Samosa facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Samosa

Pakistani style fried Samosas during Ramadan.
Alternative names	Samsa, somsa, sambosak, sambusa, samoosa, singada, samuza
Region or state	Indian Subcontinent, Central Asia, Western Asia, Horn of Africa, North Africa, South Africa
Main ingredients	Maida or plain flour, potato, onion, spices, green chili, cheese, meat

A samosa is a very popular snack. It started in Central Asia a long time ago. From there, it traveled to India with traders. Today, samosas are famous in many parts of the world. You can find them in the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and Central Asia. They are also popular in Western Asia, the Arabian Peninsula, and around the Mediterranean Sea. People enjoy them in the Horn of Africa, North Africa, and South Africa.

Samosas are usually shaped like a triangle. But their shape and size can be different depending on where you are. They can be either baked or fried. The outside crust is made from plain flour. Inside, samosas often have a tasty filling of potatoes and spices. People usually eat them with a spicy sauce called chutney.

In Pakistan, samosas are often eaten as an appetizer. You can easily find them in school canteens and sweet shops. Many families also make samosas at home. Samosas can be made for people who eat only vegetables (vegetarian) or for those who eat meat (non-vegetarian).

Where Did Samosas Come From?

Samosas are thought to have started in Central Asia and Western Asia. The word "samosa" comes from a Persian word, sanbosag.

Different Names for Samosa

Samosas are known by many names around the world. Here are some of them:

Images for kids

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  Samosa in a frying pan in North India.

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  A Persian manuscript shows how samosas were cooked.

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  An old Persian manuscript from the 16th century shows samosas being served.

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  Bangladeshi samosas, a popular snack.

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  Burmese-style samusa are flat and triangular. They are usually smaller than Indian ones.

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  Indonesian-style samosa is known as kue kering.

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  Somali Sambuus being deep-fried.

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  Sambousek.

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  Sambuseh at a market in Ahvaz, Iran.

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  Israeli sambusak filled with cheese and pesto.

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  Samosas before being fried, at a sweet shop in Kolkata.

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  Samosas in India.

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  Samosa with sauce available at Indian coffee houses in Kerala.

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  Vegetable samosa.

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  Vegetable samosa.

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  Goan chamuças.

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  Portuguese chamuças in a café in Ponta Delgada.

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  Angolan chamuças.

See also

In Spanish: Samosa para niños