Yes, a form of samosa can be allowed during certain fasts, provided it is prepared using ingredients suitable for fasting. The key lies in substituting traditional ingredients like refined flour (maida) with permitted alternatives.
Samosa During Fasting: The Key is Ingredients
When observing religious fasts, such as the Navratri fast mentioned in the reference, specific food items and ingredients are typically restricted. Common restrictions often include grains like wheat and rice, legumes, and certain spices and salts. A standard samosa, traditionally made with refined flour and ingredients that may not be allowed, would generally not be permitted during such fasts.
Why Fasting Samosa is Different
The allowance of samosa during fasts like Navratri comes from adapting the recipe using fasting-friendly ingredients. As highlighted by the reference, "Multiple Navratri recipes can be prepared from singhara atta like Samosa, Aaloo Tikki, Paneer Tikki, Halwa, Aaloo Ka Parantha, Namkeen Barfi or cutlets." This demonstrates that by using flours like singhara atta (water chestnut flour), which are permissible during Navratri, popular dishes like samosas can be made suitable for consumption during the fasting period.
Fasting-Friendly Ingredients for Samosa
Instead of wheat or refined flour, a fasting-friendly samosa uses flours made from allowed ingredients. The filling also uses permitted vegetables and spices.
Here are some common ingredients used in fasting samosas:
- Flour: Singhara atta (Water Chestnut Flour), Kuttu atta (Buckwheat Flour), or Sabudana (Tapioca Pearls) flour.
- Filling: Potatoes, paneer (Indian cottage cheese), rock salt (sendha namak), specific spices like green chilies, ginger, cumin, and coriander.
- Binding Agent: Boiled potatoes or mashed paneer for the filling.
Compare the typical ingredients with fasting ingredients:
| Ingredient Type | Typical Samosa | Fasting Samosa |
|---|---|---|
| Flour | Refined Wheat Flour (Maida) | Singhara Atta, Kuttu Atta, Sabudana |
| Salt | Common Table Salt | Rock Salt (Sendha Namak) |
| Spices | Wider variety (onion, garlic) | Limited (ginger, green chili, cumin) |
| Filling Base | Potatoes, Peas, sometimes Onion | Potatoes, Paneer |
Examples of Fasting Recipes
The reference lists several dishes that can be prepared for Navratri fast using singhara atta, reinforcing the concept of adapting recipes:
- Samosa
- Aaloo Tikki
- Paneer Tikki
- Halwa
- Aaloo Ka Parantha
- Namkeen Barfi
- Cutlets
These examples show that many traditional snacks and meals can be made fasting-compliant by choosing the right ingredients.
In conclusion, while a regular samosa is typically not allowed during fasts due to its ingredients, a specially prepared "fasting samosa" using permissible flours and fillings is allowed in fasts like Navratri.
