African Friends

In many parts of East Africa, especially in Kenya and Tanzania, one finds a version of the samosa which is very close to the Indian original.

In South Africa a samoosa is a small, spicy, triangular-shaped pie that has been deep-fried in oil. Made by the Indian and Malay communities, samoosas are popular with South Africans in general.

The favorite snack in Mauritius is the samoosa -- a light sheet pastry filled with vegetables and deep fried.

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The West African pastels (Pastels aux Poisson, Beignets de Poisson, or Fish pies) are fish turnovers, i.e., crusts of pastry with fish stuffing. Pastels are usually fried, but can also be baked. They are usually served with a spicy tomato sauce.