Vegetarian Virat Kohli Surprises Fans With Chicken Tikka Instagram Post, But There’s A Twist

After India’s stunning win at T20 World Cup 2024, Virat Kohli has become a trending topic of discussion. From his professional scores to his retirement, everything about him has been debated widely. However, he recently surprised fans by making a surprising shift by eating like butter chicken. The reason why everyone was surprised to find that Indian cricket legend Virat Kohli was having a non-vegetarian dinner was because a few years ago, he made headlines for adopting a vegetarian diet.

The batsman, who is well-known for his dedication to physical fitness, explained how giving up non-vegetarian food improved his physical health. However, a recent Instagram story showing how much he enjoyed “mock chicken tikka” confused several admirers. It’s because they missed the main point of the whole story.

Why did Virat Kohli adopt a vegetarian diet?

Health issues during the 2018 England Test series led to Kohli’s decision to become a vegetarian. He was experiencing symptoms connected to acidity, including tingling feelings in his hand and a cervical spine condition brought on by high uric acid.

So, in order to solve this, he made the important decision to cut out meat from his diet. When Kohli looked back on the life-changing experience, he said that it had greatly enhanced his energy and general well-being. He said,

“I felt amazing, it is almost two years now and it is the best decision I have taken… it made me feel why I didn’t do it before.”

Did Virat Kohli actually eat non-veg?

Virat Kohli was seen enjoying “mock chicken tikka” in the Instagram story. The caption of the story said,

“You’ve really nailed this mock chicken tikka.”

Soon, many people started assuming that he might left vegetarianism. However, the word mock makes it clear that he is not eating a real chicken. But it was a plant-based, soy-derived substitute that complied with his vegetarian diet.

What is mock chicken tikka?

For those who don’t know, a fake chicken tikka is a vegetarian variant that is made similarly to the classic chicken version but uses plant-based substitutes like tofu, jackfruit, or soy protein. There are currently various meat substitutes made from soy that are vegetarian in nature. The complex tastes and textures of these alternatives frequently make it difficult for people to discern between the conventional and plant-based forms. Nevertheless, it’s crucial to remember that “mock” versions of chicken products, such as “Chicken Tikka,” are made completely of soy.

In addition to soy, tempeh or seitan can also be used to make mock chicken tikka. These ingredients are marinated and cooked in a similar way to replicate the flavors and textures of the real dish.

In summary, Kohli’s “mock chicken tikka” incident startled fans and revealed the rapidly changing landscape of plant-based substitutes, offering insight into the athlete’s dedication to a better way of life.