Vegan Samosas Done Right: Tips and Tricks from Indian Vegan Experiment.

If you are a fan of Indian cuisine, you must have tried samosas. These popular savory pastries are a staple of Indian food and are usually filled with spiced potatoes and peas. 

However, the traditional recipe for samosa dough includes butter, making it unsuitable for vegans. Fortunately, there are several vegan options available, and in this post, we'll share some tips and tricks from our Indian Vegan Experiment to help you make the best vegan samosas possible.

1. The Perfect Pastry

The traditional samosa pastry dough consists of all-purpose flour and ghee (clarified butter). However, you can make vegan samosas by using a combination of all-purpose and whole wheat flour along with a vegan butter substitute. This combination gives the dough a flaky and buttery texture without using any animal products.

We recommend using Earth Balance Vegan Buttery Sticks in this recipe. These vegan butter sticks are available at most grocery stores and work perfectly in this recipe. Remember to keep your dough refrigerated while you prepare the filling to make sure it doesn't become too soft.

2. Delicious Filling Options

While the traditional samosa filling includes potatoes and peas, you can experiment with different fillings to find your favorite. For example, you could use lentils, chickpeas, or even tofu. Adding some chopped spinach or kale to the filling adds an extra burst of nutrients to your vegan samosas.

To add authentic Indian flavors to your filling, you can use a combination of spices like cumin, coriander, turmeric, and garam masala. You can adjust the spice level to your liking by adding more or less chili powder or cayenne pepper. Remember to mix your filling ingredients well and to let the flavors blend for at least 15 minutes.

3. Assembling Your Samosas

Roll out your dough into thin sheets and cut them into triangles. Add a spoonful of filling to each triangle, then fold the dough over and crimp the edges together to seal the filling inside. Fry the samosas in hot oil until they're golden brown and crispy.

One of the essential tips we learned from our Indian Vegan Experiment is to make sure that the oil is hot enough before adding the samosas. If the oil isn't hot enough, the samosas will absorb too much oil and become greasy. We recommend using a candy thermometer to check the oil's temperature, which should be around 350°F.

4. Serve Your Samosas with Chutney

Samosas are typically served with tamarind chutney or mint chutney. For tamarind chutney, mix tamarind concentrate, water, sugar, and spices like cumin and chili powder. For mint chutney, blend fresh mint leaves, cilantro, garlic, ginger, lemon juice, and a little bit of water until smooth. You can adjust the spice level in both chutneys to your preference.

5. Conclusion

Making vegan samosas is easier than you might think. With the right dough, filling, and cooking techniques, you can enjoy these delicious pastries without using any animal products. Use the tips and tricks we've shared from our Indian Vegan Experiment to create samosas that are flavorful, crispy, and satisfying.

So, there you have it, folks! We hope you find our tips and tricks helpful in making the perfect vegan samosas. Remember to experiment with your fillings and spices to create your unique samosa recipe. Don't forget to serve your samosas with some chutney to complete the experience. Happy cooking!