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Baked Samosas (2 Ways!)

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How To Make Baked Samosas (2 Ways!) | gimmesomeoven.com

Look out, world. I finally learned how to make samosas. Actually, I learned how to make real-deal traditional vegetarian samosas, but then had the idea to also try converting them into a (considerably) quick-and-easier version in mini phyllo cups. So today I’m sharing two samosa recipes below, which happen to be naturally vegan as well. More on those in a minute…

First, I want to tell you a story.

You know I love a good story. And this is one that’s full of bravery, strength, justice, beauty, empowerment, and celebration. And it’s a story with a remarkable cast of strong women playing the leading roles.

It’s the story of Sseko.

I’m guessing that many of you may already be familiar with Sseko Designs, and their lace-up sandals that have been the buzz of the fashion world the past few years. But many people don’t know the amazing story behind them. The story of real women on the ground in Uganda working day in and day out to pursue the dreams and break the cycle of poverty and make the world a seriously brighter place right now. Like, as you read this, lives and communities are being changed for good. And their bravery is inspiring more bravery in Uganda, and around Africa, and even all the way around the world to my little kitchen in Kansas City….where my good friend Maux and I hosted a dinner with friends last week to join in with the #SsekoBrave movement. Because good stories like theirs are meant to be celebrated and discussed and learned from.

And all the better over good samosas, right??

First off, I want to say that this is not a sponsored post. I have loved Sseko ever since I purchased my first pair of Sseko sandals years ago, and have been following their story with interest (and buying more straps for my sandals) ever since. And while they come up in conversation fairly often with my group of friends, I realized that I have never talked about them on here before. So today’s the day.

Anyway, whenever you have 2 minutes either now or on your lunch break or after work or something, take a second and watch the video above which explains the Sseko story.

Like many companies are doing nowadays, Sseko is all about fashion with a purpose. Their story began back in 2008 when another brave woman named Liz was living in Uganda, and learned that many of the young women in the community were struggling to find employment to pay for college. You see, out of 15 million women in Uganda…

  • 70% live below the poverty line
  • only 17% will go to high school
  • and less than 2% will go to college

The way it works there is that students have a 9-month gap after high school to try and earn money for university. But in a male-dominated, impoverished society, most women struggle to find these jobs. They are motivated, smart, passionate, qualified women who have a tremendous value for education, but the means to pay for it just usually don’t exist.

BUT, that’s where Sseko comes in. When a woman works with Sseko, she makes the sandals that we love during those 9 months. And half of the money she earns goes into a savings account for university tuition. And then Sseko will 100% match what she saves, and the she will go to university, graduate, get a job in the formal sector, and enjoy the opportunity to pursue her dreams and make her community a brighter place.

AND, in addition to those pursuing a college education, Sseko also employs other women from all walks of life in the community and gives them an opportunity to work in a safe and encouraging environment and earn a fair wage. And all of this takes place within a financially self-sustaining business model.

Amazing? Amazing.

(Statistics are from Sseko’s site and this video.)

You can meet and read the individual stories of the Sseko women — the full-time veteransthe Sseko graduatesthe university bound and Sseko’s founder, Liz — on their website, and hear about the beautiful and brave lives they are living. (Aren’t those smiles great?)

Sseko Women

Sseko recently started new program called The Sseko Brave Collective for others around the world to join in this movement of bravery and see where it leads. I admit that those sort of programs aren’t always my “thing”. But #SsekoBrave is really quite simple and cool. It’s basically just a collective of people who are interested in learning how to make a positive impact on women around the world, and they encourage participants to do so by taking one “brave” challenge each month. They call them Sseko Steps, and those steps could include things like…

How To Make Baked Samosas (2 Ways!) | gimmesomeoven.com

…or whatever that month’s challenge may be. I’m not always the best at keeping up with these kind of things, but sending an encouraging note to a woman in Uganda? I can do that. Pinning one of their latest products? For sure. Giving a stranger a compliment? I love that. There’s also a Facebook page I’m a part of where people are sharing stories and videos and encouraging each other all week long. And let me tell you, amidst all of the noise on Facebook, it’s a refreshing page that I actually enjoy.

How To Make Baked Samosas (2 Ways!) | gimmesomeoven.com

So anyway, my friend Maux (who shared yesterday in our 10 Things I’ve Learned series) and I decided to team up last week to tackle a recent “epicurean” Sseko Step — hosting a Ugandan meal with friends.

