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Home » Snacks, Street food & more » Samosa Recipe (with tips, tricks, and troubleshooting)

Samosa Recipe (with tips, tricks, and troubleshooting)

Published: Jun 7, 2021 · by Shilpa · 19 Comments

Jump to Recipe
Perfect flaky and crispy samosa with a spicy potato filling that you cannot get enough of. All tips, tricks, troubleshooting and FAQ to make perfect samosa at home.

Samosa step-by-step recipe with photos.

Jump to:
  • About this recipe
  • Origin
  • Ingredients
  • Step by step instructions
  • Variations
  • Air fryer samosa recipe
  • Useful tips
  • FAQ and Troubleshooting
  • Bonus
  • Recipe card
  • Comments

About this recipe

Samosa is a popular snack and street food in India which is a flaky pastry filled with a spicy potato filling and deep-fried. From sweet shops to grocery stores to restaurants - these delicious indulgent snack is hugely popular not just all over India, but outside of India too. The classic and most common filling used is a spicy potato and peas mixture that is stuffed to the rim.

Not only are they unbelievably delicious, but they are also very versatile. They are great as a snack, appetiser, or even as a complete meal when served with chole masala. Read on for ingredients, variations, tips to make perfectly flaky samosas, FAQ, and troubleshooting techniques.

Origin

Even though it is one of the most popular snacks across India, the origin of samosa is said to be traced back to the Middle East. It is believed to travel to India along ancient trade routes. Traded by the Central Asian vendors, it was originally called 'samsa' named after the pyramid in Central Asia. Ancient Arab cookbooks name them as 'sanbusaq' or 'sanbusaj' referring to the Persian word 'sanbosag'.

Some of the earliest mentions are in Persian scripts from the 9th century where pastries or dumplings were stuffed with meat, onions, pistachio, and spices. From India, they are said to have traveled further to North and East Africa.

samosa

Ingredients

Flour: Use plain flour to make the samosas. I used 2 cups plain flour which was 250 grams.

Potatoes: I used 4 large potatoes which were approximately 500 grams.

Ghee and oil: I use ghee to make the dough and sunflower oil to deep frying. For a vegan version, use oil instead of ghee in the dough.

Spices: Whole spices I use are cumin seeds and fennel seeds. The powdered spices I use are coriander powder, chilli powder, garam masala, and amchur (dry mango powder). You can replace amchur with lemon juice. These can be adjusted according to your preference.

Optional ingredients: You may use ½ teaspoon ajwain (carom seeds) while making the dough. You can also add 1 teaspoon coriander seeds to the filling.

Step by step instructions

1. Mix flour and salt in a large bowl. Add ghee or oil and mix well (step 1).

Rub the ghee and flour together well for 3-5 minutes (step 2).

To check if it is done, take some dough and press it in your fist. It should hold together without falling apart (step 3).

Slowly add water and being to knead (step 4).

samosa recipe steps 1-4.

Slowly add water and knead into a stiff dough. Cover with a damp cloth and let it rest for 30 minutes (steps 5,6).

samosa steps for kneading.

Boil the potatoes until they are just done. Peel the skin and mash them lightly. Set aside (step 7).

Heat oil in a pan or kadhai. Add cumin seeds and fennel seeds. Add ginger and green chilli, and saute for a few seconds (step 8).

Add potato, peas, coriander powder, chilli powder, garam masala, amchur, and salt. Mix well (steps 9,10).

making samosa filling steps.

Divide the dough into six parts. Lightly grease the rolling surface with some oil and roll the dough into a slightly thick disc, approximately 8 inches (steps 11,12).

Cut it into two parts making a semi-circle (step 13).

Take one part and apply water at the straight edge. Bring the two corners together to form a cone (step 14).

rolling and shaping samosa.

Add approximately 2 tablespoon filling to the cone. Press it lightly (step 15).

Apply water on the edges and seal it (steps 16,17).

Repeat with the rest of the dough and filling (step 18).

filling and sealing samosa,.

Heat oil and check if it is ready (step 19).

Deep fry in batches on low heat. Do not flip them for the first 5-6 minutes. Once they begin to firm, increase the heat to medium and carefully flip them {see tips above} (steps 20,21,22)

frying the samosa.

