[Indian Recipes] Samosa

Flaky and tender fried samosa are one of the most popular recipes in North Indian cuisine. They feature a pastry-like crust but are filled with savory potatoes and peas for a hearty, delicious snack. This step-by-step guide will help you to make the flakiest, tastiest, absolutely best Punjabi samosa from scratch!

How to Make Samosa

Below is my complete step-by-step guide with photos for making the best Punjabi samosa from scratch.

You start by making the savory filling and pastry dough. Then assemble the samosa, fry, and enjoy with your favorite dipping sauces and chutneys!
Making the Stuffing

1. The first step to homemade samosa is to cook the potatoes and peas for the filling.
To cook the potatoes and peas in a stovetop pressure cooker: Place 3 medium-sized whole potatoes (300 to 450 grams) and 2 to 2.5 cups water in a 3 or 4 litre pressure cooker. On top of the potatoes carefully set a small trivet and pressure cooker-safe bowl with ½ cup green peas. Pressure cook for 5 to 6 whistles or 7 to 8 minutes on medium to medium-high flame.
If using an Instant Pot: Place 3 medium-sized whole potatoes in the steel insert of a 6 quart IP. Add 2 cups water. Place a trivet on top of the potatoes, and on top of the trivet set a bowl with ½ cup of green peas. Pressure cook on high for 20 to 25 minutes.

2. For the stovetop pressure cooker, remove the lid after all the pressure falls in the cooker. For the Instant Pot, do a quick pressure release after 5 to 7 minutes. Check with a knife or fork to see if the potatoes are cooked well.

The knife or fork should be able to slide through easily if the potatoes are cooked properly.

If the potatoes are undercooked, then cook them for a few more minutes using the pressure cook function. Once done, drain the potatoes and peas in a colander and set aside to cool.

3. Next, toast the spices. This will help to release their flavors and should not be skipped!

To a small frying pan over low heat add ½ inch cinnamon stick, 1 clove (optional), 1 green cardamom, 3 black peppercorns, ½ teaspoon cumin seeds, ½ teaspoon fennel seeds and 2 teaspoon coriander seeds.

Heat the spices for just a few minutes until aromatic, being careful to not burn.

4. Remove the spices from the heat and allow to cool completely. Then, put them in a spice grinder or small mixer-grinder jar.

5. Grind the toasted spices to a semi-fine powder, and set aside.

6. Peel the skin off of the cooked potatoes, and chop them in ½ to 1 inch cubes.

 

7. In a small skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil and crackle ½ teaspoon cumin seeds until fragrant. I used mustard oil as it really adds a punch in the stuffing. You can use a neutral oil like sunflower oil, safflower oil, grapeseed oil or canola oil. 

8. Keep the heat on low and add 1 teaspoon finely chopped or minced ginger and 2 teaspoons finely chopped green chillies. Sauté for a few seconds until the raw aroma of ginger goes away.

9. Now you can switch off the flame or keep flame to a low. Then add the cooked green peas, ½ teaspoon red chilli powder, 1 pinch of asafoetida (hing), the dry ground spice mix that we made and 1 to 2 teaspoons dry mango powder (amchur).

The mango powder is what gives the samosa filling its signature tangy flavor that balances so well with the savory, spicy flavors of the other stuffing ingredients.

10. Stir together and sauté for a minute. You can add less or more dry mango powder depending upon personal taste. I added 2 teaspoons as just 1 teaspoon was not quite enough sour flavor for me.

11. Next add potato cubes, salt as required and 1 tablespoon chopped coriander leaves (also known as cilantro) to the skillet.

12. Mix very well and sauté for a minute. Check the taste, and add more of the spices, salt or dry mango powder if needed. Cover and set the filling aside while you make the dough.

Making the Dough

13. In a large mixing bowl combine 2 cups all-purpose flour (250 grams), 1 teaspoon carom seeds, 1 teaspoon salt and 6 tablespoons ghee (50 grams). 

14. With your fingers, mix the ingredients together until they make a breadcrumb-like texture that holds its shape when you press a portion of the mixture.

15. Then, working just a bit at a time, add in 7 to 8 tablespoons water in parts and knead. You can add 1 to 2 tablespoons extra water if needed if the dough looks floury or dry. 

16. Continue kneading to form a firm, tight dough. It should not be soft or sticky. Cover the samosa dough with a moist kitchen towel and let rest for 30 minutes.

Assembling and Shaping

17. After the dough has rested, divide it into 6 to 7 even pieces. Take each piece and gently roll in your palms first to smooth and soften. Place it on your work surface or on the rolling board.

18. Then roll it with a rolling pin, being mindful to keep the thickness even at 1 mm and not too thin.

19. Cut the with a knife or a pastry cutter, right through the center of the samosa pastry.

20. Use a rolling pin to gently flatten the half moon shape to make even.

21. Use a pastry brush to lightly brush the samosa dough with water around all of the edges.

22. Next, fold to join the straight edged side together to form a cone, like shown in the photo below. Be sure to press the edges well so that they are sealed!

The samosa cone is now ready to be stuffed with the potato and pea filling.

23. Carefully spoon and lightly pack the prepared potato and pea stuffing into the samosa cone. Make sure to not over or under-fill to prevent the samosa from bursting during the frying process.

24. Crimp and pinch the edges to close as shown in photo below. This helps the samosa to stand once made.

25. Evenly press all of the edges, making sure there are no cracks in the dough. The edges should be sealed very w

Prepare all the samosa this way as described above, and cover with a moist kitchen napkin to keep the samosa from drying out.

