Who doesn’t like samosas? No cup of piping hot chai would be complete without it. However, much as you might be a die-hard samosa fan, check out some interesting facts about this all-time favourite Indian snack which you’ve perhaps never heard of before!
1. Samosa is not of Indian origin
Originally named Samsa, it draws its origin from the Iranian plateau in the Middle East prior to the 10th century. It’s travelled to Egypt, Libya, and Central Asia as well, where it’s referred to as Sanbusak, Sanbusaq, or even Sanbusaj, all deriving from the Persian word, Sanbosag. It’s believed that the Middle-Eastern chefs got it to India during the Delhi Sultanate rule, and it was widely consumed by travellers, traders and merchants who migrated to India.
2. It was never a vegetarian dish
Well, this may surprise you but to go by its gastronomical history and as described by Ibn Batuta, the medieval Moroccan traveller, “Sambusak is minced meat cooked with almonds, pistachios, onions, and spices placed inside a thin envelope of wheat and deep-fried in ghee”.
3. The many names of samosa
Samosa and singhara we are all aware of, but the polynym snack has more to it. Samsa, somsa, sambosa, somasi, samoosa, sambosak, sambusa, singada, samuza, and somas are to name just a few.
4. Samosas and its connection to the pyramids
Did you know the shape of the humble samosa resembles the Pyramids? In fact, it was named Samsa after the Pyramids in Central Asia.
Do you know of any more interesting samosa facts? Do share them with us!
Adapted from idiva dot com