Variations

The recipe I am sharing here is a classic Punjabi samosa that is made with spicy potatoes and peas. However, here are some variations you can try to give this classic snack a delicious twist.

Singhara: Singhara is the Bengali version of this snack. The outer crust is the same as classic ones but the filling is very different. This popular cousin of samosa has a filling made with potatoes, cauliflower, and peanuts. Singharas are smaller in size when compared to Punjabi ones and are often made very spicy. Singhara has other variations too like mangshor singhara (made with minced goat meat) or macher singhara (made with fish).

Chole samosa: This is a common street food where the Punjabi samosa is served with chole masala.

Keema samosa: The stuffing is made with keema (minced meat) and spices. The most common meat stuffing includes chicken and goat meat.

Other filling options: There are a plethora of combinations when it comes to filling. Paneer, cauliflower, mushroom, onions - there are so many ingredients and seasoning combinations that are commonly served as street food in food carts across India.

Fusion: Chinese samosa (noodle stuffing or sometimes even Maggi stuffing), cheese samosa, chocolate (or jam) samosa - just to name a few fusion variations.

Other ways they are served: Bun samosa or samosa pav (a samosa stuffed between a pav or dinner roll and seasoned like vada pav), samosa wrap, samosa chaat (broken into bits and combined with chutneys).

samosa

Air fryer samosa recipe

A samosa is usually deep-fried; however, it can be baked or air-fried too. For deep frying, follow this recipe and see the tips below. To bake or air fry them, follow this recipe until shaping. For baking instructions, see the FAQ section below.

Air frying the samosa is a great option if you are avoiding deep frying. I prefer air frying them over baking them as they are the closest to the deep-fried ones. The air fryer gives a flaky and crispy crust just like the deep-fried ones.

To air fry, preheat the air fryer at 200 C (or 400 F) for 2 minutes. Brush the samosa with oil making sure all the sides are coated well. Air fry for 12-15 minutes flipping at around 7 minutes.

samosa in air fryer.
Brush the samosa with oil and air fry as mentioned above

Crispy and flaky air fryer samosa

Useful tips

A perfect samosa should have a flaky and crisp outer crust that is free from any blisters with a spicy and flavourful filling. Read on for the tips and follow my recipe to make perfect and delicious samosas at home.

For 2 cups of flour, I use around ¼ cup of ghee and just under ½ cup of water. These measurements are perfect to get crispy and flaky samosa. For this dough, 500 grams of potato is sufficient to make the filling. This recipe makes 12 samosas.

Do not cut down on the ghee or oil in the dough. With less fat, you will get dry and hard samosas. At the same time, do not add too much fat or you will end up with a lot of cracks on the crust. The measurement I have given makes a perfectly flaky crust that does not have any cracks (the dough can have roughly up to 10-12% fat so measure accordingly).

I add ghee to the dough which gives the best results. You may replace it with oil for a vegan version.

Rub the flour and fat together well. This is an important step that is often overlooked. Do not skip it. Rub them well for at least 4-5 minutes. To see if the fat is fully incorporated, take a small portion of the flour and press it in your fist. It should come together without falling apart (see step by step picture). Start adding water only after that.

Roll the dough into a slightly thick disc. If you roll it too thin, it may tear while frying and if it is too thick, it may not cook completely.

The dough must be stiff. Make sure you add water gradually and in small batches.

When shaping, keep the dough under a damp tissue to make sure they do not become dry. Also, when sealing the dough use minimal water and apply water towards the inside of the fold, keeping the outer layer of the dough moisture-free.

Do not knead the dough too much. Bring it together and gently knead for just 1-2 minutes.

The temperature of the oil is as important as getting the dough right. The oil should not be sizzling hot for samosas. To check if the oil is ready, drop a small piece of dough in it. If it comes to the top slowly (and not too quickly), the oil is ready. Add the samosa at this stage and do not flip them for the first 5-6 minutes. They will slowly come to the top. Flip them carefully. At this stage, increase the heat to medium. Each batch should take 8-10 minutes for frying.

Once you flip them, increase the heat to medium. Be patient and do not keep flipping it.

Once a batch of samosa is fried, let the oil cool down slightly before adding the next batch.

For the filling, do not mash the potatoes completely. Keep a few small chunks while mashing.

Pro-tip: Adjust the spices as per your preference to suit your taste buds.

