Is samosa really a pie? Samosa finds its way into British Pie Awards first time in 18 years

When it comes to the most loved deep-fried street foods of India, the Samosa is certainly the people's choice. And do you know what is even more exciting? Well, the fact that in the 18-year history, for the first time the 2026 British Pie Awards has allowed samosas to be an entry, which was driven by Keran Turakhia, better known locally as the @samosawallah1 in the UK. Scroll down to read the details.

According to reports, Samosa Wallah has finally secured entry into the British Pie Awards by creating a baked version of his much-loved samosa. The rules require pies to be baked, so this is a smart workaround that keeps the same fillings but uses pastry designed for the oven (or air fryer). And this has raised concerns over whether a samosa is a pie or not?

A pie is defined as a baked dish consisting of a pastry crust that holds a filling, which is either sweet or savoury. The crust is made with flour, fat, and water, forming either a base crust, a top crust, or both. Traditionally, sweet pies often contain fruits, custards, or nuts, while savoury pies may include meat, vegetables, or cheese.

According to historians, the concept of pie dates back thousands of years. Early forms were developed by the ancient Egyptians around 2000 BCE, who used simple crusts made of grain and water to hold fillings like honey. These early pies resembled flat pastries filled with sweet ingredients.

A samosa refers to a deep-fried Indian snack made with refined flour, fat, salt, and oil, and is filled with a spicy stuffing of boiled and mashed potatoes. It may also have noodles, peas, cauliflower, meat and even chocolate.

The origin of samosa can be traced to the 10th century in the Middle East region. The first official mention of samosa was found in Iranian historian Abolfazl Beyhaqi’s work, *Tarikh-e Beyhaghi*, where it was referred to as ‘Sambosa’. They were very small in size and that’s the reason they were used as a snack by travellers who could easily pack them in saddle bags and eat on the go.

While the debate continues and people have different opinions, they both belong to a broader family of filled pastries, where dough is used to wrap or hold a filling before cooking. Do you think our beloved samosa can be called a pie? Share your thoughts in the comments section.

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