I urge any American vegetarian to spend time in India. When I was in college, the vegetarian entree at our cafeteria was ... FISH. Um, fish is not a vegetable. I didn't even have my college degree and I knew that one!
So when I was in India, in December 2011 - January 2012, I took advantage of the wide variety of vegetarian options. Not because I am vegetarian (oh no, card-carrying carnivore here), but because there were so many great interesting choices. For example - Asian dim sum. I'm used to everything being pork or shrimp in dim sum, so vegetarian dim sum really caught my eye. (Check out more vegetarian dim sum in my blog post here.)
I was at the Delhi airport, waiting for a flight to Chennai and I was hungry. Now I do try to have new things, but the lovely smell of the airport McDonald's was calling out to me. It had been a week since I had had a diet Coke and even longer since I had had McDonald's fries. I told myself that it would be an experiment - to compare American McDonald's to Indian McDonald's.
The box advertised "100% Paneer Passion." Since I had 0% Paneer Passion, I thought that it was great that one sandwich could bring me to full speed in the passion department.
The fries were not exactly like the ones I get in the US, but pretty darn tasty. It's a potato cooked in hot fat. How bad could it ever be?
In addition to ketchup, a packet of chili sauce was also given. I wish they would do this in the US too!
I wasn't sure what to expect from a McPaneer. How spicy is Indian spicy at McDonald's? How crunchy can a soft cheese be? The box seemed to try to assure my questions.
Like my American McDonald's, the bun was coated with some goopy cosmic orange spread of unknown origin or substance and a bunch of sad chopped iceberg lettuce.
And just like I do at McDonald's in America, I scraped the noxious spread off the bun.
Leaving me with a paneer cheese patty that had been breaded in some sort of super crispy wonderfulness that had a searing almost Buffalo style spice to it. Crunchy, creamy, spicy, tangy. Ahhhh it was so good. I wish they sold these in America. Although my waistline is probably glad that they do not.
If you find yourself in India, definitely do try all the wonderful vegetarian options they have. But save some room for some McDonald's too.
So when I was in India, in December 2011 - January 2012, I took advantage of the wide variety of vegetarian options. Not because I am vegetarian (oh no, card-carrying carnivore here), but because there were so many great interesting choices. For example - Asian dim sum. I'm used to everything being pork or shrimp in dim sum, so vegetarian dim sum really caught my eye. (Check out more vegetarian dim sum in my blog post here.)
I was at the Delhi airport, waiting for a flight to Chennai and I was hungry. Now I do try to have new things, but the lovely smell of the airport McDonald's was calling out to me. It had been a week since I had had a diet Coke and even longer since I had had McDonald's fries. I told myself that it would be an experiment - to compare American McDonald's to Indian McDonald's.
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| McDonald's - Delhi Airport |
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| Funky chairs and tables - loved the view. |
I surveyed the menu ... given that cows are sacred, the McDonald's menu was greatly diminished. (AKA no burgers!) There was chicken and fish ... and fish and chicken. Then I spotted something I hadn't seen before - a "Spicy McPaneer." I knew paneer was cheese and I like anything spicy from McDonald's. So I ordered the McPaneer meal with a diet Coke.
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| No fountain machines for diet Coke at this McDonald's - only cans |
The box advertised "100% Paneer Passion." Since I had 0% Paneer Passion, I thought that it was great that one sandwich could bring me to full speed in the passion department.
The fries were not exactly like the ones I get in the US, but pretty darn tasty. It's a potato cooked in hot fat. How bad could it ever be?
In addition to ketchup, a packet of chili sauce was also given. I wish they would do this in the US too!
I wasn't sure what to expect from a McPaneer. How spicy is Indian spicy at McDonald's? How crunchy can a soft cheese be? The box seemed to try to assure my questions.
Like my American McDonald's, the bun was coated with some goopy cosmic orange spread of unknown origin or substance and a bunch of sad chopped iceberg lettuce.
And just like I do at McDonald's in America, I scraped the noxious spread off the bun.
Leaving me with a paneer cheese patty that had been breaded in some sort of super crispy wonderfulness that had a searing almost Buffalo style spice to it. Crunchy, creamy, spicy, tangy. Ahhhh it was so good. I wish they sold these in America. Although my waistline is probably glad that they do not.
If you find yourself in India, definitely do try all the wonderful vegetarian options they have. But save some room for some McDonald's too.
Lily:
ReplyDeleteI just got back from India on 5/21 and I tried the Spicy McPaneer in the Delhi airport.
It was so awesome. I had a spice pack that went on the fries and it was delicious!
I'm dreaming of Spicy McPaneer too! I wish US would introduce it over here for a veg option.
I've even looked online to see if any Indian local rests offer any type of sandwich which is comparable.
Keep me in mind if you find out any locals where you can get this awesome sandwich!! Had I realized it was on the menu before I would have tried it a few more times while I was there during my 2 week trip!!! Ugh!
Leslie
leslieainman@aol.com
Hi Leslie - I have not been able to find anything close to the spicy McPaneer in the States, but I will keep searching!! I may have to try recreating it at home, but a baked version instead of deep frying for health reasons. I'll keep you posted if I make any progress!!
ReplyDeleteLily
McVeggie and McAlooTikkee are other great veg options from India McDonalds...I mean if you mist have one...
ReplyDelete