I have traveled to Zambia in the past and did some cooking there, but I have never cooked specifically Ugandan food before. So we decided to consult The Ugandan Cookbook on Sseko’s site for some recipes. And oh man, I think we smelled up my entire loft building with all of those spices. Everything smelled and tasted incredible!!  We made the recipes for Aunt Sarah’s Rice & Cabbage, a huge batch of Samosas for dinner (which were all conveniently vegan/vegetarian, for some of the friends in the group)…

How To Make Baked Samosas (2 Ways!) | gimmesomeoven.com

…Maux made Kenyan mandazi (fried bread) for dessert…

How To Make Baked Samosas (2 Ways!) | gimmesomeoven.com

…and we sat around for hours and talked and ate and talked and ate and had a lovely night together.

How To Make Baked Samosas (2 Ways!) | gimmesomeoven.com

Oh, and the friends who owned Sseko sandals all wore them for the occasion, and even agreed to take the cliche everyone-stand-in-a-circle-and-photograph-our-shoes photo. (Although not cliche with cool shoes like these.)  ;)

So all that to say, that is the story behind these samosas. But actually, that’s not the end of it because I contacted Sseko and they said that they would love to share a giveaway with you tomorrow featuring some gorgeous products from their new fall line that go way beyond sandals. So stay tuned for even a little more Sseko goodness to come.

But for now, let’s eat!

Samosas, that is.

How To Make Baked Samosas (2 Ways!) | gimmesomeoven.com

As I mentioned, I went ahead and decided to share both versions of this samosa recipe on here today — what I call the “traditional” version (the phyllo-wrapped baked triangles) and the “easy peasy” version (my style, with the pre-made little frozen phyllo cups).

 

How To Make Baked Samosas (2 Ways!) | gimmesomeoven.com

Both are made with the same (naturally vegan) potato filling, which is made with mashed potatoes, peas, fresh cilantro, onion, and the most heavenly combination of spices. I’m not kidding. Crazy good.

How To Make Baked Samosas (2 Ways!) | gimmesomeoven.com

Then you can either go the easy route and just spoon the filling into some phyllo cups and serve them right away. (Which totally worked. And was totally easy and crunchy and delicious and awesome.)

How To Make Baked Samosas (2 Ways!) | gimmesomeoven.com

OR you can go the traditional route and use phyllo dough to roll them into nice little butter-brushed triangles. (If you’re going dairy-free, you can use vegan butter or margarine.)

I will be honest, these guys were way too much work for my style of cooking. They not hard to make, but they’re pretty time and labor intensive. So if you decide to go this route, I recommend tag-teaming it with a few friends or family members and making a big batch together. Because they taste great. They’re just a lot of work. (Which makes me respect these women halfway around the world who make samosas every day even more!)

To make samosas the traditional way, lay out your thawed phyllo dough and cover it with a slightly moist towel to keep it from drying out. Then remove one sheet, and brush it with a little butter, and then fold it in half lengthwise into thirds. Add a teaspoon of the filling to the bottom end of the rectangle, then fold a corner over to make a triangle. And then keep folding triangles upon triangles until the samosa is all rolled up and enclosed. Brush it with a little more butter if needed so that the samosa is sealed and the outside is moist (which will help it brown up in the oven). Then lay the samosa on a parchment-covered baking sheet, and cover that baking sheet with another moist towel so that it does not dry up. And then repeat until the dough and filling are used up.

(This recipe makes a big batch!)

How To Make Baked Samosas (2 Ways!) | gimmesomeoven.com

Then pop ’em in the oven, and let the phyllo dough work its magic until these become golden, perfectly crispy, buttery triangles of perfection. And serve them up!

Just be warned that once you put the work into making these, you are going to want to eat them all.  Ahem. So I recommend inviting some friends over for a Ugandan meal to share. And hey, look into buying some of Sseko’s sandals, or scarves, or totes, or clutches, or bangles, or any of the really exciting items (flats!!) in their new fall line for the occasion. You know, Sseko-style. :)

How To Make Baked Samosas (2 Ways!) | gimmesomeoven.com

So anyway, big thanks to Maux for initiating and co-hosting our Ugandan feast together, and to Sseko for the recipe and for just being so cool and inspiring. Happy Samosa-making!

