It was in the Middle East, before the turn of the 10th century, that an ingenious chef put together super-crispy pastry with a spicy savory filling and voila! The samosa was born. We don’t know who he/she was or where he/she did it, but we do know that we’ll be forever indebted.
Samosas are one of the tastiest, most tempting and most satisfying snacks to have crossed from East to West. But there’s certainly an art to cooking them right – too much ghee, they quickly become soggy; not enough, they’re dry to the point of inedibility. If you’re heading to Chennai, though, the good news is that Indian chefs have had hundreds and hundreds of years to work out the secret to samosa perfection. Here’s where to find the best of the bunch.
The Samosa Factory
This teeny-tiny kiosk is evidence that size doesn’t matter – well, not when it comes to samosa-making, anyway. Opened a few years ago in Anna Nagar, it’s found on the first floor of the Shanti Colony (AB 120). Four types of samosas are on the menu – potato, Jain, Indian and Chinese. If you’re unfamiliar with the term ‘Jain’, it refers to a samosa that doesn’t contain any root vegetables. The Chinese variation is something of a novelty, offering a stir-fried version of the snack, containing cabbage, beans, carrots and potatoes cooked in soy and chilli. You can buy these mini-parcels of pastry-wrapped goodness by the dozen and you’re pretty much guaranteed of both taste and hygienic cooking methods.
Novelty Tea House
The Novelty Tea House is a legendary ‘rags-to-riches’ success. Having begun existence as a tea stall on 16 May, 1958, it’s now one of Chennai’s most popular and well-reputed eateries, with venues in two locations. These are Sowcarpet (355 Mint Street, Park Town) and Puruswalkam (88/A Dr. Algappa Road, 4th floor, Sriji Residency Building). Both receive consistently excellent reviews. In addition to the samosas, nearly 250 items make up the menu. The focus is on fresh, tasty ingredients and traditional cooking techniques. Flavor is derived from just the right balance of spices, rather than excessive fats and sugars.
Hot Samosa
The team at Hot Samosa is seriously committed to the art of samosa creation. Not only do they serve customers arriving at their shop, they also provide a samosa catering service. So, if you’re contemplating hosting a wedding or party in Chennai and you need a way to feed the masses, Hot Samosa is the place to call. They have an incredible knack at maintaining incredibly high standards, even across bulk orders. To visit, head to Mylapore. You’ll find it at 12/18 Nadu Street, Venkatachalam Lane.
Rajpal’s Street Snacks
Chennai is brimming over with street stalls. Whether you’re travelling in luxury, staying at the Radisson Blu Chennai City Centre Hotel, or taking a more low-budget approach, you should definitely eat in the street at least once. That said, the sheer number of stalls means that it’s not necessarily easy to figure out where to go! One that’s definitely worth a visit is Rajpal’s Street Snacks, found next door to the Adayar Bakery, on Sardar Patel Road, Adayar. It’s been there since 1977 (current owner Rajpal took over the business from his father) and has inspired a committed local following. The samosas are created and cooked to the standard you’d expect in a far fancier, bricks and mortar establishment – crispy and crunchy on the outside and moist on the inside, with just the right dash of spice. Plus, you get to enjoy the quintessential Indian experience of munching away while watching the colorful, hectic rhythms of daily life pass by.
I could nibble a few of these snacks right now while writing. Your lovely post gave me a peek into another culture by way of food and I like the photos. Hope to read more.