Tribal People Try French Fries

Every time the tribe has tasted french fries: 12 videos of first impressions from villagers in rural Punjab, Pakistan, usually American food they have never seen before.

Also covers: french fries, chips, curly fries, loaded fries, poutine, tater tots, potato wedges, wedges

What it is

French fries are potato batons deep-fried until golden — Belgian or French depending on who you ask, American by volume. Loaded fries, curly fries and Canadian poutine (fries, gravy and cheese curds) are the variations that show up in the videos.

What to watch for

Everyone likes a fried potato. The reaction is about seasoning: plain salted fries can seem underdone to people used to chaat masala on everything, and poutine's gravy over chips is a genuine puzzle.

The village comparison

Aloo is the village's everyday vegetable, fried, curried, stuffed into parathas. Chips with salt is the mildest possible version of a potato they already love.

If you cook it: Soak the cut potatoes, dry them completely, fry at 150 °C then again at 190 °C.

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