Step 1 of 6
Samosa
Mix the flour, crushed ajwain and salt in a bowl. Add the ghee and rub it in with your fingertips for 3 to 4 minutes, until a handful squeezed in your fist holds its shape. Add the water a spoon at a time and knead briefly to a stiff, tight dough. Cover and rest 30 minutes.
Tip: If the squeezed flour crumbles straight away, rub in another spoon of ghee. Too little fat means a hard crust.
Questions about this dish
Answers taken from this dish's times, amounts, swaps and tips.
How long does Samosa take?
2 hr 55 min all in — 1 hr prep, 1 hr 25 min cook, 30 min rest. Cook and rest follow the method. Leftover storage and optional extra waits are not included.
How many does it serve?
The recipe is written for 12 pieces. Scale the ingredient list on the page if you are cooking for a different number.
How hard is it?
Medium.
How spicy is it?
Medium heat.
What allergens should I watch?
This recipe is labelled for Wheat, Milk. Labels are informational — check the packets in your kitchen. This is not medical advice.
Does it fit a diet?
The published recipe is labelled Vegetarian, Nut-free.
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What does it cost to cook?
Cheap night — about Under $8 USD, as a grocery budget for this recipe, not a restaurant price.
What equipment do I need?
Mixing bowl, Rolling pin, Saucepan, Frying pan, Wok, Spider or strainer.
How much salt do I put in?
The recipe lists Salt at ½ tsp.
What can I use instead?
Ghee → Neutral oil. Same quantity. Most street vendors use oil or vanaspati; ghee gives a slightly richer crust. Made with oil, the samosas are vegan. Lemon juice → Amchur (dry mango powder). 1 tsp amchur is the usual Punjabi sour. Add it with the other spices.
What should I watch for?
Do not start them in hot oil. The pastry puffs in big bubbles, browns before it cooks through and goes soft as it cools.
Any tips from this recipe?
Make the filling a day ahead. Cold, dry filling is easier to stuff and keeps the pastry crisp. Fried samosas reheat well in a 180°C oven for 10 minutes. The microwave softens them. Large bubbles or puffed patches on the crust mean the oil was too hot at the start. You want only tiny blisters.
Can I prepare this ahead?
Make the filling a day ahead. Cold, dry filling is easier to stuff and keeps the pastry crisp. Fried samosas reheat well in a 180°C oven for 10 minutes. The microwave softens them.
Can I use an air fryer?
This method is not written for an air fryer. The core technique on the page still applies.