Samsa (food)
 Uyghur-style samsas | |
| Alternative names | Somsa |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Central Asia |
| Associated national cuisine | |
Samsa (Kazakh: самса, Kyrgyz: самса, Uyghur: سامسا , Uzbek: somsa) is a savoury meat pastry in Central Asian cuisines.[1]
In Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Xinjiang, samsas are almost always baked and never fried. The traditional samsa is often baked in the tandoor, which is a special clay oven. The dough can be a simple bread dough, or a layered pastry dough. The most common filling for traditional samsa is a mixture of minced lamb and onions, but chicken, minced beef, and cheese varieties are also quite common from street vendors. Samsas with other fillings, such as potato or pumpkin (usually only when in season), can also be found. Central Asian samsa resemble buns stuffed with beef or lamb and vegetables.[2]
In Central Asia, samsas are often sold on the streets as a hot snack. They are sold at kiosks, where only samsas are made, or alternatively, at kiosks where other fast foods (such as hamburgers) are sold. Many grocery stores also buy samsas from suppliers and resell them.
See also
References
- ↑ Albala, Ken, ed. (2011). Food Cultures of the World Encyclopedia. 1. Santa Barbara, CA: Greenwood. p. 51. ISBN 978-0-313-37626-9. Retrieved 17 January 2018.
- ↑ "Samsa: Baked Meat Buns". silkroadchef.com.
