Everything You Need To Know About The Origin Of Samosa

Food enthusiasts or even an average Indian must have tried a Samosa. The snack is available almost at every corner and can be eaten at any time of the day. This crunchy and delicious snack can either be prepared in small sizes or as the usual large-sized ones. The filling of the samosas can be changed to add more distinct flavours or it could be made similar to the original recipe. It is usually had with Chai, Tomato Sauce, or spicy chutney.

Samosa Recipe | Image Resource: pexels.com

What are some of the interesting facts about the samosa recipe?

Since Samosa is a preferred choice of many, knowing some of the facts about its origin and other details could be a topic of discussion while having this snack. Some of the lesser-known facts about samosa include:

• Contrary to the belief, Samosas were not invented in India. Arab Invaders, in the 10th century, brought the samosa recipe with themselves. Thereby, the origin of samosa could be credited to the Middle East.
• Historical figures, such as the well-known Moroccan traveller Ibn Batuta and Sufi Musician and poet Amir Khusrau have mentioned ‘samosa’ in their works. Medieval history relates to major aspect of Samosa that was served in royal courts. 
• In the Middle East, the samosa is called sambusak. As opposed to India, it is filled with meat and eaten. Indians developed their style of sambusak and the result is the samosa recipe that involves mashed potatoes and spices instead of meat.
• Different regions of India prepare samosas differently. In the northern states, including Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, etc. the samosa is relatively bigger than the other states. In Orissa, West Bengal and Jharkhand, they are called ‘singharas and instead of wheat, their upper crest is made of different white flour.
• In Hyderabad, it is filled with meat and called ‘lukhmi.’ Similarly, in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal too, different types of Samosas are sold and most of them are smaller than the ones served in northern parts of India.

When and where should you try the Samosa?

Regardless of its origin, the traditional Indian Samosa has been developed in India. It might have been introduced in a different form but many experiments over the years and India’s love for spices has changed the filling and the coating of the dish entirely. It is now uniquely prepared in India and neighbouring countries as a snack filled with mashed potatoes, spices, and other ingredients that bring slight variations.

Thus, the Indian samosa recipe is adopted by most of the outlets that serve the snack. It can be tried anywhere as it is simple to prepare and it takes less time to fry a samosa and now, even many people also bake samosa for better health benefits.