Air Fryer Samosas: A Healthy, Quick-Cooking Option?

Samosas are a beloved Indian snack, but frying them can be a hassle and lead to unhealthy results. Fortunately, air fryers offer a convenient and healthier way to cook samosas without compromising on taste or texture. You can cook samosas from scratch, reheat frozen ones, or even bake them in an air fryer, achieving that perfect golden crisp with minimal oil. So, if you're craving a delicious, crispy samosa without the guilt of deep-frying, read on to discover how your air fryer can be your new secret weapon!

Air-frying frozen samosas

The next step is to place the frozen samosas in the air fryer basket in a single layer, ensuring they are evenly spread out with a little space between them to allow the hot air to circulate. The number of samosas in each batch will depend on the size of your air fryer basket. It is important not to overcrowd the basket.

The temperature and cooking time will depend on the type of samosa and the desired level of crispiness. As a general rule of thumb, maintain the same cooking temperature as the oven instructions but reduce the cooking time by 50%. For example, if the packet instructions recommend cooking the samosas in the oven at 350°F for 16-18 minutes, set your air fryer to the same temperature but reduce the cooking time to 8-10 minutes. For extra crispiness, add another minute or two.

For samosas with filo or spring roll pastry, brush or spray the outside with oil to prevent them from drying out. You can also brush the samosas with oil halfway through cooking to achieve a golden crust. Turn the samosas halfway through cooking to ensure they cook evenly.

Once the timer goes off, open the air fryer and check that the samosas are cooked to your liking. If they are not crispy enough, increase the temperature to 400°F and cook for another 2 minutes. Serve with your favorite dipping sauce or chutney, such as tamarind sauce, cilantro chutney, mango chutney, ketchup, or sweet chili sauce.

Reheating samosas in an air fryer

As a general guideline, cook the samosas for about 8-10 minutes, flipping them halfway through, until they are golden brown and crispy. Cooking times can vary depending on the size and thickness of your samosas, as well as the temperature of your air fryer and its unique characteristics. For example, some recommend cooking at 350°F for 3 minutes, while others suggest 180°C/360°F for 6 minutes. Keep an eye on your samosas to ensure they don't burn, and adjust the timing and temperature as needed.

Using homemade vs. store-bought pastry

Samosas are a delicious snack, starter, or side dish, and they can be cooked in an air fryer with great results. You can use homemade or store-bought pastry, but there are some key differences to be aware of.

Homemade Pastry

The authentic way to make samosas is with homemade wrappers. Making your own pastry allows you to control the ingredients and ensure the samosas are crispy and golden. You can make the dough with wheat flour, water, salt, and oil, and then knead, rest, roll, and par-cook it. This type of pastry already contains some oil, so it will give a crispy finish, but you may still need to brush the outside of the samosas with more oil to prevent them from drying out during cooking. You can also make tortilla-wrapped samosas, but these will need a generous amount of oil to prevent burning.

Store-Bought Pastry

Using store-bought pastry is a convenient time-saver when making homemade samosas. You can buy frozen puff pastry or spring roll pastry sheets from most Asian supermarkets. These usually need to be defrosted at room temperature before using. Filo or phyllo pastry can also be used and is available from most grocery stores. Punjabi Samosas, which have a high-fat pastry, cook particularly well in air fryers as the pastry already contains enough oil. When using store-bought pastry, you will still need to brush the samosas with oil to prevent them from drying out, unless you use an oil spray.

Whether you use homemade or store-bought pastry, there are a few key tips to keep in mind when cooking samosas in an air fryer. Firstly, do not overcrowd the basket, as this can affect the cooking and make the samosas less crispy. It is also important to preheat the air fryer and monitor the samosas during cooking to ensure they do not burn. Finally, you may need to adjust the cooking time and temperature depending on the size and thickness of your samosas.

Filling options

Samosas are a fried pastry snack, usually filled with spiced potatoes. They are very popular in India, the Middle East, and other Asian countries. However, there are many variations to the classic potato filling.

Some popular variations include:

• Mixed vegetables, such as peas, carrots, corn, cauliflower, and potatoes.
• Onions and cheese/paneer.
• Meat, such as chicken tikka or keema.
• Onions and poha (flattened rice).
• Sweet samosas filled with khoya (mawa), nuts, and dry fruits, usually made during Indian festivals like Diwali or Holi.

When making samosas to be cooked in an air fryer, it is important to note that samosas with high-fat pastry, such as Punjabi samosas, cook particularly well since the pastry already contains enough oil to create a crispy finish. However, you can still cook other types of samosas in an air fryer with great results. If you are using a low-fat pastry, you will need to brush the outside of the samosas with oil to prevent them from drying out.

Air-frying vs. deep-frying

Air fryers have become increasingly popular in recent years, but deep fryers have been used for years to prepare fried treats like doughnuts and fried chicken. While air fryers are typically more expensive than deep fryers, deep fryers use a lot of oil and can be messy to use at home.

Pros and cons

Deep frying is generally faster than air frying, but it requires more attention and can be a more involved process. Air fryers, on the other hand, are more convenient and easier to clean, but the cooking process can take longer. Air frying is also a healthier option than deep frying, as it doesn't require submerging food in fatty oils.

Samosas

Samosas are a great example of a food that can be cooked in both an air fryer and a deep fryer. To cook samosas in an air fryer, it is recommended to preheat the air fryer and cook the samosas for 15-20 minutes, flipping them halfway through. Frozen samosas can also be cooked in an air fryer without defrosting them first.

Samosas with high-fat pastry, such as Punjabi Samosas, cook well in air fryers because the pastry already contains enough oil to create a crispy finish. However, other types of samosas can also be successfully cooked in an air fryer by brushing the outside with oil to prevent them from drying out.

Deep frying is another popular method for cooking samosas. While it may result in a crispier texture, it requires submerging the samosas in hot oil, which can be messy and use a lot of oil.

Frequently asked questions