
Potato Samosas
Potato samosas are the kind of fried treats that perfume the house before reaching the table: they originated as street food and party snacks in many regions of India, always with a simple dough and a well-spiced filling. In my kitchen, as Chef Priya, the secret lies in respecting the order of tadka: first the whole spices in oil, then the aromatics, and finally the ground spices to prevent burning. This version works because it uses coarsely mashed potatoes, sweet peas, and a rested dough that turns out crispy, firm, and easy to seal.
Prep
50 min
Cook
25 min
Total
75 min
Yield
4 servings
Origin
IN · India
Ingredients
- Wheat flour· plus a little for rolling out if needed300 g
- Salt· divided between the dough and the filling1 teaspoon
- Vegetable oil· 30 ml for the dough, 15 ml for the filling, and the rest for frying750 ml
- Purified water· hot, add slowly120 ml
- Potato· cooked, peeled, and at room temperature600 g
- Green pea· cooked or thawed100 g
- White onion· small, finely chopped1 piece
- Ginger· grated15 g
- Chia seeds· whole1 teaspoon
- Coriander seed· also called ground coriander1 teaspoon
- Ground turmeric0.5 teaspoon
- Garam masala1 teaspoon
- Cilantro· chopped15 g
- Lime· use 1 tablespoon of juice1 piece
Method
- 01
Mix the wheat flour with 1/2 tsp of fine salt in a bowl. Add 30 ml of the vegetable oil and rub it with your fingers for 2 minutes, until the flour looks sandy and compacts when squeezed.
- 02
Gradually pour in the cold water and knead for 5 minutes, until you have a firm and smooth dough; it should not feel sticky. Cover and let rest for 30 minutes at room temperature.
- 03
Mash the cooked potato into irregular chunks, not into puree. Set aside with the peas so that the filling has texture.
- 04
Heat 15 ml of vegetable oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the cumin seeds and sauté for 30 seconds, until they release their aroma; add the onion and cook for 4 minutes, until it appears translucent and lightly browned.
- 05
Incorporate the fresh ginger and the green chili; cook for 1 minute. Lower the heat a bit, add the ground coriander and turmeric, and stir for 30 seconds to let the spices perfume without burning.
- 06
Add the mashed potatoes, peas, garam masala, and the remaining 1/2 tsp of fine salt. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring and lightly mashing, until the filling looks dry; turn off the heat, mix in the fresh cilantro, and squeeze in the lemon juice. Let cool for 15 minutes.
- 07
Divide the dough into 4 portions. Roll each into a thin circle about 18 cm, cut in half, and form 8 half-circles. Join the straight edge of each piece with a few drops of water to create a cone, fill with the potato mixture, and press the edges tightly to close.
- 08
Heat the remaining vegetable oil in a deep pot to 165°C. Fry the samosas in batches of 3 to 4 pieces for 8 to 10 minutes, turning occasionally, until golden brown, crispy, and with small bubbles on the surface. Drain for 3 minutes before serving.
Chef tips
- For a heartier vegetarian samosa, replace half the potato with cooked cauliflower in pieces or add more peas.
- Do not heat the oil too hot: above 180°C, the dough browns quickly and remains raw inside.
- The filling must be cold and dry before assembling; if it's moist, the samosas will open while frying.
- Store the fried samosas for up to 3 days in the refrigerator and reheat for 8 minutes at 180°C to restore crispiness.
Classifications
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55 minAloo Gobi
Aloo Gobi: dry Punjabi dish of potatoes and cauliflower with crackling cumin, turmeric, ginger, and a fresh finish of lemon.
75 minChicken Biryani
Chicken biryani with basmati rice, whole spices, and yogurt: a family recipe in one pot, aromatic and safe.