War between Pakistan-India, this time on Chicken Manchurian.

Who doesn’t enjoy a good Twitter debate? Well we do! On Monday, the New York Times published an article about Chicken Manchurian, claiming it to be a “stalwart of Pakistani Chinese cooking.” Indian nationalists quickly turned into keyboard warriors, flooding the microblogging app with justifications and “proofs” of how chicken Manchurian is “originally an Indian dish.” Several people accused the publication of being anti-Indian and pro-Pakistan.

“A stalwart of Pakistani Chinese cooking, chicken Manchurian is immensely popular at Chinese restaurants across South Asia,” the outlet wrote on Twitter. The recipe was derived from “attempts at recreating the version served at Hsin Kuang in Lahore, Pakistan, in the late ’90s,” according to the article.

A stalwart of Pakistani Chinese cooking, chicken Manchurian is immensely popular at Chinese restaurants across South Asia. https://t.co/jorY16XePW pic.twitter.com/79hv3URnTm

— The New York Times (@nytimes) March 26, 2023

Many users attacked the Pakistani author personally for her biases and demanded that the publication “fact-check” before publishing such news.

“Just because your writer Zainab Shah is Pakistani doesn’t give you the right to appropriate a dish that was invented across the border in India (along with its numerous vegetarian variations using cottage cheese and cauliflower).” Please use basic fact-checking techniques. And, Ms Shah, why do you continue to make fools of innocent white people?” Take a look at the tweet.

Just because your writer @zainabshah is a Pakistani, it doesn't mean that you get to appropriate a dish, that (alongwith with its multiple vegetarian variations using cottage cheese & cauliflower) was invented across the border in India. Please use some basic fact-checking. And…

— мαηιѕн (@_manishkapoor) March 27, 2023

Another user corrected the American publication using the new AI platform Chatgpt. “It is thought to have been created by the Chinese community in Kolkata, India, during the nineteenth century.” According to legend, the dish is a fusion of Indian and Chinese cooking styles, with Chinese flavours adapted to suit the Indian palate. They wrote, “ChatGPT fact check.”

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A tweep even discovered the name of the chef who allegedly invented the dish. “It was invented by Nelson Wang, an Indian Chinese chef born in Calcutta.” His restaurants are in Mumbai. “This is an Indian Chinese recipe,” they wrote.

Hi, it was invented by an Indian Chinese chef called Nelson Wang, he was born in Calcutta. His restaurants are in Mumbai. This is an Indian Chinese recipe.

— Nayanika (@nayanikaaa) March 27, 2023

Enjoying the envious Indians in the replies and quote tweets, Pakistanis also jibed in. Comedian and actor Ali Gul Pir also weighed in on the matter. “Love me some Pakistani Chinese! I think Chef Lin Chaudry invented this Manchurian, shop on Tariq road near Zahid Nihari,” he wrote.

Love me some Pakistani Chinese! I think Chef Lin Chaudry invented this Manchurian, shop on Tariq road near Zahid Nihari

— Ali Gul Pir (@Aligulpir) March 27, 2023

This user attempted to explain that the article primarily recreated a dish cooked in a specific way in Pakistan, rather than labelling it as an invention of that country. “The stalwart of Pakistani Chinese Cooking” means that Pakistani chefs have been preparing this dish for decades, according to one tweet. Another remarked that while the dish may have originated elsewhere, it has been adapted to a Pakistani taste palette over decades.

The stalwart of Pakistani Chinese Cooking means PAKISTANI CHEFS are cooking this dish for decades too.
By this logic hamain you Biryani ka bhi credit na dou tum log. Pakistani version of Chinese is pretty cool. Accept it.

— Hina Safdar (@hinasafi) March 27, 2023

Then there were some snide remarks from Pakistanis. “Indians complaining about cuisine appropriation when Tikka masala was invented by a Pakistani in Scotland!” “You won’t find Pakistanis crying in the comments,” one user wrote.

Indians talking about appropriation of cuisine when literally Tikka masala was invented by a Pakistani in Scotland! You won’t find Pakistanis crying over comment sections 😒

— Ravale Mohydin | ravale.eth (@Ravale_Mohydin) March 27, 2023

Another jibed, “In a way, Pakistanis invented India itself, otherwise it would have remained a bunch of petty principalities. And chicken Manchurian, of course.”

In a way, Pakistanis invented India itself, otherwise it would have remained a bunch of petty principalities. And chicken manchurian, of course.

— 🔻✊🔻Ziyad Faisal Ismaili ~ زیاد فیصل اسماعیلی (@Ziyad_F_I) March 27, 2023

Looking at how “possessive” Indians were in the replies on the post, a user wrote, “By this logic, you wouldn’t even give us credit for Biryani even then. The Pakistani version of Chinese is pretty cool. Accept it.” One tweep made things political. “If you want to find out why India ranks lower than Pakistan on the happiness index despite having a better economy than Pakistan, just check out the replies.”

Lastly, a user found the real reason behind the paranoia of Indians. “The real reason behind Indians going haywire in the replies is how dare a western publication mention Pakistan and South Asia in the same sentence. Only India is synonymous with South Asia – from academia to culture to food and beyond,” they wrote.

Pasoori is a south asian somg but chicken manchurian is only indian 😂 https://t.co/SiM8tpjMeD

— S (@sunflowermochii) March 27, 2023

The GenZ, on the other hand, simply asked “desis” to “stop being petty” and chill. “It’s just food guys, relax,” one said.

https://twitter.com/agirlhasnogames/status/1640397779024621568?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1640397779024621568%7Ctwgr%5E40479a2421d25ba9ead8ebb02fa7ea5879a0efb6%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Ftribune.com.pk%2Fstory%2F2408600%2Fpakistanis-and-indians-are-now-going-to-war-over-who-owns-chicken-manchurian