Healthy Indian Snacking: Air Fry & Baked Samosas with Soul Foods Chutney

Fans of the Indian snack 'Samosa' often complain that it is unhealthy due to its deep-fried outer covering and high levels of fat, carbohydrates, and sodium. However, you no longer need to worry about this, as we offer air-fry and baked samosa recipes that are low in calories, fat, and sodium, while still providing a satisfying and savory snacking experience. By making simple adjustments to the ingredients and cooking techniques, it is possible to create healthier versions of samosas that are just as satisfying. Enjoying nutritious Indian snacks can be an excellent way to satisfy cravings while maintaining a healthy diet.

Don't judge a samosa by its cover (it might be filled with savoury flavours).

What are Healthy Samosas options? 

Samosas are spicy, deep-fried fritters that frequently have samosa ingredients such as seasoned potatoes as their filling. But it totally depends on individuals as to what stuffing they would like to put inside the samosa. Many people who don't like potatoes opt for veggies or even opt for non-veg options.

 As we know, homemade samosas are the best, as you can control what goes in and how to cook the recipe according to your will. If you are wondering how can you figure out the healthy options then don't worry that is cent percent healthy and tastes lip-smacking. But before that let's check out ways of making your Samoas healthy by following-

Use Whole Wheat Flour: Try making the samosa pastry with whole wheat flour rather than refined flour. Because it is rich in minerals and fiber, whole wheat flour is a healthier choice.

Bake or Air-Fry Instead of Deep-Frying: Samosas can be baked in the oven or fried in the air fryer rather than being fried in oil. It is greatly reduced, and the samosas' fat and calorie content can be decreased. So do try out the baked samosa recipe given further in this blog. Moreover, you can also go air fry samosa as one of the options.

Veg samosa Fillings: Fillings can be made up of a range of vegetables, lentils, or lean meats. For instance, you may combine lentils and other legumes with potatoes, peas, carrots, and spices.

Use Spices: Try flavoring the samosas with a combination of spices rather than salt. Cumin, coriander, turmeric, and garam masala are a few of the typical spices used in samosas.

Serve with Healthy Dips: Dips are essential because they enhance the flavor of the samosa. However, make sure to serve samosas with lighter choices like yogurt dip, Soul Foods mint chutney, or tamarind chutney in place of fatty dips like mayonnaise or cream-based sauces.

It is possible to make healthy samosas that are still delicious and filling by making a few little adjustments. Let's check out the most awaited Air Fry and Baked Samosas Recipe for a Healthy Indian Snacking. 

Check out the required Healthy Samosa Ingredients 

It is very important that the samosa ingredients you choose should be healthy and can be easy to cook with when baked or Air fried. So let's check out the main ingredients used for baked samosas and air fry samosas. 

For Samosa Dough 

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons oil/ghee
• 3/4 cup water
• 1/4 tsp salt
  

For Samosa Filling

• 2 potatoes medium to large size
  Dividing two tablespoons of vegetable oil: For the masala, baking, or air frying, use one spoonful.
• 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
• 1 teaspoon red chili powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup frozen peas
• 1 teaspoon chopped cilantro optional

Steps For Preparation of Air Fry Samosa and Baked Samosa 

After prepping for preparing samosa ingredients, do follow the Steps For Preparation of Air Fry Samosa and Baked Samosa in detail.

This Indian Healthy homemade samosas (Air-Fried or Baked) appetizer will take only 1 hour and 10 Minutes of cooking time with servings of more than 16 - 20 Samosas. Each samosa will have 100 to 150 kcal which is quite less when compared to veg samosa ordered from a local shop. 

This is the perfect, healthy Indian air-fried samosa recipe, made with just six simple pantry ingredients. Do try out the baked samosa recipe! This Indian air-fried samosa recipe is healthier than the traditional deep-fried version as it requires minimal oil.

See Also: Gujarati Thepla Recipe

Keep in mind while air-fry samosas and baked samosas

1. To increase the crispiness in your air fry samosa, you can slightly increase the fat-to-flour ratio. For example, I use 2 tablespoons of oil for every cup of flour in my recipe.
2. Additionally, if you want your dough to be even crispier, you can add more baking soda while kneading.
3. To your baked samosas, cover them entirely in oil and bake them in the oven for 35 to 40 minutes at 400°F, flipping them over halfway through.
4. Alternatively, you can air-fry them by placing them in the oven at 380°F for 15 minutes, flipping the veg samosa over halfway through.

