Fresh, hot samosas are a staple at any South Asian restaurant these days and the perfect appetizer to serve. Usually made with either a vegetarian filling of small diced potatoes and/or peas, or ground meat, samosas are traditionally served with a mint or tamarind chutney to add an extra burst of flavour with each bite. These golden triangles are pockets of deliciousness that may seem intimidating to make, but with the right tools, they’re sure to be your go-to appetizer to serve at any party!
Here is what you need:
Ingredients:
Samosa Dough:
2 cups all purpose flour
1 tablespoon toasted cumin seeds (optional)
2 tablespoons oil, can be substituted with ghee or clarified butter
¾ cup water
¼ tsp salt
Filling:
2 potatoes, medium to large size, preferably Yukon Gold
2 tablespoon vegetable oil, divided: 1 tbsp for spices, 1 tbsp for air frying
1 teaspoon turmeric powder
1 tablespoon garam masala
1 teaspoon Asafoetida
1 teaspoon red chili powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup frozen peas
1 teaspoon chopped cilantro, optional
Preparation:
Samosa Dough:
Add flour, salt, cumin seeds and 1 tablespoon of oil to a mixing bowl and mix using a fork.
Slowly add water and knead slowly into a ball. Add ¼ cup at a time, until the dough falls into a smooth ball.
Tip: You can add baking soda if you’d like to make it crispier! Dab the rolled dough with a little bit of oil, and set aside for at least 15-20 minutes so the dough can rest.
Filling:
Start by boiling your potatoes! Bring a pot of water to a rolling boil on a high heat. In the meantime, quarter the potatoes. Once the water has boiled, turn down to medium heat, add potatoes and cover with a lid. Cook for 20-25 minutes until the fork inserted goes in smoothly and comes out clean.
Once the potatoes have boiled, drain the water, remove the peels and then mash the potatoes with a spatula or masher.
In a medium skillet, add 1 tablespoon of cooking oil and turn the stove to medium heat.
Add the mashed potatoes, and all of your seasoning and spices. Stir the spices to evenly coat the potatoes and cook for 2-3 minutes, tasting and adjusting along the way for your preference.
Add peas and stir them into the mix for about 30-45 seconds. Turn off the heat, and add a few sprigs of cilantro (if you choose to include them). Transfer to a bowl and set aside.
Folding The Samosa
Take the kneaded dough and roll it out into a long cylinder, roughly as long as your two hands side-to-side ( approximately 7-8 inches long)
Using a knife or sharp edge, portion this cylinder into 8-9 smaller pieces. Take one of the pieces and roll into a smooth ball (while you set the others aside)
Now, dust this ball with a bit of flour, and then using a rolling pin, roll it into a circular shape, roughly 6-7 inches in diameter (for reference, the rolled out dough should be slightly larger than the size of your hand)
Slice this dough diagonally so you get two semi-circular pieces – they don’t have to be perfect! Pick up one of these pieces and lay it on your left hand so the straight edge lines up against the left side of your hand.
Wet the straight edge with some water and form a cone so that the top is wider and also open for you to stuff the filling. Add 2 heaping teaspoons of filling per samosa and push it in so it evenly fills out (but only till about ¾ of the cone).
Add a bit of water to the edge of the cone and seal it shut (either by pressing together or folding one edge over the other)
Coat with enough oil to cover all the sides and place aside. Repeat for the rest of the samosas.
Air-Frying Your Samosas
Preheat your air fryer to 425 F. One thing to watch out for is to not overcrowd the samosas since that will prevent the dough from cooking properly.
Place the samosas carefully in the air fryer and cook for 10 to 12 minutes, and then flip the sides and cook for another 5 to 7 minutes. When it’s done, the samosas should be crisp on the outside and a nice golden brown color on both sides.
With some time and careful repetition, you’ve just created delicious and filling samosas, perfect to spice up any party or gathering – or just great on the go, samosas make excellent picnic or road trip food! If you make this recipe and want to share with us, tag us on Instagram @stokesstores and use the hashtag #StokesMoments.