Thanksgiving Samosas
- Level: Intermediate
- Yield: 18 samosas
- Total: 1 hr 30 min
- Active: 1 hr 30 min
Ingredients
Pastry:
130 grams all-purpose flour (about 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons)
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
2 tablespoons grapeseed oil, plus for drizzling
1/4 teaspoon ajwain seeds
1/4 teaspoon nigella seeds
About 1/4 cup cold water
Filling:
1 very small red onion, finely diced
1 serrano chile, seeded and minced
One 2-inch piece ginger, peeled and julienned
One 1-inch piece fresh turmeric, peeled and minced
2 tablespoons grapeseed oil
3 tablespoons dried cranberries
3 tablespoons frozen peas
Kosher salt
1 russet potato, cooked, peeled and mashed
1 cup cubed cooked turkey or rotisserie chicken (1/2-inch cubes)
Lime juice, for sprinkling
Chopped fresh cilantro, for sprinkling
Green Chutney:
1 bunch cilantro, leaves and soft stems
1/2 bunch mint, leaves only
4 to 5 thin scallions, chopped
1 clove garlic, peeled and chopped
1 small thumb ginger (about 1 inch), peeled and chopped
2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
Juice of 1 lime
Juice of 1 Meyer lemon
1 serrano chile, chopped (seeds and all!)
1/4 cup creme fraiche
Neutral oil, for frying
Flaky sea salt, such as Maldon
Directions
- For the pastry: Combine the flour and salt in a large bowl. Rub the grapeseed oil into the flour mixture until well incorporated. Add the ajwain and nigella seeds. Gradually add the water, mixing after each pour, until a smooth dough forms. Knead for 5 minutes. Drizzle the bowl with a little oil; turn the dough to coat. Wrap the dough in plastic and set aside on the counter.
- For the filling: In a medium skillet over medium heat, saute the red onions, chiles, ginger and turmeric in grapeseed oil until softened and slightly browned, 6 to 8 minutes. Add the cranberries and peas; cook just until the peas are thawed, a couple minutes. Season with salt.
- Transfer the mixture to a bowl with the potatoes and turkey and sprinkle with some lime juice and cilantro. Stir together, then taste for seasoning.
- To make the samosas: Heat 3 inches of oil in a Dutch oven over medium until the oil reaches 375 degrees F on a deep-frying thermometer.
- Divide the dough into 9 balls. Roll each ball into a 5- to 6-inch round. Slice each round into two semicircles. Set up a small bowl with water. Wet the straight edge a semicircle with a little water, then set the semicircle on a work surface with the straight edge facing away from you. Place about 2 teaspoons of filling in the middle of the semicircle. Fold one corner over the filling, forming a triangle; fold in the other corner to make a cone. Seal the ends with water, pinching and folding the edges to seal tightly. Repeat with the remaining semicircles.
- Fry the samosas in batches until golden brown, 5 to 7 minutes. Drain on a wire rack set over a baking sheet on a paper-towel lined plate. Sprinkle with flaky sea salt.
- For the green chutney: Add all the ingredients except for the creme fraiche to a blender. Blend until smooth. Add the creme fraiche and blend until incorporated.
- Serve the samosas hot or at room temperature with the chutney.