Onion samosas are a popular Indian pastry filled with caramelized onions and spices, often sold by street vendors and cinemas. The filling can be vegetarian or occasionally contain meat, and the pastry shell can be sweet or savory. The onions are sautéed until soft and sweet, then mixed with spices and stuffed into a homemade or store-bought pastry shell.
An onion samosa is a traditional Indian baked pastry filled with onions and spices. The filling ingredients are typically fried together until the onions caramelize and infuse with the flavors of the spices. They are then stuffed inside the pastry and baked until the whole thing is crispy and the inside starts to bubble. While typically vegetarian, onion samosas may occasionally contain meat. Onions are almost always the predominant flavor, however.
The term samosa refers to the baked pastry shell that surrounds the filling. It doesn’t have to be full of onions. It can be sweet or savory and made from fruit, vegetables or meat. Onion samosa is quite popular in India because its rich flavors make it appealing to both vegetarians and omnivores. Many Indian cinemas and street vendors sell samosas of all kinds, including onion.
Most types of onion samosas start with onions and spices. Onions should typically be sauteed until soft, brown, and very sweet. This can be time-consuming, so cooks making an onion samosa dish should typically plan ahead. Sweet Vidalia onions work well, as do yellow onions. Red onions usually have a very strong flavor when raw, but generally become soft and sweet when cooked.
The traditional onion samosa contains a variety of spices. Yellow, green and red curry mixes are all popular, as are chilli flakes. Those who don’t want spicy samosas can lean towards coriander, cumin, turmeric and garlic. The cook usually starts by cutting the onions into long strips and tossing them into a well-oiled skillet. A lid keeps in moisture and keeps the onions from burning as they cook slowly.
Spices are usually not added until the onions have softened. Adding seasonings too soon can cause them to burn, meaning they won’t impart any flavor to the onions. Some recipes also call for chopped chiles, olives, or capers. These things can be added to the pan along with the onions. These savory and spicy greens typically pair well with onions, creating a unique, multi-faceted, savory flavor.
Although a traditional onion samosa dish is packaged in homemade pastry shells, cooks can also use store-bought puff pastry or wonton wrappers. Those who want to make traditional shells should use wheat flour, water and ghee. Both pastas should be cut into squares and filled with a spoonful of onion filling. Samosas should typically be cooked with a little oil brushed on top to make them nice and crispy.
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