To me, samosas are the best appetizers ever! What could be better than handheld pockets of mind-blowing flavor? Am I right? But these little beauties taste so good; I don’t always wait for a party to whip up a batch. They also make a great afternoon snack for the boys and me. When it comes down to it, it’s the spice combination that really gets me – curry, thyme, chili sauce, garlic, ginger, parsley, and white pepper. The abundance of spices wrapped up in a crispy crust is everything a foodie could ever want in this life! 😋 Samosas are commonly associated with Asian, Mediterranean, and African cuisine and are heavily spiced with turmeric, cayenne, and curry powder. Empanadas are a popular snack among Latino communities and can be sweet, like pineapple empanadas, or savory, often filled with picadillo.
Recipe Ingredients
How to Make Samosas
Make the Filling
Saute – In a medium-large skillet, add the oil, onions, garlic, ginger, and sauté for 2-3 minutes. Stir constantly to prevent burning. (Photo 1) Season – Add the curry, pepper sauce, paprika, white pepper, and cayenne, and continue stirring with a heavy wooden spoon for about 2 minutes. (Photo 2) Add Meat – Add ground meat and mix thoroughly. (Photo 3) 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. (Photo 4)
Make the Dough
Combine – 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. (Photo 5) Knead – 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. (Photos 6-8) Divide – On a lightly floured surface, divide the dough into eight balls. (Photo 9) Roll a dough ball with a lightly floured rolling pin into a circle; cut it in half. (Photo 10)
Assemble the Samosas
Spoon 1-2 generous tablespoons of filling in the center of a half-circle. (Photo 11) Seal – Next, 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. (Photos 12-13)
Cook the Samosas (Frying Instructions)
Heat Oil – 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℃). Fry – 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. Drain – 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. Serve – Allow to cool slightly and serve hot or at room temperature with avocado ranch dressing and pepper sauce.
Cook the Samosas (Baking Instructions)
Prep – Place the samosas on a baking sheet and brush them with canola oil. Bake at 375℉ (190℃) for about 20 minutes until golden brown, turning once. (Photo 14) Serve hot or at room temperature.
Recipe Variations
Tips and Tricks
Make-Ahead Instructions
Samosas taste best fresh from the frying pan, but you can make the filling one day ahead. Simply store it in an airtight container in the fridge until ready to assemble and cook the samosas.
Serving and Storage Instructions
Serve them warm or at room temperature with refreshing drinks and fun dipping sauces. Store leftover chicken samosas in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days. To reheat them, pop them in an air fryer or convection oven for a few minutes, and they’ll crisp back up nicely. Or put them in a 350℉ (180℃) oven for about 10 minutes or until warmed through and crisped.
What Goes With Samosas
Dipping sauces go great with samosas. Peruvian green sauce or African pepper sauce is amazingly tasty. Even ranch dressing tastes excellent with these babies. For a whole appetizer bar, serve them alongside smoked brisket sliders to balance the flavors and textures. 👌
More Fantastic Fried Pastries to Try
Watch How to Make It
[adthrive-in-post-video-player video-id=”01NFZ5Og” upload-date=”2019-05-07T06:56:10.000Z” name=”Samosa Recipe” description=”Samosa Recipe – Baked or fried super crispy Chicken Samosas full of well-seasoned chicken, peas and spiced up with just enough spices and heat. Great make ahead appetizer for parties .”] This blog post was originally published in October 2018 and has been updated with additional tips, new photos, and a video.
