A samosa is a savory pastry usually fried or baked in a triangular shape.
The pastry is filled with ingredients such as spiced potatoes, peas, onions, lentils, or meat. It is folded into a triangular parcel and cooked until the exterior becomes crisp. Chutney, yogurt, or other sauces are often served alongside it.
Although samosas are strongly associated with South Asian cuisine, their early history connects them with filled pastries from the Middle East and Central Asia. The dish spread widely through trade, migration, and the medieval Islamic world before becoming established in the Indian subcontinent.
Samosas vary by region. Some use thin pastry sheets, while others use a wheat-flour dough. Fillings may be vegetarian or contain meat, so the name identifies a broad snack family rather than one single recipe. Their triangular form is common but not universal.