Learn how to make amazing Indian vegetarian samosas stuffed with the classic combination of potatoes and peas. Includes a detailed step-by-step recipe for folding samosas with homemade pastry.
Prep Time1 hourhr40 minutesmins
Cook Time1 hourhr
Total Time2 hourshrs40 minutesmins
Course: Appetizer, Side Dish, Snack
Cuisine: Indian
Keyword: peas, potatoes, samosas, snacks, vegan
Servings: 18samosas
Author: Sanjana
Equipment
Rolling pin
Large pan with high sides or a wok for deep frying
Ingredients
For the filling:
750gpotatoes
100gpeasI use frozen
1tbspany flavourless oil
2tspwhole cumin seeds
1large onionfinely diced
3hot green chilliesfinely chopped
2 1/2cmpiece fresh gingerpeeled and grated
1tspground turmeric
2tspamchurdried mango powder
1tspground coriander seeds
1 1/2tspsalt
1tbspfresh corianderfinely chopped
For the pastry:
500gplain flour
2tspajwain
1 1/2tspsalt
100mlany flavourless oil
185mlwarm water
For deep frying:
1.5Lflavourless oilsuch as vegetable, sunflower or rapeseed oil
Instructions
For the filling:
Boil the potatoes in plenty of water until tender. Drain and allow to cool completely. Once cool, peel the potatoes and roughly mash using a potato masher or the back of a fork. Set aside.
Heat the oil in a large, non-stick pan. Add the cumin seeds and allow to sizzle briefly. Add the ginger, chillies and onions. Sauté for 3-4 minutes, until translucent but not browned.
Add the mashed potatoes, peas, turmeric, amchur, ground coriander seeds and salt. Give the mixture a good stir to combine all the ingredients thoroughly. Cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring all the time and then remove from the heat. Spread the mixture onto a plate and add mix in the coriander leaves. Allow to cool completely.
For the pastry:
Place the flour in a large bowl and mix in the ajwain and salt. Make a well in the centre of the flour. Add the oil. Using your fingertips, begin to rub the flour and the oil together to create a fine, breadcrumb-like texture, as if you were making shortcrust pastry. Add the water and combine using your hands to create a rough, shaggy-looking dough.
Knead for 10 minutes, until smooth. Cover with a damp tea towel and allow to rest for 30 minutes.
Once rested, divide the dough into 9 tennis ball-sized rounds. Smooth into rounds between your palms and cover again with a damp tea towel to stop the pastry from drying out. Each round will make 2 samosas, for a total of 18 samosas. You can choose to make them larger or smaller by making fewer or more dough balls.
How to fold the samosas:
Take one dough ball and dip each side in a small amount of flour. On a clean surface, roll it into an oblong, about 12cm wide (approx. 5-inches) and 18cm in length (approx. 7-inches). It doesn't have to be perfect.
Cut each oblong in half, width ways. You should be left with two semicircles.
Take one of the semicircles and place it flat on the surface in front of you, straight side facing north. Roll it with your rolling pin a few times to make it a little thinner and taller. Take the upper left corner and bring it to the centre of the semicircle. Place some cool water down the middle and bring the upper right-hand corner of the semicircle to the centre to meet the waterline. Press both sides together very gently.
Lift the samosa pastry up and open the pocket you just created. At the same time, press the seam together a little more to ensure it is well sealed. You should have a little pouch ready for filling.
Stuff the samosa with the cooled potato and pea filling. I used about 2 tbsp of filling per samosa.
To create the little crease in the back of the samosa so it can stand up by itself: Along the open seam of the filled samosa, place your finger in the centre of the round edge of the pastry. Create a tiny fold, about 1cm wide and pinch to seal (this will create a small dimple for the back base of the samosa. Now dab some cold water on the inner seams of the open edge of the pastry and press together and seal to close, pushing out any air as you go.
Repeat these steps for the remaining samosas. Ensure the dough portions are always covered to ensure it doesn't dry out.
Once all the samosas have been folded, allow them to air dry for 45 minutes, until the surface of the pastry feels rough and sandy to the touch. This is an important step to eliminate air bubbles in the pastry and to stop your samosas from getting a "gremlin" skin.
To fry the samosas:
Heat the oil in a large pan with deep sides or a wok until warm, not hot. You should be able to comfortably touch it with your finger. If you have a cooking thermometer, it will be around 40°C/100°F. Be careful not to heat it too hot as this will result in uneven cooking. You should be able to comfortably touch the oil with your finger prior to adding samosas to the pan. Be careful not to heat it too much as this will result in uneven cooking. Simply allow it to cool down before adding the samosas.
Cook the samosas in batches. I managed to get 7 in my large wok without it feeling overcrowded. Gradually increase the temperature, not letting it go above 150°C. Allow the samosas to cook over a medium-low heat for 35 minutes until golden and crispy. If you feel they are browning too quickly, turn the heat down. Allow the oil to cool down in between frying the samosas in batches.
Drain the samosas on a plate lined with absorbent kitchen paper.
Video
Notes
Just-fried samosas are HOT! Allow to cool slightly before serving.To store: Keep the samosas in an airtight container lined with absorbent kitchen paper. Refrigerate for up to 3 days.To freeze: Keep the samosas in an airtight container lined with baking parchment. Freeze for up to 3 months. Re-fry from frozen on a medium heat to ensure samosas are piping hot.