Go Back
+ servings
Samosas with dipping sauce for a decadent appetizer
Print

Samosa Recipe

Baked or fried, these crispy chicken samosas are an absolute delight to munch on. The chicken and peas inside the samosas are tasty, but the fact that they're sauteed in curry and cayenne-coated aromatics makes them out-of-this-world delicious.
Makes 16 samosas
Course Appetizers, Snacks
Cuisine African, Indian
Prep Time 40 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings 8
Calories 209kcal
Author Imma

Ingredients

Dough

  • 3 cups (360g) all-purpose flour, plus more as needed
  • 1 tablespoon (12g) granulated sugar
  • teaspoon (9g) salt
  • ½ cup (100g) ghee, clarified butter, or oil
  • 1 cup (236ml) warm water

Filling

  • 1-2 tablespoons (15-30ml) oil
  • ½ medium onion, chopped
  • 2 teaspoons (6g) minced garlic
  • 1 teaspoon (3g) grated ginger
  • ½-1 teaspoon pepper sauce or chili sauce
  • 1 teaspoon (3g) curry powder
  • ½ teaspoon (1-2g) cayenne pepper
  • ½ teaspoon (2g) smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon (2g) white pepper
  • ½ pound (230g) ground meat (chicken, beef or turkey)
  • 2-3 tablespoons chopped parsley or cilantro
  • cup (50g) peas, thawed if frozen
  • salt to taste

Instructions

Filling

  • In a medium-large skillet, add oil, onions, garlic, and ginger, and sauté for 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly to prevent burning.
  • Add curry, pepper sauce, paprika, white pepper, and cayenne pepper, and continue stirring with a heavy wooden spoon for about 2 minutes.
  • Add ground meat and mix until ingredients are thoroughly combined. Simmer for 5 minutes or more. Finally, throw in peas, parsley, and salt to taste. Adjust seasonings to taste. Remove from the heat and let it cool. You can prepare this a day in advance.

Dough

  • In a large bowl, mix flour, sugar, and salt.
  • Make a well in the center and add water and ghee or oil. Knead to form a soft and sticky dough.
  • Place the dough on a heavily floured board and knead for 3-4 minutes. Continue to flour dough as needed to facilitate kneading, being careful not to overdo it. The dough should be soft, elastic, and smooth.
  • On a lightly floured surface, divide the dough into eight balls.
  • Roll a dough ball with a lightly floured rolling pin into a circle; cut it in half. Spoon 1-2 generous tablespoons of filling in the center of a half-circle; lightly moisten the dough edges with water or flour paste with your finger.
  • Fold the end over the filling to form a triangle, and then continue to fold up the strip in triangles, like you would a flag. Repeat with the remaining dough. Set the samosas on a tray.
  • In a large saucepan, pour vegetable oil until it is at least 3 inches deep, and heat on medium until the oil is at least 350℉ (180℃).
  • When the oil is hot enough, gently place a few samosas at a time into the saucepan.
  • Fry for a few minutes until the bottom side is light brown. Turn over and fry for a few more minutes until the other side is golden brown.
  • Use a large slotted spoon or spider to take them out of the oil and place them on a paper-towel-lined plate. Repeat with the remaining samosas.
  • Allow them to cool slightly. Serve hot or at room temperature with avocado ranch dressing or pepper sauce.
  • Baking Instructions:
    Place the samosas on a baking sheet and brush with oil. Then bake at 375℉ (190℃) for 20 minutes or more until golden brown. Turn them over halfway through baking time. Enjoy!

Notes

  • If pressed for time, pick up a package of filo or phyllo dough at the store instead of making the dough yourself.
  • Don't overcrowd the pan when you fry the samosas. That can make the oil temperature drop quickly. The samosas will take longer to cook, may cook unevenly, and will likely taste greasy.
  • When frying, use a heavy-bottomed pot pan with reasonably high edges. The heavy bottom (like you have with a cast iron pan) will keep the oil temperature steady. The high edges will protect you from oil splatters while you deep fry.
  • Please remember that the nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary significantly based on the products used in the recipe.

Nutrition

Serving: 2samosas | Calories: 209kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 38mg | Sodium: 240mg | Potassium: 194mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 95IU | Vitamin C: 2.6mg | Calcium: 9mg | Iron: 1.5mg