Here’s a delicious recipe for the crispiest, Golden Air Fryer Samosas.
You won’t believe these lightly-spiced, vegetable parcels aren’t deep fried! They’re vegan-friendly too.
Each samosa is contains a mixture of vegetables, including potatoes, peas, carrots, corn and onions.
There’s no need to deep fry then, just air fry to golden perfection.
Follow my tips to learn how to cook samosas in the air fryer quickly and easily.
This post will cover all of your burning (pun not intended!) air fryer samosas questions including:
- What are the best types of samosa to cook in an air fryer?
- How long does it take to air fry samosas?
- At what temperature should I air fry samosas?
- How to air fry samosas from frozen?
Can you air fry samosas?
Yes! You can cook samosas in an air fryer.
Air frying is a handy way to cook samosas without having to use large amounts of oil, thus preventing excess oil and waste.
If you have an air fryer at home, there are a few techniques you can try to ensure the samosas do not dry out whilst they cook in the air fryer.
However, oil can be reused after you use it for deep frying.
Just filter through a fine strainer and cloth once the oil is cold.
Pour into a storage container and use again in your daily cooking.
What are the best types of samosa to cook in an air fryer?
Punjabi Samosas
Samosas with high-fat pastry, such as Punjabi Samosas cook particularly well in air fryers, since the pastry already contains enough oil to create a crispy finish.
This being said, you can still successfully cook other types of samosa in an air fryer with great results.
Here’s a Punjabi Samosa recipe.
Filo pastry samosas or spring roll pastry samosas
You can cook filo (phyllo pastry) or spring roll pastry samosas in an air fryer.
Bear in mind that you will need to brush the outside of the samosas liberally with oil to prevent the samosas from drying out.
It’s best to use a pastry brush and a cooking oil like vegetable or sunflower oil to brush both sides of the samosas before you air fry them.
If you find the samosas dry out during the cooking process, brush them again to prevent scorching and burning on the pastry.
Patti samosas/homemade rolled dough sheets
This style of samosa pastry sits somewhere between the two aforementioned samosas.
You can make samosa patti (sheets) in a number of ways.
One way is to make a semi-stiff dough of wheat flour, water, salt and oil.
Knead it, rest, roll and par-cook until it’s slightly dry and pliable. It will look like an undercooked roti.
These make for great air fryer samosas, since the dough contains some oil already, and the surface is porous enough to absorb oil from brushing.
Here’s a recipe using homemade samosa patti.
Tortilla samosas
If you’d like to make tortilla-wrapped samosas in an air fryer, be sure to brush the outside with a generous amount of oil as they can be prone to burning.
What temperature should you air fry samosas?
Use a mix of temperatures throughout the cooking process to get the best golden colour on your samosa pastry.
I cook them at 180°C/355°F until they’re 80% done and then increase the temperature to 200°C/400°F to finish the cooking process and give them a perfect golden finish.
Note that is is for non-frozen samosas. Instructions how air fry frozen samosas are below.
My air fryer holds 6 samosas but if your basket is smaller, cook them in smaller batches.
Don’t overcrowd the frying basket.
How long do you air fry samosas?
This depends on how many samosas are in your basket and the size of the samosas.
My air fryer holds 6 medium-sized samosas but if your basket is smaller, cook them in smaller batches.
Don’t overcrowd the frying basket.
See the table below for a guide to times and temperatures you’ll need.
You may need to adjust the timings slightly depending on how many samosas you plan to cook at once and their size.
Time and temperature to cook samosas in an air fryer
Note: the information below applies to non-frozen samosas.
| Function | Temperature | Time |
| Air fry | 180°C/355°F | 4 minutes (turn at 2 minute mark) |
| Air fry | 200°C/400°F | 2 minutes (turn at 1 minute mark) |
| Grill (optional if your air fryer has this function) | N/A | 1 minute (per side) – 2 minutes total |
Can you air fry frozen samosas?
Cooking samosas from frozen depends on many samosas are in your basket and the size of the samosas.
My air fryer holds 6 medium-sized samosas but if your basket is smaller, cook them in smaller batches.
Don’t overcrowd the frying basket.
You may need to adjust the timings slightly depending on how many samosas you plan to cook at once and their size.
Note: the table below applies to frozen samosas.
How to air fry samosas from frozen
| Function | Temperature | Time |
| Air fry | 180°C/355°F | 6 minutes (turn at 3 minute mark) |
| Air fry | 200°C/400°F | 2 minutes (turn at 1 minute mark) |
| Grill (optional if your air fryer has this function) | N/A | 1 minute (per side) – 2 minutes total |
How to make Air Fried Samosas step-by-step tutorial
Make vegetable samosa filling
This simple, but delicious vegetable samosa filling is a real crowd pleaser.
Potatoes, peas, onions, corn and carrots are the perfect veggies to create a light stuffing.
I use a combination of garam masala and other ground spices to create a flavoursome but not overly spiced mixture so both grown ups and kids will love them.
1. Chop the vegetables for the filling
Be sure to chop any vegetables finely. This will ensure they cook quickly and evenly, as well as create a mixture that binds together.
