No aloo in samosa? This 500-year-old recipe from Akbar’s era is going viral

Samosa is something most people don’t think twice about. It is everywhere. From roadside stalls to evening snacks at home, it feels familiar and constant. But right now, a viral post is making people look at this simple snack in a completely different way.The discussion is not about taste or where to find the best one. It is about what a samosa originally was. And more importantly, what it did not have.The conversation started on the social media platform X, where a post shared details of an old samosa recipe. This recipe is said to be around 500 years old and comes from a Persian manuscript.As per the post, this manuscript moved across different rulers over time. It is believed to have passed through figures like Akbar and Tipu Sultan before reaching the British East India Company. Today, it is kept in what is known as the British Museum.The recipe is said to be part of a text called Ni’matnama, or the “Book of Delights.” It was written between 1501 and 1510 for the Sultan of Mandu in central India.At that time, the samosa was not a street snack. It was a dish made in royal kitchens. The ingredients used clearly show that it was meant to be rich and detailed.Instead of the potato filling that is common today, the recipe used roasted aubergine pulp, dried ginger, and lamb cooked with onion and garlic. The samosa was then fried in ghee. One of the most surprising details is the absence of potatoes and chillies.These ingredients were not part of Indian cooking at the time this recipe was written. They came later. So the samosa from that period had a very different taste compared to what people are used to now.Over time, the samosa moved beyond royal spaces and became more common among people. As it spread, the recipe started changing.Ingredients became simpler. The dish became easier to prepare. Slowly, it turned into the version that is now seen as a go-to street food across the country.The viral post has also led to a wider discussion online. Many people are talking about how food connects with history.One user wrote, “This shows how food is also a part of history and culture.”Another comment said, “Everyone links the samosa to India today. It’s an immigrant.”At the same time, some users disagreed with this idea. One comment read, “The samosa is an Indian invention. The Arabs brought it back from India after their invasion in the 7th century.”Disclaimer: This article is based on information shared on social media and other publicly available sources. The claims mentioned are part of ongoing discussions and have not been independently verified.Thumb image: X/@Dr_TheHistories