FAQ and Troubleshooting

Why is my samosa not crispy?

If the dough is soft, it will affect the crispiness of the crust. Also, the temperature of the oil is important. If the oil is not hot enough or too hot, they will make the samosas soggy.

Why is my samosa oily?

Soft dough results in oily samosas. Add water in small batches when making the dough and make a stiff dough. See measurements above.

Why is my samosa hard?

Not adding enough ghee or oil to the dough will make the crust hard. Also, if you knead the dough too much, it will make the crust hard.

Why does my samosa have blisters or bubbles on the top?

Frying them in very hot oil gives them bubbles on the crust.

Can I freeze samosas?

Yes. You shape them and freeze them before frying. You can also fry them and then freeze them. Reheat them in the oven or air fryer, but never in a microwave or they will turn soggy.

Can I use atta to make samosas?

Plain flour (maida) gives a flaky and crispy crust. If you want to replace it with atta (whole wheat flour), use 1:1 atta and maida.

Can I bake samosas?

Yes. To bake them, preheat the oven at 200℃ (or 400°F). Brush them with oil making sure all the sides are coated. Place them on a baking tray and bake them for 25-30 minutes flipping midway.

samosa

Bonus

These homemade samosas are:
- flaky and crispy
- spicy, flavourful, and delicious
- easily customisable to make vegan friendly
- easily adjustable as per your liking and preference

Perfectly golden, crispy, and flaky

samosa

Recipe card

Samosa

Shilpa
Perfect flaky and crispy samosa with a spicy potato filling that you cannot get enough of. All tips, tricks, troubleshooting and FAQ to make perfect samosa at home.
5 from 21 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course Snack
Cuisine Indian, Punjabi
Prep Time 30 mins
Cook Time 30 mins
Total Time 1 hr

Ingredients
  

For the dough

  • 2 cups plain flour (maida)
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ cup ghee or oil
  • ¼ cup water approximately

For the filling

  • 4 large potatoes (approximately 500 grams)
  • ½ cup peas
  • 2 tablespoon oil
  • 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
  • ½ teaspoon fennel seeds
  • 1 tablespoon ginger grated
  • 1-2 green chilli finely chopped (or as per taste)
  • 1 teaspoon coriander powder
  • ¾ teaspoon chilli powder
  • 1 teaspoon garam masala
  • 1 teaspoon amchur (dry mango powder)
  • Salt to taste
  • 2 tablespoon coriander leaves

Oil for deep frying

    Instructions
     

    To make the dough

    • Take flour and salt in a large bowl. Mix well
    • Add ghee or oil and mix well. Rub the ghee and flour together well for 3-5 minutes
    • Incorporate the ghee and flour very well. To check if it is done, take some dough and press it in your fist. It should hold together without falling apart
    • Slowly add water and knead into a stiff dough. Do not overmix the dough
    • Cover with a damp cloth and let it rest for 30 minutes

    To make the filling

    • Boil the potatoes until they are just done. Peel the skin and mash them lightly. Set aside
    • Heat oil in a pan or kadhai. Add cumin seeds and fennel seeds
    • Once it splutters, add ginger and green chilli. Saute for a few seconds
    • Add the mashed potatoes and peas
    • Add coriander powder, chilli powder, garam masala, amchur, and salt. Mix well
    • Turn off the heat and add coriander leaves. Mix well and let the mixture cool down

    To shape the samosa

    • Once the dough is rested, gently knead it again
    • Divide it into six parts
    • Lightly grease the rolling surface with some oil and roll the dough into a slightly thick disc (approximately 8 inches)
    • Cut it into two parts making a semi-circle
    • Take one part and apply water at the straight edge. Bring the two corners together to form a cone (see step by step pictures)
    • Add approximately 2 tablespoon filling in the cone. Press it lightly
    • Apply water on the edges and seal it
    • Repeat with the rest of the dough and filling. Keep the samosa under a damp kitchen towel to make sure they do not dry out
    • Heat oil for deep frying

