Mini samboosas take a bigger bite of Bahrain’s market
Cheese and potato (aloo) are winning Bahrain’s samboosa battle, with the two old favourites outselling meat, chicken and a growing crop of newer fillings at one Arad shop as World Samosa
Day was marked yesterday.
At Busaiteen Samboosa, customer orders leave little doubt about the front-runners. Cheese and aloo, the spiced potato filling, sell best, the owner said, ahead of meat, chicken, vegetables,
spinach, corn and cheese-and-corn.
But another change is happening outside the pastry.
The samboosa itself is shrinking.
Mini versions have become one of the shop’s biggest draws, especially for family visits, parties and large meals.
Their small size means hosts can order plenty, put several fillings on the table and give guests room to try different kinds.
The shop has made the mini samosa, locally known as Samboosa, part of its calling card, rather than sticking only to the standard size found across Bahrain.
Another seller said samboosa now ranges from very small bites to the usual full-size piece. Some
shops sell three for about 100 fils, making them an easy buy for families ordering by the tray.
Tastes have widened too.
Cheese and potato still rule the counter, but the old line-up of meat, chicken and vegetables now sits beside spinach, corn and mixed fillings.
Weekends bring another lift in trade. Busaiteen Samboosa’s owner said Friday and Saturday are among the busiest days, when family visits fill homes and trays of food move from one house to another.
Nothing, though, comes close to Ramadan.
The samboosa has long been a fixture of the iftar table, and demand climbs sharply during the holy month as families buy it in far greater numbers.
World Samosa Day falls on September 5, but in Bahrain the snack hardly needs a date in the diary. Cheese and potato still lead the pack; the mini is winning fans of its own, and the once-simple triangle now comes with a filling for almost every taste.
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