Punjabi Samosa Recipe: Flaky, Crunchy, and Stuffed to Perfection

There’s something truly magical about biting into a hot, crispy samosa. With its perfectly golden crust and spicy potato filling, this North Indian street food snack is loved worldwide. If you’ve always wanted to master the art of making flaky, restaurant-style samosas at home, you’re in the right place. In this post, I’ll walk you through a step-by-step recipe to prepare authentic Punjabi Samosas that are crisp on the outside and bursting with flavorful potato and green pea filling inside.

Let’s get started!

Why You’ll Love This Samosa Recipe

• Flaky, crispy crust using a reduced-water dough method
• Flavor-packed filling made with potatoes, peas, and classic Indian spices
• Can be made in advance and frozen
• Customizable with different fillings
• Perfect for snacks, tea-time, or festive occasions

📝 Ingredients

For the Dough (Pastry)

• 2 cups all-purpose flour (250g)
• 6 tablespoons ghee or oil (50g)
• 1 teaspoon carom seeds (ajwain)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 7–8 tablespoons water (add more if needed)

For the Stuffing

• 3 medium potatoes (300–450g), boiled and cubed
• ½ cup green peas, boiled
• 1 tablespoon oil (mustard oil or neutral oil)
• ½ teaspoon cumin seeds
• 1 teaspoon finely chopped ginger
• 2 teaspoons chopped green chilies
• ½ teaspoon red chili powder
• A pinch of asafoetida (hing)
• 1–2 teaspoons dry mango powder (amchur)
• Salt to taste
• 1 tablespoon chopped coriander leaves

Spice Blend (or Substitute)

• ½ inch cinnamon stick
• 1 clove
• 1 green cardamom
• 3 black peppercorns
• ½ teaspoon cumin seeds
• ½ teaspoon fennel seeds
• 2 teaspoons coriander seeds

OR use:

• 2 teaspoons coriander powder
• ½ teaspoon cumin powder
• ½ teaspoon fennel powder
• ½ teaspoon garam masala

🥔 How to Make the Samosa Filling

1. Boil Potatoes & Peas:
   In a stovetop pressure cooker, cook potatoes and green peas together for 5–6 whistles. In an Instant Pot, pressure cook for 20–25 minutes. Let cool, then peel and cube the potatoes.
2. Roast & Grind Spices:
   Lightly roast the whole spices until aromatic. Cool and grind to a semi-fine powder.
3. Prepare Filling:
   In a skillet, heat oil. Add cumin seeds, then ginger and green chilies. Sauté for a few seconds.
   Add peas, chili powder, hing, and your prepared spice mix. Stir and add cubed potatoes, salt, amchur, and coriander leaves. Mix and sauté for 1–2 minutes. Set aside.

🍞 How to Make Samosa Dough

1. Combine Dry Ingredients:
   In a bowl, mix flour, salt, carom seeds, and ghee/oil.
2. Form Dough:
   Rub between fingers until crumbly. Slowly add water, a tablespoon at a time, and knead to a tight dough.
3. Rest the Dough:
   Cover with a damp cloth and rest for 30 minutes.

🥟 How to Shape & Assemble Samosas

1. Divide dough into 6–7 equal parts. Roll each into a smooth ball.
2. Roll out into an oval or circle about 1 mm thick. Cut in half.

1. Wet the edges with water. Fold each half into a cone and seal the edge.
2. Fill with the potato mixture. Seal the open edge tightly to form a triangular pocket.

1. Cover the shaped samosas with a moist towel to prevent drying.

🍳 How to Fry Samosas

1. Heat oil in a deep pan or kadai over medium heat. Test with a small piece of dough—it should rise gradually.
2. Slide 3–4 samosas into the oil. Reduce heat to low immediately.

1. Fry slowly, turning occasionally until they are evenly golden brown and crisp.
2. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.

🧊 Freezing & Reheating Tips

• To freeze: Shape samosas and freeze them on a tray. Once firm, transfer to a ziplock bag and store for up to a month.
• To reheat: Deep fry directly from frozen on low heat or bake at 180°C (350°F) for 15–20 minutes until crisp.

👩‍🍳 Expert Tips for Perfect Samosas

• Don’t rush the frying—low heat ensures a crisp and flaky crust.
• Use cold water for the dough and rest it properly to relax the gluten.
• Seal the edges tightly to prevent filling from spilling during frying.
• Adjust spice levels to suit your taste.

🍽️ Serving Suggestions

Serve hot Punjabi Samosas with:

• Tamarind chutney
• Green mint chutney
• Sweet yogurt sauce
• Masala chai

Perfect for snack time, potlucks, or Diwali celebrations!

Make Your Samosas Like a Pro

Making samosas at home may sound intimidating, but with this detailed recipe, you’ll find it surprisingly doable—and fun! Whether it’s for an evening snack or a special occasion, these homemade Punjabi samosas will steal the spotlight every time. Once you try this recipe, you’ll never want to go back to store-bought versions again.