I use potatoes, carrots and onions. We will add other veggies that require less cooking later.
2. Soften the onions with whole spices
Sizzle cumin seeds in hot oil before adding in aromatics like ginger, chilli and onions.
3. Add the fresh veg
Add potatoes, carrots, turmeric and salt. A splash of water will help the veggies cook through.
4. Cover and cook the samosa filling mixture
Top with a tight-fitting lid and cook the samosa filling over a low heat until everything is tender.
Stir every so often to ensure the mixture doesn’t burn.
Once the fresh vegetables are soft, add in anything that’s already pre-cooked, such as frozen peas and canned corn.
Add remaining ground spices like garam masala and my secret ingredient – mango chutney!
Gently mash the mixture with the back of the spoon to create a filling that binds together.
Make the samosa ‘glue’
Combine plain flour (all-purpose flour) and cold water to make a sticky paste. Use this to seal the samosa pastry.
Photo guide: How to fold samosas using spring roll pastry
Frozen, shop-bought spring roll pastry is an excellent time saver when it comes to making homemade samosas.
Buy them in most Asian supermarkets.
If you cannot find spring roll sheets, you can also use filo (phyllo) pastry sheets.
Follow the visual photo guide above or watch my video tutorial to learn how to fold samosas using spring roll pastry.
For this recipe, I use either TAJ samosa pads or Spring Home TYJ Spring Roll Pastry (defrosted at room temperature).
The latter will need to be cut into long rectangles.
How to air fry samosas | Golden Air Fryer Samosas step-by-step photos
- Brush samosas liberally with cooking oil (both sides).
- Arrange samosas in a single layer inside air fryer basket. Do not overcrowd the basket.
- Air fry at 180°C/355°F for 4 minutes, turning at the 2 minute mark. Brush with more oil if they look dry.
- Air fry again at 200°C/400°F for 2 minutes, turning at the 1 minute mark.
- Optional step: If your air fryer has a grill function (my Instant Pot Vortex does), grill for 1 minute per side.
What’s the best air fryer for Indian food?
Any air fryer will work for cooking Indian food like samosas, kachori and other snacks that are usually fried.
This being said, if you’d like to give your Indian dishes a beautifully golden finish, an air fryer with a ‘grill’ or ‘roast’ function comes in handy!
I use an Instant Pot Vortex 4-in-1 Air Fryer 5.7L 1700W air fryer.
Things I use when I make Golden Air Fryer Samosas
This post contains Amazon Affiliate links. These are all products I have purchased of my own accord and ones that I use myself. None of the products mentioned have been gifted to me. By using an affiliate link, I receive a small commission at no expense to you. This commission helps to support this blog. Thanks in advance if you choose to make a purchase through these links!
My secret ingredient is a spoonful of mango chutney it brings the flavours to life!
Remember to adjust the amount of chilli in this recipe according to your taste.
What are the best potatoes to use for these samosas?
Any floury variety of potatoes will work beautifully. Baking potatoes such as Maris Piper or King Edward if you’re in the UK.
Are these Golden Air Fryer Samosas vegetarian and vegan?
Yes, this veg samosa recipe is suitable for both vegetarians and vegans.
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Can I bake these Golden Air Fryer Samosas?
Yes! See the recipe notes for instructions for baking these samosas in a conventional oven.
Instructions for how to deep fry samosas
Heat any cooking oil of your choice in a large, deep pan, wok or kadai.
The temperature of the oil should be 180°C/355°F. If you don’t have a cooking thermometer, place the dry handle end of a wooden spoon in the oil.
It should not sizzle immediately, but begin to sizzle after around 10 seconds. Once this happens, your oil is ready for frying samosas.
Fry the samosas in small batches, taking care not to overcrowd the pan, since the oil temperature will drop as you add more samosas and the aim is to keep the temperature at the right level.
Cook the samosas, turning often for the most even colour.
They will take around 4-5 minutes to cook perfectly.
Remove the samosas from the oil with a frying spoon and place on absorbent kitchen towel or in a colander to allow any excess oil to drip away.
How to make the best air fryer samosas | Golden Air Fryer Samosas recipe + video
Golden Air Fryer Samosas
Here's a delicious recipe for the crispiest air fryer samosas. You won't believe these lightly-spiced, vegetable parcels aren't deep fried! They're vegan-friendly too.
Ingredients
- 30 rectangular samosa or spring roll sheets, defrosted at room temperature, I use Taj Samosa Pads or Spring Home TYJ Spring roll pastry
- 2 medium potatoes, peeled and diced (approx. 500g)
- 1 large onion, peeled and diced (approx. 250g)
- 1 small carrot, peeled and diced (approx. 75g)
- 75 g peas, I use frozen
- 50 g sweetcorn, I use tinned
- 1 tbsp oil
- 1/2 tsp cumin seeds
- 2 green chillies, finely chopped
- 2 tsp grated ginger
- 1/4 tsp turmeric
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 100 ml water
- 1 tsp ground coriander seeds
- 1 tsp garam masala
- 1/2 tsp chilli flakes
- 1/4 tsp kasoori methi
- 2 tsp mango chutney
- Oil for brushing the samosas
For the flour paste (samosa glue):
- 2 tbsp plain flour
- 6 tbsp cold water
Instructions
For the samosa filling:
- Heat the oil in a large non-stick pan. Add the cumin seeds and allow them to sizzle. Next, add the ginger, chillies and approximately two thirds of the diced onions. Sauté over a medium heat for 5-6 minutes until soft and translucent.
