This is definitely the best Indian punjabi samosa you'll ever make at home! I'm arming you with step by step directions and a recipe video for you to follow. So you can learn how to make the samosa dough, the aloo stuffing and how to easily wrap them.
I don't make tall claims easily but I think I've been looking for the best Indian punjabi samosa recipe all my life. Because I'm a samosa lover. More like an obsessive samosa lover with an irresistible need to have samosas every week because I think they are the most epic Indian snack ever invented!
And I think these homemade punjabi samosas can give any store bought samosa a run for its money. In fact, some store bought samosas get it so wrong that it's unbelievable - the stuffing is not appetizing enough, or the pastry is not fried properly. Because making good samosas is an art and needs time and patience, so I don't have any shortcuts today. These deserve to be made with love and care and patience so that when you take that first bite you are transported back to your favorite childhood mithai shop.
If you've never attempted samosas at home before, I think it's time we all start. And if I can do it, so can you. Because I'm the least arty person I've ever met. Origami was never my thing and wrapping samosas is a bit like that. It takes a few tries, but once you get it, you'll be wrapping them like a boss. I have a step by step video recipe if you scroll down, that's going to make things even easier.
Because I want this to become the definitive guide to making the best samosa, here is everything you need to know.
Ingredients for Samosa
Here's what you'll need
The dough or atta for samosa is made with maida (all purpose flour), ghee and salt. This is similar to making pastry for pies where the flour and ghee and mixed together till the mixture is crumbly and then water is adding little by little till the dough comes together.
- Don't over knead or your samosas will be tough instead of crispy
- Its okay if you can see small pockets of ghee in your dough
- Its normal for the dough to have dimples or cracks. It need not be smooth
- The dough should be kneaded in a way that its stiff. That's what helps form the crispy crust. If your dough is too soft, you've added too much water and this will make it difficult to wrap samosas and the crust won't be crispy
- Rest the dough for 30-40 minutes for best results
In the picture above, methi seeds (fenugreek) are missing! Sorry about that. But it's listed in the recipe card below.
I recommend taking the time to source all of these ingredients as each of them play a role is adding flavour to the masala. Coriander seeds, saunf(fennel) and methi seeds (fenugreek) play an important role. They are lightly crushed so you don't bite into them but adding them whole is what makes this masala so unique in flavour.
Samosa Filling
The filling or stuffing for samosas is easy to put together once you have all the ingredients. The potatoes are pre-boiled, peeled and mashed lightly before adding them to the cooked aromatics and spices.
Samosa filling can actually differ from region to region in India - some add green peas, some raisins, some make a dark brown masala and then there's this which is my favourite.
How to wrap Samosas
Wrapping a samosa can take a little practice but I've detailed out the steps below. It's like origami. If your dough is still like it should be, it's easier to handle the wrapper.
The idea is a to make a cone from the dough. This is then filled with the aloo masala and sealed around the edges so it's a stuffed triangle. The crispy edges are seriously the best!
- Make sure to roll out the dough thinly and evenly. If the wrapper is too thick, the samosas won't cook properly from inside
- Do not use any flour while rolling the dough. There is enough fat in the dough and it won't stick to the platform as you roll. Any extra flour can burn when you fry the samosas making them bitter
- Always fry samosas on low heat. This is so that the pastry cooks from inside. If the oil is too hot, they'll brown too quickly on the outside but remain uncooked with raw pastry inside. Samosas take 15-20 minutes to fry to a golden brown.
More FAQ's
Can the samosa filling be made without onion and garlic?
The samosa filling recipe that I have does not have any onions, but I do love adding garlic. However, if you don't like garlic or don't eat it, feel free to skip it and replace it with a pinch of asafoetida right in the beginning after you heat the oil.
Can the samosa dough be made in advance?
Yes, and it should be. You will always get better results when you make the samosa dough in advance and keep it covered for 30-40 minutes. This helps form the gluten in the dough and the resting time gives you better control while rolling the dough. You can also make samosas in advance and refrigerate (upto 8 hours) or freeze them (up to 3 months) for later.
Are these samosas vegetarian or vegan?
Samosas come in various shapes and forms and can be non vegetarian if you fill them up with keema/chicken but this particular recipe is vegetarian. You can easily make vegan samosas by swapping the ghee in the dough with oil
Can samosas be baked?
Yes, samosas can be baked in general. Though I believe deep frying provides the best results, and when you are enjoying something like samosas, you should stop worrying about it being healthy and just indulge. To bake these, the amount of oil in the dough will need to be increased to give the same flaky results. I'm testing a baked samosa recipe and if I'm happy, I will put it up soon!
Can samosas be made in the air fryer?
