Samosas

topic posted Fri, August 25, 2006 - 2:36 PM by  Sentient
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Lately Ive been expirimenting with Indian foods. Im trying to make Samosas, and while Ive gotten the curried potatoes, chick peas, peas, and spinach down just fine, Im having trouble getting the dough to the right flavor and consistency for the outer shell.
posted by:
Sentient
California
  • Re: Samosas

    Sat, August 26, 2006 - 7:29 PM
    Here's a recipe for samosas, maybe this will help...
    www.outofthefryingpan.com/recip....shtml

    Samosas

    dough:

    7 1/2 cups flour
    1 tbsp. salt
    3/4 cup clarified butter or ghee, melted (use vegetable shortening or oil for vegan variation)
    hot water

    peanut oil, for deep frying
    Tamarind Chutney, to serve (or other chutney or sweet chili sauce)

    filling:

    1/4 cup oil
    1/2 tsp cumin seeds, crushed
    seeds from 10 cardamom pods
    3 potatoes, about 1 pound, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
    4 cloves garlic
    1/2 tsp. turmeric
    1 tsp. salt
    1 cup shelled green peas (frozen are fine)
    1/4 cup water
    1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro

    If you're making the Tamarind Chutney, do it a few hours in advance.

    1.

    Sift flour and salt into a bowl, then stir in melted ghee. Add 1 cup + 2 tablespoons of hot water gradually, tossing and stirring, to make a dough. Knead for 2 minutes, then chill in the refrigerator while you prepare the filling. If using a food processor, combine flour and salt in processor bowl. Pour in ghee and blend to combine. With processor running at medium speed, stream in the hot water, then process an additional 15 - 20 seconds. Remove from processor, form into a ball, and chill while you prepare the filling.

    2.

    Heat oil in skillet at medium-low. Sauté the cumin and cardamom seeds until aromatic, about 1 minute, being careful not to scorch them. Add the potatoes and garlic and sauté for about 10 - 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add turmeric, salt, peas, and water. Stir again, cover,and cook for about 10 minutes more, until potatoes are firm but tender and the liquid has absorbed.
    3. Uncover, stir in cilantro, and let cool.

    4. Divide the dough into 16 equal balls. The easiest way is to keep halving the dough until you have 16 pieces (you'll divide the dough 4 times total). Roll or pat each ball into a 7-inch disc. Cut each disk in half. Roll each half into a cone, overlapping the edges and pinching or wetting to seal. Stuff the cone with a big spoonful or two of filling, then pinch the open end closed (wetting if necessary), forming a puffy triangle.

    5. Chill finished samosas and continue until you've used all the dough.

    6. In a wok or large sauce pan, heat several inches of oil to 350, or until a cube of bread browns in 40 seconds. Fry samosas, 3 or 4 at a time, until golden, blistered, and crisp, about 3 - 4 minutes, turning them over halfway through frying. Remove with tongs, drain on paper towels, and continue until all samosas are fried. May be held in a warm (250-degree) oven while you cook all the batches. Serve hot or at room temperature with Tamarind Chutney, sweet chili sauce, or another chutney or spicy-sweet dipping sauce.
    • Re: Samosas

      Sat, August 26, 2006 - 8:26 PM
      i have made and fried samosas since childhood, here are some tips u might find helpful.

      when making the dough use COLD water COLD butter / margarine (we are lacto-vegetarian) and the ratio of margarine to flour is quite high if u want a nice and traditional bubbly pastry.

      and only use white flour, this will make very nice dough.

      so, 2 cups white flour sifted, some salt and 1/2 cup sooji-semolina or rice flour (a secret bengali trick to make them very crispy) cut in ur butter / margarine and then add the ice water, 9 tbsp added to make a nice pliable dough. knead a little but not too much. make a ball set aside while u make the filling.

      heat 2 tbsp ghee / mustard oil is also amazing (if u use mustard oil- heat and let it smoke for 5 seconds before adding spices as this will make the oil more docile) then add 1 tsp black mustard seeds, 1/4 tsp red chili flakes and wait till they turn grey and pop, then add 1 tbsp minced fresh ginger and 1/2 tsp hing / asafetida (essential- as traditionally samosas dont use garlic / onion) and let sizzle then immediately add 4 peeled potatoes that have been cubed very small and parboiled till tender but still hold their shape. so stir in the potatoes and 1/4 tsp turmeric 1/2 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp sugar then a bag of frozen peas cook 5 minutes till heated thru. sprinkle with garam masala (1 tsp) a splash of lime juice and fresh chopped corainder / cilantro.

      cool filling in stainless bowl so it doesnt tear the pastry when u are stuffing the samosas.

      roll the dough into a log and divide into 12 balls. roll into a disc. cut in half moon, then stuff them with filling in the triangle form and seal the inner edge with a little water from a bowl, so they dont open when u fry them. when they are all done.

      fry in hot ghee / oil for a few minutes until the pastry has the bubbly look and they are golden, drain on paper towels and serve with tamarind or mint / coriander chutney. offer to krsna and then enjoy.

      ohhh btw this is yamuna dasi's recipe, she is a wonderful woman. obeisances to her.

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