    Frying the samosa

    • Heat oil in a pan for deep frying
    • The oil should be medium hot. To check if the oil is ready, drop a small piece of dough in the oil. If it slowly rises up, the oil is ready (see tips above)
    • Deep fry the samosa in batches on low heat. Do not flip them for the first 5-6 minutes. Once they begin to firm, increase the heat to medium and carefully flip the samosa (see tips above)
    • Fry until the samosa is golden brown (it will take approximately 8-10 minutes)
    • Take the samosa out and drain on kitchen towel
    • Serve hot with masala chai and mint chutney
    Nutrition Facts
    Samosa
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 235 Calories from Fat 63
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 7g11%
    Saturated Fat 3g19%
    Trans Fat 1g
    Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
    Monounsaturated Fat 3g
    Cholesterol 10mg3%
    Sodium 120mg5%
    Potassium 567mg16%
    Carbohydrates 39g13%
    Fiber 4g17%
    Sugar 2g2%
    Protein 5g10%
    Vitamin A 92IU2%
    Vitamin C 27mg33%
    Calcium 24mg2%
    Iron 2mg11%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Tried this recipe?Mention @spicytamarind or tag #spicytamarind!
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Giangi Townsend

      September 15, 2021 at 10:37 pm

      5 stars
      I absolutely love Samosa and have a great restaurant near me. Thank you for sharing your recipe as I cannot wait to make them home anytime I want them.

      Reply
    2. Gina Abernathy

      September 15, 2021 at 11:22 pm

      5 stars
      Such a great recipe with lots of step by step photos. I have never tasted samosa before but I would love to make this recipe.

      Reply
      • Shilpa

        September 16, 2021 at 8:53 am

        Thanks Gina.. I hope you get to make them soon..

        Reply
    3. Kayla DiMaggio

      September 16, 2021 at 1:43 am

      5 stars
      I love samosas and this recipe was so easy to make and delicious! Can't wait to make it again!

      Reply
    4. Jodi Reed

      September 16, 2021 at 3:48 am

      5 stars
      I love this! Your directions look really easy to follow. Thanks for the great recipe!

      Reply
    5. Linda

      September 16, 2021 at 4:11 am

      5 stars
      Wow! Your step-by-step photos are incredible and thank you so much for air fryer instructions, too! This is a dish I've always wanted to try to make.

      Reply
      • Shilpa

        September 16, 2021 at 8:52 am

        Thank you for your kind words Linda.. Hope you get to make them soon 🙂
        - Shilpa

        Reply
    6. Luca

      September 16, 2021 at 5:34 am

      5 stars
      There was a period of my life years ago where I used to buy and eat so many samosas! I had just found them out and could not stop eating them. I have tried this recipe and jeez, they are so good!

      Reply
      • Shilpa

        September 16, 2021 at 8:51 am

        Thank you so much Luca

        Reply
    7. Sue

      September 16, 2021 at 8:29 am

      5 stars
      I adore a good samosa and have always wanted to try making them. Thanks for all the tips and tricks!

      Reply
      • Shilpa

        September 16, 2021 at 8:51 am

        I hope you get to make them soon 🙂

        Reply
    8. NATALIA

      October 12, 2021 at 1:31 am

      5 stars
      These samosas look irresistible. I have never tried them but I would love it. Printed and bookmarked the recipe to make it later!

      Reply
    9. Kayla DiMaggio

      October 12, 2021 at 2:13 am

      5 stars
      Loving how easy this samosa is to make! It turned out so delicious and I loved all the flavors!

      Reply
    10. Chris

      October 12, 2021 at 6:01 am

      5 stars
      This recipe was so good! Everyone loved it! Thank you so much for sharing!

      Reply
    11. Marinela

      October 12, 2021 at 6:20 am

      5 stars
      This delicious samosa recipe is perfect for snack or appetizer. Love the spicy potato filling, it's so delicious and satisfying!

      Reply
    12. Natalie

      October 12, 2021 at 7:37 pm

      5 stars
      Lovely samosa recipe. My family loves when I make samosa. I will definitely give your recipe a try. They look delicious!

      Reply
    13. Lucy

      October 12, 2021 at 8:12 pm

      5 stars
      These samosas turned out perfectly. Packed full of flavour with such a flaky and crunchy texture.

      Reply
    14. Joel

      October 12, 2021 at 11:29 pm

      5 stars
      These are just extraordinary. The taste is unique!

      Reply
    15. Choclette

      October 13, 2021 at 4:14 am

      5 stars
      I love veggie samosas, but have never made my own. Now I've seen your recipe I'm going to give it a go in my air fryer.

      Reply

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