Absolutely! My mother has tested these samosas in the air fryer with great results. They will need to be brushed lightly with oil before being air-fried but the result is pretty yummy. They may not have the perfect, even golden brown crust but the pastry is cooked through and it's quite crispy too, just like a good samosa should be.
How to freeze samosas?
You can easily make these samosas in advance and refrigerate them for about 6-8 hours. Or you can freeze them individually and store them in a ziplock or a freezer friendly container and fry them at a later date.
My favorite way to serve samosas is definitely with ketchup, but you can always serve these with coriander chutney or tamarind chutney, or turn them into a samosa chaat with all your favorite toppings.
Big thumbs up from Denver every time I make these which means they are approved by my biggest critic!
More Indian Snacks:
- Aloo Paneer Tikkis
- Paneer Pakoras
- Easy Pani Puri (Golgappa/ Puchka)
- Aloo Chaat
- Vegetable Pakoras
- 14 Diwali Snack Recipes that will light up your Diwali Party
Watch the Video
This recipe was first published on October 8, 2017 and updated with new photos and a step by step video on August 19, 2021. A minor change was made to the dough recipe that results in crispier, flakier samosas.
The Best Indian Punjabi Samosa
Ingredients
Samosa Dough
- 2 cups Maida
- ¼ cup Ghee clarified butter
- ¼ teaspoon Salt
- ½ cup Water + a few tablespoons extra, if required
Samosa Filling
- 2 tablespoons Oil
- 1 teaspoon Coriander Seeds
- ½ teaspoon Saunf fennel seeds
- A pinch of Methi Seeds fenugreek seeds
- 1 tablespoon Ginger Paste freshly ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon Garlic Paste freshly ground garlic
- 1 teaspoon Green Chillies or Jalapeno (chopped)
- 2 teaspoons Red Chilli Powder
- 2 tablespoons Coriander Powder
- ¾ teaspoon Turmeric Powder
- 1 tablespoon Raw Mango Powder Amchoor
- ½ teaspoon Garam Masala Powder
- 3 Potatoes boiled, peeled and mashed (large, approx 360 grams)
- 6-7 Curry Leaves finely chopped
- Salt to taste
Oil for Frying
Instructions
- To start making the samosa dough or pastry, mix together flour and salt and add ghee. Rub the ghee with the flour till it resembles bread crumbs. Start by adding ½ cup water and knead it into a firm dough. You may need a few extra teaspoons of water but add as you go. The consistency of the dough should be stiff. Don't over knead it. Its normal to see a few cracks and dimples. Cover the dough with a damp cloth and set aside while you make the filling.
- Heat oil in a pan. While the oil is heating, crush the coriander seeds, saunf (fennel seeds) and methi (fenugreek seeds) roughly and add it to the pan. Fry the spices till aromatic but be careful not to burn them. Add ginger, garlic and green chilies and stir fry for a minute or two. Add the remaining spices, mashed boiled potatoes and salt. I like to use a potato masher to just mash everything together and then mix it. Add the curry leaves right at the end, give it one more good mix and then set the mixture aside to cool.
Wrapping the samosas:
- Take a lime sized bowl of dough, roll it between your palms till smooth and dust it with flour. Roll it out into a circle which is less than 1 mm thickness and about 6 inches in diameter. Cut the rolled dough in half. Pick up one half and brush it with a little water along the straight edge of the pastry.
- Now take one edge of the straight side, and place it on the other edge of the straight side in such a way that the dough forms into a cone (watch the video for more clarity). Pinch the corner of the cone so that its sealed. Place a tablespoon and a half of the filling in the cone, making sure to fill it only ¾th of the way. Brush the inside of the unfilled dough with a little water and seal it by pinching the edge together. Repeat till all the dough is used up. Place the samosas on a greased tray making sure they don't touch each either and cover them with a damp cloth.
- Heat about 2 inches oil in a pan. To test if the oil is hot enough, add a tiny piece of dough to the oil and if it bubbles and floats slowly to the surface, your oil is ready for frying. Add the samosas to the oil making sure not to overcrowd the pan, and reduce the flame to a simmer. Fry the samosas on a low flame till golden brown on both side. It's important to fry them on a low flame, or the pastry would be raw from the inside and golden brown on the outside. They take 15-20 minutes to fry. Take them out on a plate lined with paper to absorb any extra oil and serve them immediately with ketchup, coriander chutney or tamarind chutney.
Anita Pradeep says
Just yummmmm and so easy to make.. flaky..crisp and the filling 👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻 ..just what you need with a cop of hot steaming chai
Josie Poolook says
I made this tonight and it’s delicious! Thanks for sharing this recipe with the world!
Richa says
So glad you liked it Josie