Chicken Kathi Roll with Pickled Red Onion Relish
Chicken Kathi Roll is one of my favorite mouthwatering memories from India, a street food wrap that’s better known in western India as Chicken Frankie. Indian roti-chapati or paratha-style thick flatbread, often layered with well-beaten egg, and served as a wrap with your choice of spiced meat and/or vegetables – qualifies as a Kathi Roll.
In its traditional version, the meat was always cooked on skewers; the word Kathi means stick, and hence the name!
Chicken Kathi Roll with Pickled Red Onion Relish
Although Kathi Rolls as a concept originated on the streets of Kolkatta in eastern India, they are now synonymous with India, just like a dosa or a samosa. Furthermore, the definition of this hand-held treat has also changed with the generations and adaptations by the Indian diaspora. For example, one of my favorite Kathi rolls variations is with ground meat, chutney, and vinegary sliced onion.
Growing up, my parents often made Kathi rolls as a fun weekend family meal – it used to be one of those all-hands-on-deck meals that tend to become a part of one’s memories. And when kids, big and small, come into the kitchen and get their hands dirty, too many cooks don’t spoil the broth! Or the Kathi roll, in this case. Instead, each of us kids would take on a chore and before we knew it, a simple meal of delightful chicken-filled Kathi rolls was at the table.
Steps to Making Kathi Rolls
Many commercial Kathi rolls will use a filling of chicken tikkas like the ones in this recipe with mint or cilantro chutney. But for my homemade version, I still prefer my family’s flavorful shredded chicken filling with amazing spices lending depth to the meal, without the need for separate chutney. And the Pickled Red Onion Relish topping, well, you’ll just have to taste this Chicken Kathi Roll to believe its flavors.
As you’ll see below in the recipe, this street food treat comes together in a few simple steps:
Pickle the onions and carrots and marinate the chicken.
Cook the chicken in a flavorful broth.
Make an egg roti-chapati or paratha.
Assemble the Kathi roll to your preference.
Serve Chicken Kathi Roll freshly made, for the best experience!
