A samosa is a humble street snack packed with spicy goodness. It’s a well-travelled immigrant from Central Asia. The mixture of veggies or meat and subtle spices in a pastry triangle make it a satisfying dish.

Pakoras are simple cuisine packed with complex flavours. They are made by coating veggies in a spiced batter and then deep-frying them. Common ingredients include potato, spinach, onion, chilli pepper, paneer, cauliflower, or eggplant. Few pakora versions include a bit of chicken. Indian food has gained prominence in Canada after the 1960 era of immigration. The larger cities boast a wealth of Indian food such as curries, samosas, pakoras, naan bread, rice, etc.

Origin of Samosas and Pakoras

The origin of samosa lies thousands of miles away in the ancient empires that come up on the Iranian plateau at the dawn of civilization. Early medieval Persian texts have mentioned sanbosag (an early relative of samosa). Other historical accounts refer to sanbusag, sanbusak, and sanbusag. In Southeast Asia, samosa was introduced by Middle Eastern Chefs at the time of the Delhi Sultanate.

They are consumed by travelling merchants who could pack them easily in saddlebags and consume them on the move. In earlier days, individuals used to cook the samosas over the campfire and consume them as snacks during travel. Soon, this snack became a food fit for the king.

On the contrary, pakoras originated from the Indian subcontinent. However, it is now famous across South Asia – Nepal, Pakistan, India and Bengal and other parts of the world. Over the years, pakoras have undergone many changes but never failed to lose their brilliance.
The pakora word is derived from the Sanskrit word “pakvavata.” “Pakva” means cooked, whereas “vata” means cooked in lumps. Fritters and bhajis are synonyms of this fried snack.

Why Do Canadians Love these Family-friendly Dishes?

Canadians living in Vancouver and around the Commercial Drive consider Indian food good enough. They usually love pakoras and samosas. However, the biggest secret behind the popularity of these exotic food items is the diverse variety of fillings that caters to different tastes. These fillings can range from onions, meat, minced lamb, spinach, etc.

Samosas are easily available in all sizes, flavours and sizes at any Indian restaurant in Vancouver. Even most grocery chains in the Greater Toronto area carry them and stow them away in the freezer. Vegetable samosas have crispy pockets loaded with a mixture of potatoes, green peas, herbs, and spices.

Delightful pakoras in Canada make a satisfying meal. They are fried to crisp golden-brown and are full of fibre and proteins. The soulful mixture of pakora and chilli chutney has been an integral part of the everyday lives of the majority of people in Canada. Varieties of pakoras that you can savour in this part of the world include vegetable pakoras, paneer pakoras, chicken pakoras, etc.

Wrapping Up:

Samosa is one food that has travelled far and wide and left its footprint along the way. From Centra Asia to Libya to India, this stuffed triangle has got huge popularity. In Canada, samosa oozes with potato, meat or chicken. Pakoras are yummy fritters made with chickpea or gram flour.

They can be spiced with any number of spices. You can easily savour delightful veggie pakoras from any Indian Restaurant in Canada. Both these cuisines have glorious varieties. These delights also tick all the boxes of being yummy, affordable and quick to eat. So, if you ever visit Canada, do not forget to have a crispy bite of samosas and pakoras.