Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Samosas - Fried & Baked

Samosas are a very popular Indian Starter. This quintessential snack is basically pastries stuffed with savoury filling that are usually fried. The filling generally is a mixture of potato & peas. Nuts like cashew & raisins are added  to further heighten the taste .Popular all over India, samosa has its own regional versions ranging from spicy to sweet !  My days in Delhi & Mumbai are dotted with devouring samosas  from the street vendor and gulping it down with a glass of lassi.


I did not plan on making samosas last week - my stuffed braided bread was a success and i was happily basking under all the adulation i got for it (Thanks Aipi) . I planned to use the left over stuffing in Parathas for next day's breakfast. My Hubby who loved the filling so much cajoled me in to making samosas for tea-time and also graciously offered to help . Then what-- samosas were made and enjoyed with steaming cuppas. 
The typical accompaniments that go with samosas are Mint ChutneyChole or any sweet-spicy sauce !


The samosas were such a hit that i made them again yesterday - the pictures are a mix  from both the days !!




Ingredients:-


For the Pastry/Covering
  • All Purpose Flour - 1 cup
  • Semolina - 1/4 cup
  • Carom seeds , Fennel Seeds - 1/2 tsp(ajwain)
  • salt to taste
  • Oil - 2 tbsp
  • Water - as required
For the Filling
  • Boiled Potatoes - 2
  • Fresh Green Peas - 1 cup
  • Peanuts - 1/2 cup (optional)
  • Onion - 1 (finely chopped)
  • Fennel Seeds - 1 tbsp
  • Green Chilli- 1 (to taste)
  • Salt - to taste
  • Turmeric Powder - 1/2 tsp
  • Raisins-  a few
  • Cashew (broken ) - a few
  • Maggi tatse maker - 1 tbsp
  • Butter - 1 tbsp
Here's How:-

    Making the dough for the shell

  1. In a mixing bowl combine all the ingredients for the crust and add water as required to knead it in to a stiff dough. keep it covered for some time.



Make the filling
In a kadai heat the butter and let the fennel seeds splutter. Stir in the garlic pieces & the green chillis . Let them sizzle for a while before adding onions. Add green peas to the translucent mix and cook for a while. Now add the taste maker and salt. 




Finally add the mashed potatoes along with raisins & cashews. Cook till the flavours blend. Garnish with coriander leaves. 




You can bring sizzle to your palate by having fun with the ingredients ! I replaced fresh peas with peanuts for a batch - tht filling was fun too ! 


Cone me pretty 
Mix a little flour with water and keep aside ( this is for sealing the edges) .




Take a medium sized ball and spread it  flatly in to thin disc.Cut them into half !




Take a half and fold one side in to a triangle ; brush the seam of the unfolded part with the flour paste (or water).






Close the dampened side and shape it into a cone as shown and fill in a scooped heap of the filling.






Damp the edges with the flour-water mix and seal them well. Give it a slight pinch at the end to complete the look. 


Repeat the same for the rest of the dough.




Keep oil in a pan and once it becomes hot deep fry the samosas till golden brown. Serve hot with chutney or sauce.






With Mint Chutney




Munching these crispy delights, i decided to take samosa eating affair to a more healthy and guilt free trip by making a batch of samosas with wheat flour & baking them ! 
The crust of the samosa saw the following combo - 1 cup of wheat flour, 1/4 cup semolina and 1 tbsp of maida along with fennel & carom seeds 





Following the same steps for making the cone & sealing them, the wheat-flour samosas are ready to be baked !


Preheat the oven to 175 C. Lightly grease the potato stuffed samosa and bake them for 20-25 minutes ! Once in a while, do flip the sides to ensure it is browned fully on all sides.

Sending Baked Samosas to Priya's Fast Food, Not Fat Food

Also linking them to Girlichef's Hearth & Soul : Blog Hop 34
hearthandsoulgirlichef

Enjoy !

34 comments:

  1. It reminds me the samose wale mamaji...he used to sell samosas at 2 rupees per plate, later increased to 5 rupees and after his death his son made it to 10 rupees...

    We were children and he used to give us two samosas free for each purchase. My sister like samosas a lot though we never tried it at home.

    Your presentation is very good. I am on a low oil diet or else I would have certainly tried this at home :)

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  2. @ pillai-- u can certainly try the baked ones !

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  3. @ pilla- thanks for the quick reply !!! and hey am still smiling at ur (or rather ur friend's) pasta fiasco

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  4. Samosas are my fav Priya,both versions look delicious.

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  5. priya, the samosas look gorgeous- could gobble them up with my coffee now! fantastic stuff

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  6. Samosas looks soo perfect.Wish I could try one now.

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  7. would like to reach out for one.

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  8. Hi Priya, your Samosas look lovely and perfect. I've earlier tried Samosas with store bought ones for the crust. Preparing it ourselves looks so simple... This is bookmarked!!

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  9. looks lovely my fav tea time snack :)

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  10. Ever since reading Madhur Jaffrey's Memoir, I've wanted to eat some authentic samosas. I crave them when I think about them. Yours look absolutely perfect, just like I envisioned. So glad you shared them w/ the hearth and soul hop this week =)

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  11. Really samosas are gud. Plz send some here for coffee time.GRT going

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  12. Both looks super tempting and my all time fav..

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  13. Great demo with pics:-) yuummy
    But if u offer me both..I will definetly go for fried ones:-)

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  14. Perfect and yummy! My choice definitely the baked version ones...

    http://treatntrick.blogspot.com

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  15. oh this looks like it's straight from a roadside halwai..ship me some please..yummy!!!

    US Masala

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  16. Both versions looks absolutely delicious, yummy...

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  17. I love samosas but it is long time since I had it I liked both your versions but my choice is always baked ones
    Padhuskitchen

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  18. now i will go for the baked one...yum!

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  19. u made samosas and didn't send me some!! :))

    they r tempting...yum

    Smitha
    http://smithasspicyflavors.blogspot.com/

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  20. so inviting, Pass the plate here..

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  21. great samosa.i too prepare ..but baked samosa ....which bit interesting.....very good iead to reduce the fat,,,book marked..

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  22. Wow love it,favorite tea time snack.

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  23. Priya, Both fried and baked version of samosa looks delicious.

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  24. Priya this is a delicious recipe and I am very happy you linked it to my event xoxo

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  25. spectacular try and wonderful snack....i have not tried it....u r making me to try...thank u

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  26. Yummy !! Makes me drool..
    First time here, you have a cool space with great recipes.. Have started following you.

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  27. wow!! wonderful presentation..mouth watering samosas..

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  28. Delicious samosa and nice pictorial representation...

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  29. Both samosas looks yummy. Baked one sounds interesting, but would love the fried one :)

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  30. Hi Priya! I had no idea how to make samosas, all i knew is i loved them! I like how you make the tiny cone and then stuff and crimp it! Very cute and of course absolutely delicious! Thanks so much for sharing this on the hearth and soul hop! all the best! Alex

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  31. love samosas .i like to try the baked version...eat tasty and healty food ...
    u have so many recipes that i wouldlike to try at home...

    www.sharemyrecipe.blogspot.com is my blog.drop by when you get time..
    thanks in advance

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