Photo Credit:&nbsp;Freepik&nbsp;
On today&rsquo;s episode of Ramadan Rewind with Basma on Nile FM&mdash;airing Sunday to Thursday from 4:30 PM to 4:45 PM&mdash;we&rsquo;re diving into one of Ramadan&rsquo;s most delicious debates: Sambusa or Sambusak?
Where Did It All Begin? The story of Sambusa dates back centuries and is more international than you might think. Linguists trace the name to the Persian word &ldquo;Sanbusa&rdquo;, meaning triangle&mdash;which, let&rsquo;s be honest, makes perfect sense.
As the dish traveled through the Arab world, pronunciation evolved. Arabic speakers often swap &ldquo;N&rdquo; with &ldquo;M,&rdquo; turning Sanbusa into Sambusa or Sambusak. Some regions even adapted the Persian &ldquo;G&rdquo; into a &ldquo;K&rdquo; or &ldquo;J&rdquo;, which is why we hear Sambusak, Sambusa, and even Sambusaj.
Who Made It First? While Sambusa is a Ramadan essential across the Middle East and North Africa, it didn&rsquo;t originate there. Some say it comes from the Ottoman Empire, others point to Yemen, but the strongest theory comes from India.
In Indian cuisine, fried snacks have been a tradition for centuries, and historical records suggest that Sambusa-style pastries were once served to royalty. From India, they made their way to Yemen, then across the Middle East, evolving into the crispy delights we know today.
The Ultimate Glow-Up But let&rsquo;s be real&mdash;it&rsquo;s not just about the name, it&rsquo;s about the filling. While minced meat and cheese are classics, Sambusa has had a serious upgrade over the years.
Now, you&rsquo;ll find versions filled with spicy chicken, creamy spinach, or even Nutella. Yes, chocolate Sambusa, dipped in melted chocolate and sprinkled with nuts, is officially a thing.
Calorie Count&mdash;Do We Even Want to Know? As delicious as they are, Sambusa comes with a price&mdash;calories.
A fried cheese Sambusa? Around 100 calories&mdash;that&rsquo;s about 10 minutes of cardioto burn it off. A meat-filled one? Closer to 130 calories&mdash;so, 13 minutes of working out. The Final Verdict So, where do you stand? Team Sambusa or Team Sambusak? Or are you like most of us&mdash;as long as it&rsquo;s crispy and delicious, who cares?
Tune in tomorrow for a new episode of Ramadan Rewind with Basma&mdash;only on Egypt&rsquo;s #1 station, Nile FM!
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