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Dearest fans of Marvel Movies, here is a rapid-fire question for you. Which is one delicacy that Deadpool aka Wade Winston Wilson, played by Ryan Reynolds, and Ironman aka Tony Stark, played by Robert Downey Jr., love to indulge in? Hint: It’s a Middle Eastern dish and quite popular in Indian streets.
If you guessed shawarma, congratulations. You are a die-hard fan of the Marvel universe (which is now a multiverse). In The Avengers, when Ironman falls from the sky after closing the wormhole, he gets unconscious. It was The Hulk who roared at him, making him open his eyes. The first thing that Ironman asks his fellow Avengers is, “Who would like to eat shawarma?”
Video Credit: Chef Ranveer Brar/ YouTube
In the latest hit of the Marvel Studios, Deadpool & Wolverine, shawarma was brought back to its glory. After dealing with Chris Evans’ cameo and saving the world, Deadpool asks Wolverine, played by Hugh Jackman, to have shawarma with him. He even joked that it was the Avengers who invented the dish.
If you are also a fan of the Marvel Movies and would like to try shawarma, below are some vegetarian options for you.
Falafel Shawarma
Falafel is deep-fried patties of Egyptian origin. Their vegetarian variant is prepared using chickpeas, spices, and herbs. To make the shawarma, spread garlic sauce, hummus, and Tahini sauce on a flatbread, layer lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and cucumber slices, and top with crispy falafel balls. You can also add pickled olives and some sauce before wrapping the ingredients in the flatbread.
Paneer Shawarma
Paneer shawarma might be something you can explore if you like Indian cottage cheese. To make it flavoursome, the cubes of paneer are marinated in a melange of spices and either grilled or pan-fried. This helps to lock the flavours inside the paneer and helps it hold the structure without crumbling. When you are assembling the shawarma, use mint chutney and lemon juice as a spread, layer lettuce, tomatoes, onions, bell peppers, and paneer cubes, and add pickled onions before rolling the pita bread.
Jackfruit Shawarma
Jackfruit shawarma is for people trying to follow a vegetarian or vegan diet but miss indulging in meat. You can prepare kebabs using kathal or marinate them in a spicy mixture and cook until tender. Shred it like meat and added to the naan-like bread after spreading the tahini sauce and hot sauce, sliced onions, red cabbage, and tomatoes. Add fresh coriander on the top and wrap the ingredients tightly. Each bite of it will taste heavenly.
Eggplant Shawarma
Another vegetable that can be used as an alternative to meat is eggplant. Roast or brill the brinjal slices after seasoning them with spices. For this roll, you can use tahini sauce or baba ganoush with a drizzle of olive oil to bind the ingredients. Eggplant pairs well with spinach sauteed in garlic, charred onion slices, and roasted tomato slices. Add everything in the middle of the pita bread and finish with oregano and crumbled feta.
Mushroom Shawarma
Irrespective of the season, mushroom shawarma will be your perfect partner when bingeing the Deadpool and Avengers series. The first step is to saute or grill the marinated mushrooms of your choice. Use a good amount of spice to ensure mushrooms are flavourful. Use garlic and hot sauces for the base and layer red onion, lettuce, tomatoes, and pickled vegetables to create a bed for mushrooms. Roll the bread and enjoy.
