East Indian Vegetable Samosa Pastries Recipes

EASY BAKED INDIAN SAMOSAS

Steps:

• Place potatoes into a large pot and cover with salted water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until tender, about 20 minutes. Drain and transfer potatoes to a bowl; coarsely mash.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high heat; cook and stir onions, coriander seed, curry powder, ginger, salt, turmeric, cumin, allspice, cayenne pepper, and cinnamon until onion is lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Remove skillet from heat and stir tomatoes and peas into onion mixture; pour into mashed potatoes and thoroughly mix. Cool completely.
• Cut each pie crust into 8 even triangles. Spoon filling onto the wide end of each triangle; fold corners over filling creating a triangular 'hat' shape. Pinch the dough together to form a seal. Brush egg white over each samosa and arrange on a baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until samosas are golden brown, about 15 minutes.

SAMOSAS: FRIED INDIAN VEGETABLE PASTRIES

Steps:

• To make the dough, sift the flour and salt into medium bowl. Add 1 tablespoon of the clarified butter and rub the mixture between the palms of your hands to evenly distribute, letting the fat-coated flour fall back into the bowl. Continue until the flour is evenly coated. Add 6 tablespoons of the water, mix, and work until the dough comes together. Turn onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 4 minutes into a firm dough. Cover with a kitchen towel and let rest for 30 minutes.
• To make the filling, in a large saute pan or skillet, heat the remaining 1/4 cup of clarified butter over medium-high heat. Add the coriander seeds and cook, stirring, for 10 seconds. Add the onions and ginger, and cook, stirring, until starting to caramelize, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, chile peppers, garam masala, salt, turmeric, and cayenne, and cook, stirring, until fragrant, 30 to 45 seconds. Add the potatoes and cook, stirring until the potatoes start to color and become dry, about 3 minutes. Add the peas and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Remove from the heat and add the cilantro and lemon juice. Stir to combine, then adjust the seasoning, to taste. Let sit until cool enough to handle.
• On a lightly floured surface, knead the dough for 1 minute. Divide into 2 equal portions and roll each into a 1/2-inch thick rope. Cut each into 8 equal parts and roll into smooth balls. Place each ball on the floured surface and roll into a thin circle, about 6-inches in diameter. Cut each circle in half (2 semi-circles). Spoon about 2 teaspoons of filling in the center of each semi-circle. Brush the edges with water and fold the dough over the filling. Press the edges together to seal. Place on a baking sheet and repeat with the remaining ingredients.
• Preheat the oil in a large pot to 350 degrees F. Add the pastries in batches and cook at 300 degrees F, turning, until golden brown, about 10 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Serve hot.

EAST INDIAN VEGETABLE SAMOSA PASTRIES

Steps:

• PEEL potatoes; CUT into quarters and cook until tender in gently boiling salted water; DRAIN; MASH potatoes coarsely in a large bowl; ADD 1 cup finely chopped onion, 3/4 cup thawed frozen peas, 2 diced seeded anaheim chilies, 2 tablespoons minced fresh cilantro and 2 tablespoons minced fresh mint.
• TOAST 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds in a skillet over medium heat, until seeds become aromatic and lightly pop; ADD to the other ingredients in large bowl; WHISK together the remaining spices in a cup or smaller bowl: 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice or 2 tablespoons lime juice, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 2 teaspoons ground coriander, 1 1/2 teaspoons curry powder, 1 teaspoon ground cumin, 1 teaspoon ginger-garlic paste (or 1/2 teaspoon each) and 1 1/4 teaspoons fine sea salt; POUR over ingredients in bowl; STIR mixture gently until mixture is thoroughly combined.
• MEASURE all of the EASY HOMEMADE PASTRY ingredients into large bowl of a food processor; PROCESS ingredients for one minute or until the dough forms into a ball.
• PLACE the dough onto clean smooth surface sprinkled with flour; ROLL into a sheet of dough between 1/8 and 1/4 inch thick; SPRINKLE with flour to prevent rolling pin from sticking if needed.
• CUT dough sheet into circles by pressing a large drinking glass over dough, re-rolling scraps if needed; REPEAT process until all dough is used.
• PLACE oven rack to center position; PREHEAT oven to 400°F.
• SPOON about 1 tablespoon VEGETABLE SAMOSA FILLING on one half of each pastry circle, leaving a 1/2-inch border (add just enough filling without overstuffing); FOLD each pastry circle over in half to form a turnover; PRESS round edge of turnovers gently with a fork (if you have leftover filling, you may serve this as a tasty Indian potato salad later!).
• LIFT turnovers with a metal spatula; arrange on greased cookie sheet; BRUSH with olive oil.
• BAKE turnovers 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown.
• SERVE with Major Grey chutney or mint chutney and enjoy!

VEGETABLE SAMOSA

Steps:

• For the Filling.
• Cool boiled potatoes, peel and cut them into very small cubes.
• Heat oil in a wok or a frying pan.
• Add cumin seeds and asafoetida powder, allow seed to splutter or turn brown, not burn.
• Add ginger and green chillies, fry for a minute.
• Add potatoes, peas, salt, coriander powder, roasted cumin, garam masala, chilli powder, curry powder, amchoor (dry mango powder) or lemon juice. Stir well to coat potatoes and peas with spices. Cook on low heat for 5-6 minutes, stirring gently, until almost cooked. You do not want to overcook and mash the potatoes.
• Adjust salt and seasoning and lemon juice. Add coriander leaves and mix.
• Turn the heat off and leave the mixture open, to cool.
• Making Pastry:
• Place flour, salt and oil in a bowl. Rub with your fingers, like pastry flour. It should look like bread crumbs.
• Make a firm dough, adding a little water at a time. I tend to make mine in a food processor these days. If making by hand, knead it well.
• Keep aside for 20 minutes and then knead again, until smooth.
• Making Samosas:
• Make a little glue by adding 2-3 tbs. water to 1 tbs. of plain flour and mixing to a thick liquid. Keep aside.
• Divide the dough into 8-9 portions and make balls, using greased hands. Keep covered with a moist muslin/handkerchief or 'j' cloth.
• Mix 1 teaspoons flour with 2 tbs. water, to make a 'glue' Keep it aside.
• Roll out one ball at a time on a greased surface, into an 7-8 inch circle/chapatti, approximately 2-3 mm thick. Cut it into half using a knife. You now have 2 half circles
• Lift one half in your palm and bring edges together, overlapping one over the other, making a cone.
• Brush a little glue on one of the overlapping edges and press the other edge over it gently with a 4-5 mm. overlap, to give the cone a good seal. If not sealed properly, it opens up during frying.
• Now fill one cone with approximately 2 tbs. of the potato mix. You should have enough edge left at the top (4-5 mm.) to get a good seal. Using 'glue', press and seal the top edges together.
• Make all samosas like this. Keep them covered with a moist cloth. If pastry is allowed to dry, it is more likely to burst during frying.
• Heat the oil in a wok or karahi to medium heat. If the oil is too hot, samosas will be soggy and not crisp. Oil should not be 'smoking'. Test by putting a small piece of dough into it, it should sizzle and rise gently to the top.
• Put as many samosa as will spread out easily in your wok and fry gently to golden brown. ( do not over fill as this can cause the oil to cool and it will make your samosa greasy) Turn them over gently a few times to ensure even browning. Take out and place on kitchen paper, to absorb surplus oil.
• Serve hot with Green Mango Chutney or Tomato Ketchup.