Air-Fryer Samosas: Quick, Easy, And Delicious!

Samosas are a delicious snack, but deep-frying them can be messy and unhealthy. Air fryers offer a convenient and healthier alternative to deep-frying, allowing you to enjoy crispy samosas without the excess oil. You can cook various types of samosas in an air fryer, including those with high-fat pastry, such as Punjabi samosas, and even vegetarian and vegan options. The process is simple: prepare your samosas, preheat the air fryer, arrange them in the basket, and cook until golden brown. You can also reheat samosas in the air fryer to restore their crispiness. So, get your ingredients ready and let's begin!

Characteristics and Values Table for Cooking Samosas in an Air Fryer

How to make samosa dough

Making samosa dough from scratch is easy and uses basic pantry ingredients. The dough can be made with just four ingredients: flour, water, salt, and oil. The specific type of flour and oil used can vary depending on preference. For the flour, you can use all-purpose flour, or substitute some of it with whole wheat flour or semolina for added crunch and texture. For the oil, any mild-flavored oil like safflower oil, peanut oil, or canola oil will work. You can also use ghee instead of oil.

To make the dough, start by adding the flour and salt to a large mixing bowl. You can also add seasonings to your dough to experiment with the flavor. Cumin powder or seeds, coriander seeds or powder, turmeric, garam masala, ajwain (carom seeds), and chaat masala are great choices. Mix everything together with your hands or a wooden spoon.

Next, you'll want to incorporate the oil into the flour. Rub the flour with your fingers or palms for 3 to 4 minutes until it resembles breadcrumbs. This is an important step to ensure your samosas have a flaky crust. Then, gradually add water to the mixture and form a slightly stiff yet pliable dough. The dough should not be too soft or too dry. Cover the dough and let it rest for 25 to 30 minutes at room temperature. This allows the gluten to relax and the moisture to distribute evenly, resulting in a workable dough.

Once the dough has rested, knead it gently for 3 to 4 minutes. It should not turn smooth but should remain tight and stiff. Divide the dough into 5 portions and roll them into balls. Cover the dough balls to prevent drying out. Now you're ready to roll out the dough, fill it, and shape it into samosas!

Filling and folding samosas

Once your filling is ready, it's time to assemble the samosas. If you're using homemade samosa wrappers, roll out your dough into thin sheets and cut them into rectangles. If you're using store-bought wrappers, simply lay them out flat. Place a heaped tablespoon of filling in the centre of each wrapper. You can brush the edges of the wrapper with a flour and water paste to help seal the samosa.

Now it's time to fold! Fold one corner of the wrapper over to the opposite side to create a triangle shape, enclosing the filling. Press the edges together to seal the samosa. You can use a fork to crimp the edges for a decorative touch. Repeat this process until all your samosas are assembled. You can freeze the assembled samosas at this stage if you're not planning to cook them right away.

If you're using a high-fat pastry, like Punjabi samosa pastry, your samosas will likely have enough oil to create a crispy finish. Otherwise, brush or spray the outside of the samosas with oil to prevent them from drying out during cooking. Now they're ready to be cooked in your air fryer!

Cooking times and temperatures

The cooking time and temperature for samosas in an air fryer depend on several factors, including the type of samosa, whether it is frozen or not, and the size of the samosas and the air fryer basket. Here is a comprehensive guide to help you achieve the perfect air-fried samosas:

For frozen samosas, preheat your air fryer to 380 degrees Fahrenheit or 190 degrees Celsius. It is recommended to not defrost the samosas before placing them in the air fryer. Place the frozen samosas in a single layer in the basket, leaving some space between them to allow for proper air circulation. Air fry for 11 to 12 minutes, flipping them halfway through the cooking time. If your samosas are still raw in the middle, add an additional 2 minutes to the cooking time. If you desire a crispier samosa, increase the temperature to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and air fry for another 2 minutes.

For non-frozen samosas, the cooking time and temperature can vary depending on the size and thickness of your samosas. As a general guideline, preheat your air fryer to 350-375 degrees Fahrenheit (180-190 degrees Celsius). Place the samosas in the air fryer basket, ensuring they do not touch each other to allow for even cooking. Cook for 15-20 minutes, flipping them halfway through. For a golden finish, you can increase the temperature to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (200 degrees Celsius) for the last few minutes of cooking.

It is important to note that the cooking time may need to be adjusted based on the number of samosas in your basket and their size. If you are cooking a large batch of samosas, you may need to cook them in smaller batches to ensure even cooking. Additionally, if you are using homemade samosa pastry, you may need to brush the samosas with oil to prevent them from drying out during the cooking process.

Cooking from frozen

You can cook frozen samosas in an air fryer and they will turn out crispy and delicious. It is a simple, quick, and easy way to cook samosas without using a lot of oil.

First, preheat your air fryer. Most recipes recommend preheating to 380°F, but some suggest 350°F or 375°F. You can also preheat to 380°F for 5 minutes and then reduce the temperature to 355°F for the cooking time.

Next, take the frozen samosas out of the package and place them in the air fryer basket. Make sure they are in a single layer and not touching, so air can circulate. You may need to cook the samosas in batches to avoid overcrowding the basket. Brush or spray the samosas with oil, which will help them turn golden brown and crispy.

Now, you can cook the samosas. Most recipes suggest cooking at 380°F for 12 minutes, but cooking times vary from 7 to 20 minutes, so keep an eye on them. Halfway through the cooking time, flip or shake the samosas for even cooking. Check that they are cooked through, especially if they contain meat—the internal temperature of chicken filling should be 165°F.

Finally, remove the samosas from the air fryer and place them on a plate to serve. Cut them open to allow them to cool slightly before serving to children. Serve with your favourite dipping sauce or chutney.

Reheating samosas

If your samosas are frozen, you can thaw them for about a minute and then place them in the air fryer for 10 minutes at 350°F (180°C) until warmed through and crispy. You can also skip the thawing process and put them in the air fryer for 5 minutes if they are refrigerated.

If your samosas are refrigerated but not frozen, you can reheat them in the air fryer at about 300°F (150°C) for about 10 minutes or until warmed through.

For samosas at room temperature, simply preheat the air fryer and cook the samosas for a few minutes until they're heated through and crispy again. As a general guideline, cook them at 375°F (190°C) for about 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway through, until they are golden brown and crispy.

You can lightly brush the samosas with oil before air frying to help achieve a crispy exterior, but this is not necessary. The air fryer will still produce crispy results without the added oil.

Frequently asked questions