- Add the potatoes, carrots, salt and turmeric. Stir well. Add the water and bring to a gentle simmer. Cover the pan with a tight-fitting lid and cook over a medium-low heat for 8-10 minutes, until the potatoes have softened. Stir often to ensure the mixture doesn't burn at the base of the pan.
- Uncover the pan and add the peas, sweetcorn, remaining onions, ground coriander seeds, garam masala, chilli flakes, kasoori methi and mango chutney. Mix well. Begin to roughly mash the mixture with your spoon so it becomes fluffy and cohesive. Don't over mash, since we still want the samosa to have some texture. Cook until most of the water has evaporated and the mixture dries out a little (see video for reference). Taste and season with extra salt if necessary.
For the flour paste (samosa glue):
- In a small bowl, mix together the flour and water until a smooth paste is formed.
To fold the samosas:
- Take a sheet of spring roll or samosa pastry and lay it horizontally onto a clean work surface. Cover the rest with a damp tea towel to keep them from drying out.
- Spread a thin layer of the samosa "glue" on top and place another sheet of pastry directly on top. I like to double up the layers for the crispiest samosas.
- For folding, see the visual guide above or watch the video. Starting from the upper right corner, bring the pastry down diagonally to meet the bottom edge.
- Place your finger at the corner where the pastry meets at the bottom edge and repeat the diagonal fold, this time moving the pastry in an upwards direction to meet the top edge. This will create a triangular pocket. Use the flour paste to stick the inner surface of the pastry together.
- Fill the samosa with around two teaspoons of cooled filling. Do not overfill.
- Fold the loose edge of the pastry over the open pocket and stick with more of the flour paste to seal. Ensure you do this tightly to eliminate holes and air pockets.
- Repeat for the remaining samosas.
To air fry the samosas:
- Brush samosas liberally with cooking oil (both sides). Arrange samosas in a single layer inside air fryer basket. Do not overcrowd the basket.
- Air fry at 180°C/355°F for 4 minutes, turning at the 2 minute mark. Brush with more oil if they look dry. Air fry again at 200°C/400°F for 2 minutes, turning at the 1 minute mark. Optional step: If your air fryer has a grill function (my Instant Pot Vortex does), grill for 1 minute per side.
Notes
To bake samosas
Arrange the samosas in a single layer on a flat baking tray. Brush both sides liberally with oil. Bake in a pre-heated oven at 200°C/400°F for 10-12 minutes, turning half way through the cooking time.
Instructions for how to deep fry samosas
Heat any cooking oil of your choice in a large, deep pan, wok or kadai. The temperature of the oil should be 180°C/355°F. If you don't have a cooking thermometer, place the dry handle end of a wooden spoon in the oil. It should not sizzle immediately, but begin to sizzle after around 10 seconds. Once this happens, your oil is ready for frying samosas.
Fry the samosas in small batches, taking care not to overcrowd the pan, since the oil temperature will drop as you add more samosas and the aim is to keep the temperature at the right level.
Cook the samosas, turning often for the most even colour. They will take around 4-5 minutes to cook perfectly. Remove the samosas from the oil with a frying spoon and place on absorbent kitchen towel or in a colander to allow any excess oil to drip away.
To freeze samosas
Place uncooked samosas in a single layer inside a freezer-safe container or sandwich bag. Freeze flat. Cook directly from frozen using the guide in the post above.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 15 Serving Size: 1 gramsAmount Per Serving: Calories: 220Unsaturated Fat: 0g
Pin this recipe for later! Golden Air Fryer Samosas
If you like this, you’ll love my recipe for The Best Vegetable Samosas
Love Sanjana
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Wednesday 20th of December 2023
[…] there used to be so much balcony, click bait and Ads before you get to the recipe, but on this site I did get to see how to fold the pastry for the samosas in a neat YouTube video. (Normally I avoid […]
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[…] Air-Fryer Samosa recipe […]
Jay Rughani
Thursday 6th of April 2023
So tasty and easy to make. Thnx for clear and concise instructions and how to fold. I always dread that bit but I got it the best I’ve ever done today. Top recipe.
Nafisa Rahmani
Sunday 26th of March 2023
I made 5x batch of these hosting a party of 22 ppl for Iftar tonight. I was hoping there would be leftovers for tomorrow Everybody has polished them off - not one left! Delicious and easy thanks Sanjana. Happy I got to use my air fryer.
Nisha
Saturday 11th of February 2023
I read your article Amazing work guys keep it up. Your article is giving me so much information to cook yummy food and the quality of the Best air fryer for home use.