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Samosas (The Traditional Way + The Easy Way)

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 4 reviews
  • Prep Time: 30 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Total Time: 45 minutes
  • Yield: 0 About 60 samosas 1x

Description

Learn how to make baked samosas the traditional way, or by taking a little shortcut with pre-made mini phyllo cups


Ingredients

Scale

Filling Ingredients:

  • 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds
  • half a small white onion
  • 1 teaspoon finely-chopped ginger
  • 1/4 cup frozen peas
  • 1 Tablespoon ground coriander
  • 1 teaspoon garam masala
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon chili powder
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1.5 pounds Russet or Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and boiled until soft, then drained and mashed
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro, plus more for garnish if desired

Phyllo Dough (Traditional Triangles) Ingredients:

  • 1 package frozen phyllo pastry dough*, thawed
  • 6 tablespoons melted butter, for brushing

Mini Phyllo Cup Ingredients:

  • 4 (15-count) packages frozen mini phyllo cups*

Instructions

To Make The Filling:

  1. Heat oil in a large saute pan over medium-high heat. Add the mustard seeds and fry for about ten seconds, or until they begin to splutter.
  2. Add the onion and ginger, and saute for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the peas, coriander, cumin, chili powder, garam masala and salt. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Then add the potatoes and cilantro, stir to combine, and cook for another 2 minutes. Add a few splashes of water (this may be more or less than 1/4 cup) until the mashed potatoes are slightly moist. Taste the mixture and adjust the seasoning as necessary, then remove from heat.

To Make The Phyllo Dough Triangles:

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
  2. Unroll the phyllo pastry dough, cover with plastic wrap and a damp lightweight towel. Peel off one sheet and keep the remaining dough covered so that it doesn’t dry out. Lay the pastry sheet flat on a clean surface, and brush lightly with melted butter. Fold in one third of the pastry lengthwise towards the middle. Brush again with the butter and fold in the other side to make a long triple-layered strip.
  3. Place one rounded teaspoon of the filling mixture at one end of the strip. Take the right corner and fold diagonally to the left, enclosing the filling and forming a triangle. Fold again along the upper crease of the triangle. Keep folding in this way making triangles upon triangles until you reach the end of the strip. Brush a little butter on the dough to seal the samosa, and also brush the outer surface so that the outside is lightly coated in butter.
  4. Place the triangle onto a baking sheet and cover with another damp towel while you make the rest of the samosas. Bake in the center of the oven for 20-25 minutes, or until golden and crisp, turning halfway through the cooking time.
  5. Serve warm, garnished with extra chopped fresh cilantro if desired.

To Make The Mini Phyllo Cups:

  1. Spoon about 1 rounded teaspoon of the filling into each mini phyllo cup. You can either serve these immediately, or pop them in a 400-degree oven for a few minutes to warm them up if need be. Serve garnished with extra chopped fresh cilantro if desired.

Notes

*If making these vegan, be sure to buy phyllo dough/cups that are vegan.

**Cooking time varies per style of the recipe. These took me about 1.5 hours to make the traditional way, and about 45 minutes to make the easier way, assuming that you are starting with prepared mashed potatoes.

Recipe slightly adapted from Sseko Designs.

 

How To Make Baked Samosas (2 Ways!) | gimmesomeoven.com

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34 comments on “Baked Samosas (2 Ways!)”

  1. LOVE the idea of using the phyllo cups to make a cute little app version!

  2. This is wonderful Ali! A wonderful cause, and a beautiful recipe! I have not made samosas since I was in cooking class when i was around 14. I remember they were fun, especially the folding part. I would be honored if you would use these to join us for Meatless Monday today. There is a linkup on my page, and these would be a wonderful addition, and would help spread the word for another great cause :)

  3. I can’t wait to try these… I’ve never made samosas, but LOVE to eat them :)
    ANd how awesome are Sseko sandals?

  4. Great cause, and I love the phyllo cup idea!

  5. Love everything about this post! I have some Ssekos and I LOVE them! SO comfy, so versatile!

  6. This is so beautifully composed! I am going to have to try and make some this month!

  7. I was waiting for this follow-up post after reading Maux’s post last night!!! Ahh!! So amazing and I really appreciate both of you taking the time to explain the background story of the project. Also, I have to say that I tip my hat to you for making samosa filling actually look beautiful.

  8. I love supporting companies and organizations like Ssekos – may be time to get me a pair! And while I’m waiting for them to arrive, I can make samosas. Sounds like plan!

  9. What a great message – way to get involved in such an inspiring program! These samosas don’t sound too bad, either – I love Indian samosas and I’d love to try an Ugandan version.

