With Ramadan around the corner I thought I’d share some alternative samosa fillings. Samosas are perfect to accompany your soup for Iftar or to enjoy as a light snack with your favourite dip or chutney.

Samosas are made with fried or baked pastry with a savoury filling, such as spiced potatoes, cheese & onions and minced meat (lamb, beef or chicken). The traditional mince and onion filling remains a firm favourite amongst many.

Samosas are traditionally deep fried in vegetable or sunflower oil. For a healthy alternative brush your samosas with olive oil and bake at 190ºC for 40 minutes or until golden brown and baked through. Samosas can also be air fried using the same method as for your conventional oven.

Cheese & Onion Samosa Filling

Ingredients:

2 large onions, peeled and chopped finely 

200g grated cheddar cheese

2 Tbsp cake flour

1 – 2 tsp crushed red chillies

1tsp roasted masala

2Tbsp fresh coriander / dhanya

Method:

Mix the flour with the cheddar cheese to prevent the cheese from sticking together.

Add the rest of the ingredients mix gently together and fill your samosa pur.

Chicken & Corn Samosa Filling
Ingredients:

2 chicken breasts

4 cloves garlic, grated

3 – 4 green chillies, chopped

1 red pepper, finely chopped

2 Tbsp dhanya / fresh coriander

1 chicken cube

2 cups corn (drain water if using from a can)

1/2 cups mozzarella cheese (optional)

1 bunch spring onions, chopped

Method:

Boil the chicken with the chicken cube, garlic and enough water to cover till cooked, about 10 minutes.

Drain the water completely.

Allow the chicken to cool and shred into pieces.

Add the remaining ingredients.

Season with salt to taste.

Use as a filling for samosas or spring rolls.

Fajita Samosa Filling

Ingredients:

400g deboned chicken breasts (about 2 chicken breasts) 

1 red pepper 1 yellow pepper 1 green pepper 

2 large onions 

1 Tbsp oil (olive or normal cooking oil) 

½ – 1 tsp crushed red chillies 

1 tsp jeera /cumin 

1 tsp paprika 

¼ tsp garlic powder 

1 tsp salt (or to taste) 

1 tsp freshly crushed black pepper 

200 strong cheddar cheese 

2 tsp lemon juice 

Method:

Cook the chicken breasts in a little water. 

Add water as needed but don’t add too much, just so it does not stick or burn to your pot. 

Meanwhile chop the peppers and onions finely. 

Once the chicken has cooked removed it from the pot and allow to cool. 

Shred the chicken breasts into small pieces. 

Heat the oil in the pot add the onions and peppers, sauté for about 5 minutes. 

Add the rest of the spices, stir and cook a further 5 minutes, don’t add water. 

Cool completely before adding the shredded chicken, cheese and lemon juice. 

Fill your samosas as you normally would.

Serve with a chutney dip. 

Learn to make samosas from scratch by following my tutorial above. You’ll learn how to make the samosa leaves / pur as well as traditional mince filling.

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