How to Make Samosas from Scratch

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Hi Bold Bakers!

Perfectly flaky and crispy samosas, stuffed with savory and spicy veggies, are a filling snack, easy to transport, and always a crowd-pleaser! Plus, you won’t have to worry about accommodating anyone’s diet — these Homemade Samosas are vegan.

Samosas are often deep-fried, but if deep-frying at home intimidates you, you can still enjoy these homemade samosas! Instead of frying, these are easily baked.

Everything in this recipe is made from scratch, including the dough. It was taught to me by my dear friend, who happens to be our culinary assistant here, Ami. Her mum taught her how to make authentic samosas, a popular treat in India, and I’m so happy Ami shared this recipe with me because they are incredible!

What Are Samosas?

Samosas are a hugely popular food in India, the Middle East, and Asian countries, and it’s not hard to understand why. What’s better than a crispy pastry filled with spices, herbs, potatoes, and other mouthwatering ingredients?! Sometimes samosas are filled with minced meat, but we’re keeping this recipe vegan.

What You Need To Make Baked Samosas

• Measuring Cups and Spoons
• Mixing bowls
• Baking sheet
• Parchment paper
• Small pan

How To Make Samosas

Learning how to fold the dough for the samosas is a bit of a learning curve, so don’t get discouraged! By the end, your samosas will look as perfect as though you ordered them from takeout. Here’s how you make them (and don’t forget to get the full recipe with measurements, on the page down below):

1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and preheat your oven to 400°F (205°C).
2. To make the dough, combine flour, ajwain, and salt in a bowl. Drizzle in the vegetable oil and rub with your fingers until combined.
3. Sprinkle in 6 tablespoons of water and knead into a stiff dough. If the dough feels too dry or doesn’t come together, add another tablespoon of water. Cover the dough and let it rest for 30 minutes.
4. In the meantime, make the filling. Place the diced cooked potatoes, peas, ground coriander, garam masala, salt, and lemon juice in a bowl. 
5. In a small pan, heat one tablespoon of oil and add the cumin seeds. Once they start to sizzle, add the ginger and green chili. Cook for about 30 seconds.
6. Pour the ginger mixture onto the potatoes and mix all the ingredients together. 
7. Divide the dough into 7 equal pieces. Roll each piece into one 1/8-inch thick circle (roughly 6″ x 6″) and cut the circle in half. 
8. Take one of the half circles and moisten the cut edge (the flat, not curved side) with a touch of water. Bring the two ends of the edge together and press to form a cone.
9. Fill the cone with 1 or 2 tablespoons of filling, making sure to leave some dough for sealing at the top.
10.  Moisten the open end of the dough with a little water and press to seal it together. Repeat with the remaining half-circles of dough, placing each assembled samosas on your prepped baking sheet.
11. Brush the samosas with oil and place in the oven, bake for about 30 minutes or until golden brown, flipping halfway through. 

Gemma’s Pro Tips For Making Authentic Samosas From Scratch

• For fried samosas: Heat 2 inches of oil in a pan to 375°F (190°C) and gently drop 2-3 samosas at a time into the oil. Fry, turning once until evenly browned. Remove and let drain on paper towels. 
  • Ajwain and amchur can be found online or in Indian markets. They help give these their distinctive taste, but if you can’t find these spices, you can omit them — the samosas will still be delicious!
• Don’t overwork your dough; you only need to bring it together. Overworking will make the samosas too hard. You also want to make sure you don’t add too much water; a stiff dough will give you a crispy final product. 
• Don’t use flour while rolling your dough out — if the dough is sticky, use a little oil on your rolling pin.

How To Store Homemade Samosas

You can store leftover samosas for up to 3 days in the refrigerator. To reheat, preheat your oven to 300°F (150°C) and then cook for 15 minutes. 

Make More Recipes!

• 3 Savory Pop-Tarts
• Artisanal Whole Wheat Bread
• Savory Cornbread Muffins

And don’t forget to buy my Bigger Bolder Baking Cookbook!

Full (and printable) recipe below!

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