Apparently, Samosas came by Sea…
A lot of things here in Kenya came by Sea. Some of that stuff, we’d rather forget, but then the food that evolved from these interactions with traders from far off lands, were a palate’s plus. Samosas being one of the very prominent ones, widely accepted and now considered a local staple especially in the coastal areas and within the Islamic community…aka me.
History says that this genius pocket of meaty deliciousness originated in Persia, and was a favourite of travelers and kings alike…there you go…proof of its popularity right across the board. Nobody’s too cool for a samosa.
Those Samosa-loving travelling traders passed through India, where a veggie spin was put on it and Voila!…the potato and pea samosa was born, incorporating a lot of spices which still remain the norm today.
And as these travelers meandered their way around the world, they checked in to Mombasa Raha….Lamu Tamu and Zanzibari kwa Kujivinjari. And this is when the Swahili peoples added cloves, cinnamon, black pepper and LOVE to this o so delectable mini morsel of food.
Soooooo, the next time you bite into that golden, crispy, fragrant and perfectly spiced triangle of food – you are tasting a little piece of history, brought over by the ocean waves, shaken to perfection by culture and still stands the test of time. Sambusa Hoyyyyeeeee!!!!!!
Why dont you try one? No regrets…I promise.
