Desi twitter in frenzy after 'Paratha' was called 'Asian flat croissant'

A Singaporean cooking website posted a 'Paratha' recipe under the title “Flat Asian croissant"

In this era of globalization, desi food has seen its share of fun at the cost of cultural appropriation – be it the west’s obsession with ‘Golden Milk’ aka Haldi Doodh or Chai Tea Latte.

Even the Biryani has been a victim of cultural appropriate – remember Marks & Spencer vegan biryani wrap?

But this week, it went too far. This time the target was our beloved Paratha!

A Singaporean cooking website, Nyonya Cooking, uploaded recipe of a Paratha and pegged it as the “Flat Asian croissant”.

Yep, you read that right. Our Paratha has been likened to a flat croissant. And well… people are pissed!

in other, non political but still enraging news: pic.twitter.com/bbEFM7jL7c

— Dee 方传嫣 (@hellenus) February 23, 2020

“In the wake of Asian Flat Croissant, I propose we come up with names for Western foods in a Malaysian context,” said one user.

https://twitter.com/rincredible/status/1232285469141921793

Is it still a croissant if its super puffed up?

What would you rather have for breakfast? Asian flat bread croissant with eggs (left) or Asian super puffed up croissant (right)? pic.twitter.com/rkC1NP7i1b

— SocialPariah (@Non_graata) February 24, 2020

“… also known as not related to the croissant, not based on a croissant, not shaped like a croissant, not eaten like a croissant, and not a croissant.”

https://twitter.com/tha_rami/status/1231934830188879874

therapist: the asian flat croissant isn't real it cant hurt you

the asian flat croissant: pic.twitter.com/dRQDITqaHN

— mars 🇵🇰 (@theplanetmarss) February 24, 2020

One user found a way out of making ‘gol rotis’

https://twitter.com/mia_baij/status/1231975480548564993

One Asian flat croissant with mixed sauce please!

https://twitter.com/zharifzamree/status/1231937854525198336

We too are confused

https://twitter.com/NazrudinRahman/status/1231528632872386560/photo/1

And can’t wrap our heads around it

This is how, we could explain our desi paratha to guests.
Flat Croissant == Lachcha / Malabar Paratha 😄😄 pic.twitter.com/KL9KVm94Es

— Vijay Shekhar Sharma (@vijayshekhar) February 24, 2020

This is really just getting out of hand

oh to be starting off my day with a (checks notes) spring onion flat croissant pic.twitter.com/Rwd0MG2pbA

— succulent liyuen meal (@sunsettiapie) February 24, 2020

A puffy Paratha, anyone?

European Puffy Paratha pic.twitter.com/IuUvza2Dbw

— asad (@sadizid) February 24, 2020

Responding to backlash, the website clarified that it just wanted to make it “a fun title” to market the content “to make it more relatable for our audiences who are not familar with words such as canai, prata, parotta or paratha.”

“If you take some time to visit our website, the name (since publication in 2016) has always been how it is known in our region.”

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