Description
Kenyan sambusas bring culinary magic to your kitchen with their golden, flaky pastry and richly seasoned beef interior. Delicate triangles packed with warm spices promise a delightful journey through East African flavors you’ll savor with each crispy bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat:
- 1 pound (454 grams) ground beef or lamb
Aromatics and Spices:
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon grated ginger
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 tablespoon ground coriander
- 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
- 1 teaspoon chili powder (optional)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Cooking and Wrapping Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 package of spring roll wrappers or samosa pastry
- Oil for frying
Instructions
- Sauté finely chopped aromatics (onions, garlic, and ginger) in hot vegetable oil until translucent and fragrant, releasing their essential oils and creating a flavor base.
- Introduce ground meat to the pan, breaking it into small crumbles and browning thoroughly to develop rich caramelized notes. Integrate warming spices like cumin, coriander, turmeric, and chili powder, ensuring even distribution and coating each meat particle.
- Allow the spiced meat mixture to cool completely, which prevents wrapper soggy and helps maintain structural integrity during folding.
- Carefully wrap the cooled filling inside delicate spring roll wrappers, meticulously forming precise triangular shapes. Seal edges using water as an adhesive, pressing firmly to prevent filling leakage during frying.
- Prepare a deep frying pan with oil heated to approximately 350°F, creating an optimal environment for achieving golden, crisp exteriors.
- Gently lower sambusas into the hot oil, maintaining consistent temperature. Fry for 3-4 minutes per side until they transform into deep amber-colored, crunchy pastries.
- Transfer fried sambusas onto absorbent paper towels, allowing excess oil to drain and preserve their delicate crispness.
Notes
- Make sambusas ahead of time by preparing filling and wrappers earlier, then refrigerating until ready to fry for convenient meal prep.
- Switch ground meat with plant-based alternatives like lentils or crumbled tofu for vegetarian/vegan versions without compromising flavor profile.
- Use phyllo or wonton wrappers as substitutes if spring roll wrappers aren’t available, ensuring similar crispy texture and easy folding technique.
- Control oil temperature around 350-375°F for perfect golden-brown crispiness, preventing soggy or burnt exterior while ensuring even cooking throughout sambusa.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15-20 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks, Dinner
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Somali Cuisine
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg