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Zanzibar (Tanzania)
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Meat
Food Flavour DNA
Nutritional Values
300kcal
8gProtein
40gCarbs
15gFat
4gFibre
150 gServing
* Per serving · 150 g. May vary.
Allergens
🌾 Gluten
Samosa
How to order / say it
Say it
Sambusa — [sam-boo-sa]
Order
I'd like a samosa, please.
Locally
Tafadhali, ningependa sambusa moja.
Say locally
A fried or baked pastry filled with spiced potatoes, peas, and meat.
Why try it?
Samosas in Zanzibar showcase the island’s Indian influence and adaptation of spice-rich fillings, illustrating cultural exchange through food.
How it tastes
Crispy and flaky on the outside, with a warm, spiced filling that balances earthiness from potatoes with aromatic spices.
Origin & History — first documented: 1850
Samosas arrived on the Swahili Coast through Indian traders in the 19th century. Over time, it evolved into a street staple, altering fillings with local spices.
Recipe
Ingredients
- 🌾 200 g all-purpose flour
- 🥕 200 g potatoes
- 🥩 150 g minced beef
- 🥕 50 g peas
- 🧄 50 g onion
- 🧂 5 g cumin seeds
- 🌿 5 g coriander
- 🧂 5 g chili powder
- 🫒 50 ml oil
Method
- 1 Prepare dough by mixing flour with water until smooth, rest for 30 minutes.
- 2 Boil, peel, and mash potatoes; mix with beef, peas, onion, and spices.
- 3 Roll dough into circles, cut in half, fill with mixture, and seal edges.
- 4 Fry in hot oil until golden and crispy.
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