Vlogger Nick Gray's 'Indian Doughnut' Remark For Sabudana Vada Sparks Debate

While Indian cuisine continues to captivate globetrotters, travel vlogger and entrepreneur Nick Gray stirred up a conversation with his video about sabudana vada, a popular Indian snack made from tapioca pearls, roasted peanuts, and boiled potatoes. Gray, visiting Mumbai’s famed Prakash Shakahari Upahaar Kendra, described sabudana vada as his favourite dish and referred to it as an “Indian doughnut” in his Instagram video.

Sabudana vada likened to Indian doughnut

While the video garnered over 44,000 likes, Gray's description of sabudana vada as an “Indian doughnut” sparked controversy. Many viewers felt this comparison was misleading and didn't do justice to the traditional Indian delicacy. One Instagram user commented, “Tapioca fritters instead of doughnuts maybe? I know you want it to be relatable, but doughnuts are dense and sweet. These are light and savoury. Wouldn’t fritters be more apt?”

Another user added, “Please don’t call it a doughnut. It’s not a doughnut. Let’s call food by its original name, please. Do we call the burger a vada pav? Let’s appreciate the unique food. There is absolutely no need to compare it with Western food. That’s like whitewashing eastern culture and its food. Keep it in its original name, if you want to describe it, maybe talk about the process of how it’s made instead of comparing it to western food. Western food is great in its way and Eastern cuisine is sophisticated in its own way. Don’t mix the two.”

Despite the criticism, many praised Gray for showcasing lesser-known local dishes instead of popular staples like chicken tikka masala and butter chicken. An Instagram user noted, “Finally, people like you are making efforts to show that Indian food is more than just chicken tikka masala, naan, butter chicken, and biryani.”

Gray's video highlights the delicate balance between making traditional foods relatable to a global audience while preserving their cultural integrity. As Indian cuisine gains more international attention, the conversation about respectful representation continues.