. This keeps the vegetables crunchy.
• Add raw cabbage, onion and spring onion for a nice crunch in the frankie.

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Pairing Guide for Noodle Frankie

• You can enjoy Noodle Frankie with cold drinks like lemon soda or iced tea.
• Keep some extra Schezwan chutney on the side if you like it more spicy.
• Some crispy fries or potato wedges will taste good with this street style frankie.
• You can also serve pickled onions for a nice tangy bite.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Street Style Noodle Frankie

 

1. What is Street Style Noodle Frankie?

It is a frankie with spicy Schezwan noodles wrapped inside a soft roti. It is very popular on the streets of Bombay.

2. What makes the Schezwan sauce special?

The Schezwan sauce has garlic, ginger, red chilli paste and star anise. It gives a nice colour and spicy taste.

3. Can I use readymade Schezwan sauce?

You can use it. But homemade sauce gives more street style flavour just like in the video.

4. Why should the roti be only half cooked first?

Because later when we make the frankie, we cook the roti again. If it is already fully cooked, it will become too crispy and break while folding.

5. What kind of noodles can I use?

You can use any Hakka noodles or simple boiled noodles. Just toss them well with vegetables and Schezwan sauce.

6. Is this recipe very spicy?

No. The red chillies are without seeds, so it looks red but is not too spicy. You can make it more or less spicy as you like.

7. What gives the crunch in the frankie?

Raw cabbage, onions and spring onions are added in the end to give a nice crunch inside the frankie.

8. Can I skip MSG in this recipe?

Yes, you can skip it. But Ajay Chopra says it gives a nice umami taste just like street food. If you don’t like it, leave it out.

9. Can I make this recipe ahead of time?

You can make the sauce, dough and noodles earlier. But make the final frankie fresh so that the roti and stuffing stay soft and crunchy.

10. Where can I learn more recipes like this?

Ajay Chopra’s book ‘The Big Daddy Chef Cook Book’ is available on Amazon and Flipkart. It has many restaurant style recipes made simple.

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