Frying Samosa

The final step to making the best Punjabi samosa from scratch is to fry them to a perfectly crisp golden brown. Use any neutral flavored oil to deep fry – sunflower oil, canola oil, vegetable oil, safflower oil, grapeseed oil are some options.

26. Heat the oil for deep frying in a kadai or pan. Test the oil by adding a small piece of dough – it should come up quickly if the oil is hot enough for frying.

Once the oil becomes hot, gently slide 3 to 4 of the prepared stuffed samosa into the oil, and then immediately reduce the flame to low. Do not overcrowd the pan to ensure each samosa fries evenly!

27. Fry the samosa on a low to medium-low heat, keeping an eye on them so they don’t burn.

28. When one side is pale golden, use tongs or a slotted spoon or skimmer to gently turn the samosa over and continue frying.

29. Fry until each samosa is crisp and golden. The oil will stop sizzling once the samosa are fried well.

30. Use a skimmer to carefully remove fried samosa from the oil, and place them on paper towels to remove extra oil. Repeat the frying steps with the remaining samosa.

31. Serve Punjabi samosa hot or warm or at room temperature with coriander chutney or tamarind chutney, or with a zesty tomato sauce. The combo of samosa with masala chai is irresistible and much loved.

Samosa Recipe (The BEST!)
A Samosa recipe that is your popular and classic Punjabi samosa with a super flaky, crispy crust and a savory, tangy potato and green peas filling.
Prep Time 45 mins
Cook Time 45 mins
Total Time 1 hr 30 mins

Ingredients

For Making Samosa Pastry
▢ 2 cups all-purpose flour (maida), 250 grams
▢ 1 teaspoon carom seeds
▢ 1 teaspoon salt or add as required
▢ 6 tablespoons ghee (clarified butter), 50 grams
▢ 7 to 8 tablespoons water or add as required

For Cooking Potato & Peas
▢ 3 medium-sized potatoes – 300 to 350 grams or 3 cups chopped boiled potatoes
▢ ½ cup green peas – 180 grams, fresh – can use frozen peas
▢ 2 cups water – for steaming

Other Ingredients
▢ 1 tablespoon oil – I used mustard oil. sunflower, canola, grapeseed oil can be used
▢ ½ teaspoon cumin seeds
▢ 1 teaspoon finely chopped ginger or 1 inch ginger
▢ 2 teaspoons finely chopped green chillies or serrano peppers or 1 to 2 green chillies
▢ ½ teaspoon red chili powder or cayenne pepper
▢ 1 pinch asafoetida (hing) – optional
▢ 1 to 2 teaspoons dry mango powder (amchur)
▢ salt as required
▢ 1 tablespoon chopped coriander leaves (cilantro)
▢ oil for deep frying – as required, any neutral tasting oil

Whole Spices To Be Ground
▢ ½ inch cinnamon
▢ 1 clove – optional
▢ 3 black peppercorns
▢ 1 green cardamom
▢ ½ teaspoon cumin seeds
▢ ½ teaspoon fennel seeds
▢ 2 teaspoons coriander seeds

Instructions

Making The Dough

1. Take the flour, carom seeds, salt in a bowl. Mix well and add ghee.
2. With your fingertips rub the ghee or oil in the flour to get a breadcrumb like consistency.
3. The whole mixture should clump together when joined and not fall apart. 
4. Add water in parts and knead to a firm dough. 
5. If the dough looks dry or floury, then add 1 to 2 tablespoons more water and knead.
6. Cover the dough with a moistened napkin and set aside for 30 minutes. 

Making Potato Stuffing

1. Steam or boil the potatoes and peas till are cooked completely. Drain them of any extra water in a colander or sieve. 
2. Peel the boiled potatoes and chop them into small cubes
3. Dry roast all the whole spices mentioned in the above list until fragrant taking care not to burn them. 
4. When the spices are warm or cool at room temperature, grind them in a dry grinder or coffee grinder to a semi-fine or fine powder.
5. Heat oil in a pan. add the cumin seeds and crackle them.
6. Add the ginger and green chillies. Sauté for a few seconds until the raw aroma of ginger goes away.
7. Add the steamed green peas, red chili powder, the freshly ground spice powder, dry mango powder and asafoetida.
8. Stir and sauté on a low heat for 1 to 2 minutes. 
9. Add the potato cubes. Mix very well and sauté for about 2 to 3 minutes on low heat with frequent stirring.
10. Set aside the potato filling aside to cool at room temperature.

Assembling & Shaping

1. After resting the dough for 30 minutes, divide the dough in 6 equal pieces.
2. Take each piece and roll in your palms first to make a smooth ball.
3. Then roll it with a rolling pin keeping the thickness to 1 mm throughout.
4. Cut with a knife or a pastry cutter through the center of the rolled samosa pastry.
5. With a brush or with your finger tips, spread some water all over the edges. 
6. Join the two straight ends forming a cone shape. 
7. Press the edges so that they get sealed well.
8. Stuff the prepared samosa cone with the prepared potato-peas stuffing.
9. Pinch a part on the edge (check the video & photos). This helps the samosa to stand once it is shaped.
10. Press both the edges. Be sure there are no cracks.
11. Prepare all the samosa this way and keep covered with a moist kitchen napkin.

Frying Samosa

1. Now heat oil for deep frying in a kadai or pan. Once the oil becomes hot (test by adding a small piece of dough – it should come up quickly once added to the hot oil). Gently slide the prepared stuffed samosa & quickly reduce the flame to low.

This recipe and image sources are referred in website: Vegrecipesofindia.com. Thanks so much!