  10. Beautiful story, Ali! And the samoa’s look so gorgeous!

  11. Ali!! Love this story, the sandals and those delicious samoa’s :)

  12. I am far more comfortable hopping in a plane to a foreign land where I don’t know a soul than I am in an unfamiliar aisle at the grocery store. Let alone then cooking something like this…FOR OTHER PEOPLE. Seriously, my anxiety/stress levels would be 10x from when I am stranded in a country without the right currency and no phone. HAHAHA. All that to say, I kind of love how this very gathering is such a wonderful reminder of how much our gifts (and acts of courage) differ from one another–and all the more reason for us to live life together and learn from one another (and eat other talented people’s beautiful food if you’re me.) LOVE ALL OF THIS SO MUCH. Maybe some day I will be able to join you lovelies. xoxoxo

  13. Wow Ali! These look amazing! I will surely try out the easy version. It’s the perfect little app for a party.
    The combination of spices seem full of flavor.

  14. Wow what a great post. Thank you so much for sharing. These Samosas looks amazing! Can’t wait to try.

  15. Yum! Love the simplified twist :)

  16. These looks really fantastic, I imagine how crispy and delicious are.

  17. Paul is going to be so jealous, LOL. These were his favorite in Africa, Turkey … so yummy! Come on over girl, and make some for us!

  18. Such a great story about a great cause. But, I have one comment – traditional samosas are never made with phyllo pastry. They are made with a dough that’s similar to pie dough, and has ajwain seeds in it.

  19. I’mon tryyyy this, girl.

  20. I love this blog!! Keep up the amazing work! You can also make samosas using regular tortillas. What you do is give the tortillas a little steam, cut it half way, paste the ends where you are making it into a cone shaped, fill it up with the filling, and to paste the corners paste it with all purpose flour. With all purpose take some in a bowl add some water, but make sure it’s not running and its a little thick. And wallaha you have your paste.

    • Thanks so much Archana, and I appreciate your tip for the samosas — I will definitely have to try that next time! Very cool! : )

  21. hhhhhhhhhmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. very nice. samoosa ia a very delicious dis. all over the world people easily make, purchase enjoing with happy samoosas. every rich or poor person can easily purchas. in subcontinantal very low income erning person eats at the time of their lunch. PLEASE NOTE THAT ON EVERY YEAR SINCE 2001 THE DAY OF 14TH JANUARY CELEBRATE AS THE WORLD HAPPY SAMOOSAS DAY. IN ONLY THE HOLLY MOTH OF RAMZAN THE MUSLIM ALL OVER THE WORLD AT THE TIME OF IFTAR (EVENING) BILLIONS OF SAMOOSAS EATING IN THE WORLD.

  22. Can these be frozen? If so, would popping them in the oven to reheat be the best?

    • Yes, we think these should freeze great, and that the oven is the best way to reheat them. We hope you enjoy! :)

  23. I thought traditional samosas used a crust almost like pie crust, not phyllo…

  24. I just want to clarify the recipe for the phyllo cups-it’s says popping into the oven is optional?  Do you precook them then?  Because it says to buy frozen ones and I’ve never done that so I don’t know if it’s standard stuff to cook those first and then add the filling?   Also-do they need to be placed into a muffin tin or a mini muffin tin to hold their shape?  

    Thanks in advance!

    • Hi Chrissy! For the phyllo cups, you just need to make sure they’re thawed before you scoop the filling into them. Then if you want to pop them in the oven to get them even toastier, you can. Also, the cups should hold their shape on a regular baking sheet. We hope this helps and that you enjoy!

  25. At what point would you suggest freezing the triangle samosas, or is that a bad idea altogether? I’d like to make them ahead of time but am unsure if I should freeze them pre-baked, thaw and bake on Christmas; freeze pre-baked and bake from frozen; bake and then freeze, thaw, and reheat; or bake and then bake again from frozen. I’m afraid the latter choices would burn and the former would get soggy. I’d much rather do the triangles than the cups!

    Thanks for the recipe and any advice :)

  26. The thought of making samosas always seemed like a daunting and rather intimidating task. I liked the thought of the phyllo pastry and a healthier version of a samosa. So I went for it! These were absolutely delicious. Like the most delicious samosa I have had!! The delicate spices were spot on and I was so pleased. Thank you for sharing this recipe which I will make over & over again!! :)






  27. Delicious. For my personal taste, I doubled the amount of spices for more flavor. My husband and I adore those samosas. Thank you very much






  28. These were delicious! I assembled mine differently as I am lazy. I lay 1/3 the phyllo sheets in the bottom of an 9 x 13 inch pan, then spread 1/2 the potato mixture over. I repeated the layering, finishing with a layer of phyllo. I then made cuts so that I had a pan of semi diamond shapes and poured the melted butter over. This is how I make baklava, and it works great for this recipe too.

    Thanks so much for a yummy dish I will make again.






  29. Looks jummy! Try to make this weekend.Thanks .