India | Kenya | South Africa | Appetizers | Potatoes | Deep Frying

Samosas

(Indian deep-fried potato pastries)

Yield: 15-20 samosas


INGREDIENTS PREP AMOUNT
Flour 1 1/2 cups
Salt 1 tsp
Shortening or lard 4 Tbsp
Water ice cold 6-7 Tbsp
 
Oil 1/4 cup
Onion minced 1/2 each
Ginger minced 1 Tbsp
Coriander ground 1 Tbsp
Potatoes, russet peeled, cooked till just tender 5 each
Peas 1 cup
 
Oil for deep frying

METHOD

Basic Steps:  Mix → Knead → Rest → Mix → Stuff → Fry

Wrapper Dough

  1. Mix flour and salt. Rub in shortening with your hands as for making pie dough.
  2. Pour over 5-6 tablespoons of the cold water. Mix it in until it forms a kneadable mass. Drip in rest of cold water if needed.
  3. Knead for about 10 minutes until silky smooth. Let rest covered about 1/2 hour.

Filling

  1. Heat oil. Add onions, ginger and coriander. Sauté just until onions start browning.
  2. Lightly mash potatoes. Stir potatoes and peas into onions. Toss to heat through.
  3. Stir in rest of ingredients and season to taste. Remove from heat.

Forming & Frying

  1. Divide dough into 16 pieces. Roll into 6" circles. Cut circles in 1/2.
  2. Form a cone with each piece. Moisten the edges and seal well with your fingers.
  3. Put about 2 Tbsp filling in each cone. Fold over the top and seal again well. Let dry uncovered about 1/2 hour.
  4. Heat the oil to 350°. Deep fry samosas in small batches until browned on the outside and heated through.
  5. Serve with imli chatni or lemon wedges.

VARIATIONS

  • Other versions of samosas contain vegetables or meat. You can cut down on the amount of potatoes and add ground, cooked and spiced lamb or beef. Diced, cooked carrots or sautéed cabbage are also nice. Use your imagination and whatever you have in the fridge.

NOTES

  • Samosas are the perfect chaat, or Indian snack food. They come with a variety of stuffings, both vegetarian and with meat. But a simple spiced potato and pea filling is the most popular.
  • Indian immigrants have also made samosas popular in eastern Africa and in South Africa.