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Samosa- A Sentiment ; An Emotion ; A Feeling.
By
Vivek Hande
The Samosa is not
just a triangular or tetrahedral savoury filled with potatoes, peas, veggies or
meat. It is something far more than that. It binds the country; it unites the
world; it brings life into monotony; it galvanizes and energizes and sparks off
excitement; it also calms tempers and ruffles feathers; it acts as an emotional
balm. It helps tide crises; it adds to the joy of celebration; it forms the
platform for debates and discussions and arguments. It is not just a snack –it
is truly a way of life..
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| Samosa- A way of life.. |
The Samosa, even though
it is firmly ours to hold on to, found its origin in Persia. Sanbosag,
is the etymological origin from Persian ancestry. Some claim that it originated
in the ancient city of Samosata, on the west bank of the
Euphrates in Turkey. It is also believed that the name may have originated from Samsa,
the pyramids of Central Asia. It found
its way to India through the traders and merchants who travelled to this
country. It was an easy snack and a filling food to be made over campfires as
they journeyed. It found its way to the kitchens of the Delhi Sultanate and has
never ever looked back. It finds mention in a 9th century poem by
Persian poet Ishaq Al Mawsili!
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| Samosa have fillings; Never Say NO |
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| A Celebration of life,, |
It has invented and reinvented itself across the
length and breadth of the country and I daresay, most of the civilized world.
Within the country, there exist as many variations as imagination and
inventiveness permits. In most parts of the country, it remains a veggie dish
with fillings of mashed potatoes, peas and other vegetables. In Bengal, it is
more popular as the Singara, which use white flour and not wheat flour and use
unmashed potatoes and may occasionally have an odd raisin or a nut; it has a
flaky texture and the folds are trickier. Fulkopir Singara has cauliflower; Maccher
Singara has fish and Mansher Singara has a filling of meat.
In Hyderabad, the Luqmi , has a thicker pastry crust and mince meat filling.
The dish is not confined to the Indian subcontinent. It is
popular across the Arabian Peninsula, South East Asia; the Mediterranean and
large parts of Africa. It is found with different names and minor variations to
the theme. It is popular as the Sambusak in the Arabic world. In different parts of the world, it is called
Somosa,
Sambosak , Samboka. In Portugal, it finds its feet as Chamucas
in Portugal and Pasteis in Brazil. The fillings may vary and may include apart
from veggies, lentils, macaroni, noodles , cheese and beef. But then, what is
in a name; it is the thought that counts; it is the feeling that envelopes you!
The average Samosa packs in 52% fat ; 42% Carbs and 6%
Proteins and gives you a generous dollop of calories , 300 calories and
counting. But then, what are a few calories between friends. Efforts have been
made to make it “healthier” – bake not fry; interlocked Samosas which allow
only surface frying and does not allow the oil to percolate inside: apparently
giving you 56% less fat and 43% less calories. But , honestly , it is
impossible to insult the Samosa by throwing numbers. Unless one feels the Samosa going down your
esophagus and the delicious warmth crawling into your coronaries, you might as
well not have one..
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| What are a few calories between friends |
The Samosa is ingrained in our culture. Today, there
is a social media chat –entertainment app called Samosa , where one could chat; exchange
corny jokes and love messages and throw punch lines. That is what you would do
sitting in a college canteen or at a friend’s pad over a plate of hot, greasy Samosas. Incidentally there is a World Samosa Day – 5th September.
There is an industry spawned around the Samosa.
Samosa themed greeting cards; Samosa label of clothes and a franchise
called Samosa King. There are
websites dedicated to Samosa Poetry
and competitions based on stories revolving around the Samosa. There is a
politican, by the name Lalu Yadav who grandiosely claimed that as long as there
would be Aloo(potatoes) in the Samosa , there would Lalu in the state of Bihar. That might
have been a trifle premature. The Samosa is certainly here to stay.
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| Spawning Franchises |
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| 5th September |
The Samosa is much like India and the Indians: adaptive; flexible;
inventive; innovative, accommodating and capable of absorbing diverse
influences and making it their own. More strength to the Samosa ; indeed an icon of national unity!!
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| An Icon Of National Unity.. |
