Saag Poutine

Poutine goes to India, Indian poutine comes to Canada

Cory Doctorow at 4:18 AM Sunday, Mar 6, 2011 

Poutine is a Quebecois delicacy made by combining french fries, gravy and cheese curds; when I was growing up, poutine was strictly Canadian, and you could always amaze foreigners by describing the salty, fatty, starchy goodness to be had from the poutine trucks. But gradually, poutine spread across the world -- first I saw it for sale in LA's Sunset Junction, and then I found it on the menu at a cafe in Mumbai's Juhu Beach (optional toppings included corn, pineapple and chicken frankfurters!). Poutine in India! What could be more global?

Turns out that the poutine-subcontinent fusion is bi-directional: yesterday, in Burger Bar in Toronto's Kensington Market, I spotted "Saag Poutine" on the menu -- "paneer cheese simmered in spices, cream and spinach, served over fries." I don't know what unlikely magic has brought Indian food and Quebecois food together, but it is magic -- albeit of the high-carb, salty sort.

At least this article had me learn just a bit more Hindi. I'd figured out that paneer is the cheese in Saag Paneer, the Indian buffet staple that most seem to call "Indian Spinach Casserole." The Wikipedia says Saag is a spinach and/or mustard leaf-based dish eaten in India and Pakistan with bread such as roti or naan, or rice (in West Bengal). Saag can be made from spinach, mustard leaves, or other greens, along with added spices and sometimes other ingredients such as paneer. No spinach, mustard leaves or any other greens in the Saag Poutine, however.

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