North India Statesman
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News India Live, Digital Desk: Be it evening tea or a gathering of friends, light hunger or any special occasion, there is one thing that rules the heart of every Indian – hot, spicy and crispy ‘Samosa’. The pleasure of eating this triangular snack filled with potatoes with chutney can hardly be found in anything else. We have been eating it with such gusto for centuries that it has become an integral part of our culture and food.
But if we tell you that your favorite samosa is not actually Indian, then perhaps you will not believe it. Yes, this is absolutely true. Samosa is a foreign dish, which has traveled for centuries and has made its place in the streets and kitchens of India. So, let us know today the interesting and funny history of this favorite breakfast of yours.
Samosa was born in the Middle East, not in India.
According to historians, Samosa was born about a thousand years ago around the 10th century in Middle-East Asia, especially Iran (the then Persian Sultanate). At that time it was called ‘Sambosag’ or ‘Sanbusak’. It is mentioned in the book ‘Tarikh-e-Bayhaqi’ by Persian historian Abul-Fazal Bayhaqi, where it is told that in the royal court of Mahmud Ghaznavi, a salty pastry was presented, which was filled with minced meat and dry fruits, and it was roasted before cooking. This is considered to be the oldest form of samosa present today.
At that time there were no potatoes in samosas, because potatoes were brought to India by the Portuguese in the 16th century. Instead, samosas were filled with minced meat, onions and spices. Its triangular shape was also special because it was easy to carry along while travelling.
How did ‘Sambosag’ reach India?
Around the 13th-14th century, when traders, soldiers and artisans from Central Asia started coming to India, they also brought with them their culture and food. It was with these traders and chefs that samosa first entered India.
Its first literary mention in India was by the famous poet and scholar Amir Khusro (1253-1325). He wrote that the rich and nobles of Delhi Sultanate used to eat this dish filled with meat, ghee and onion with great fondness. Ibn Battuta, the famous traveler who came to India in the 14th century, while mentioning the court of Muhammad bin Tughlaq, has also written that a dish named ‘Sambusak’ was presented there, which was filled with minced meat, almonds, pistachios and spices.
How to make samosa made of minced meat and ‘water chestnut’ of potato?
Samosa took a new form after coming to India. The people here were mostly vegetarian, due to which potatoes and peas replaced mincemeat in samosas. When the Portuguese brought potatoes to India in the 16th century, this new vegetable became so popular that it started being added to everything, and samosas were no exception. This new vegetarian samosa filled with potatoes, coriander, chilli and hot spices was so liked that today it has become the identity of the whole of India.
Gradually its name also changed from ‘Sambosag’ to ‘Samosa’ in Hindi and to ‘Water chestnut’ in Bengal and Eastern India due to its triangular shape.
Today, even though thousands of types of samosas are available in India, like Chowmin Samosa, Paneer Samosa or Chocolate Samosa, its roots are still linked to the history of Iran and Central Asia. So next time you eat samosa, not only taste it, but also remember its thousand year long and interesting journey.