Step 1: Start By Boiling The Potatoes 

• The water should be heated up to a rolling boil. Meanwhile, wash the potatoes thoroughly and add them to the pot after the water has boiled, reduce the heat to medium, add the potatoes, and then cover the pot with a lid. Cook for 20 to 25 minutes. Pork a fork in one of the pieces, and if it comes out clean, the potatoes are ready to use.
  

Step 2: Preparation of Samosa Dough 

• In a bowl, combine the flour (as per your serving requirements), salt, and 1 tablespoon of oil. Gradually add water and knead the mixture into a ball. Add 1/4 cup of water at a time until the dough becomes a smooth ball. If you want a crispier texture you can add baking soda. To let the dough rest while the potatoes are boiling, lightly oil the rolled dough and set it aside for at least 15 to 20 minutes.

Step 3: Preparation of Samosa Filling

• Once the potatoes have boiled, drain the water, remove the peels, and then mash the potatoes with a masher. In the mixer of the mashed potatoes, add salt, pepper, turmeric, peas, a few sprigs of cilantro, and red chili powder. To uniformly coat the potatoes, mix the seasonings with a spoon.
  
  
• Meanwhile, heat the oil in a pan and add a tadka of jeera saute until aromatic. Add the newly mixed mashed potatoes to the pan and cook for 2-3 minutes. Put aside in a bowl after transferring.

Step 4: Folding The Samosa

• Take the kneaded dough and roll it out into a long cylindrical shape cut them into 8-9 smaller pieces using a knife. Take one of the pieces and roll it into a smooth ball. After lightly dusting the ball with flour, flatten it out with a rolling pin into a circle that is about 7 inches in circumference.
  
  
• Slice the dough diagonally to obtain two roughly semi-circular pieces. Divide it into two triangles by cutting it in half diagonally. Making a cone out of the triangle's straight edge while leaving the tip open. Don't overfill the cone.
  
  
• The samosa can be sealed by wetting the cone's edges and pressing them together.

Up until you reach the end of the pastry sheet, fold the triangle in a triangle shape, starting with the top, over the filling.

• To seal the samosa add a bit of water to the edge of the cone and seal it shut. You can either do it by pressing them together by folding one edge over the other. Apply enough oil to coat all the sides, then set aside. Continue with the remaining samosas.

Option 1: Air Frying Samosa 

1. After folding the first samosa, preheat the air fryer to 425 degrees Fahrenheit, if using. Make multiple batches if necessary, based on the size of the air fryer, but avoid overcrowding the samosas as this can prevent the dough from cooking properly.
2. Carefully place the samosas in the air fryer and cook for 10 to 12 minutes. Cook them for an additional 5 to 7 minutes after turning them over. You may need to add a few extra minutes depending on your air fryer. Once done, the air fry samosa should have a beautiful golden brown color on both sides and a crispy exterior.
3. Note that temperatures and cooking times may vary significantly depending on the air fryer you have. For my air fryer, the total cooking time is 18 minutes, but it could take longer or shorter depending on factors such as the size of the samosas. Check if one side is done after 10 minutes, then flip the sides after 5-7 minutes.

Option 2: Baking Samosa!

If you're baking the samosas, start preheating the oven to 400F after you've completed folding the first one. On a sheet pan that has been lined with parchment paper or a silicon mat, arrange each samosa about 2 inches away from one another. If the color is golden brown after 20 minutes of baking, flip the pan over and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes.

Take the baked samosas out and serve them with your favorite soul food chutney!

Difference Between Air Fry, Baked, and Deep-Fried Samosas

Air-Fried Samosas: Instead of using oil to cook food, air frying uses hot air. Without the necessity for deep frying, food is given a crispy texture by having hot air circulated around it in air fryers. Because they contain less oil than deep-fried samosas, air-fried samosas are typically healthier. These might not be as crispy as deep-fried samosas, though.

Baked Samosas: Baking is the process of using dry heat to cook food in an oven. To give cooked samosas a crispy quality, oil is typically drizzled on them before baking. Because baked samosas require less oil than deep-fried ones, they are healthier. These might not be as crispy as deep-fried samosas, though.

Deep-Fried Samosas: Deep frying involves cooking food in hot oil. Deep-fried samosas have a crispy texture and a rich, savory flavor. However, they are usually higher in fat and calories than air-fried or baked samosas.

Ultimately, dietary restrictions and personal preference will determine the best cooking method for homemade samosas. Deep-frying yields the most traditional and authentic samosa flavor and texture, while air-fried samosa and baking are healthier alternatives.

Which Chutney Goes Best With Samosas? 

Many types of chutneys pair well with air fry samosa or baked samosas, which are popular snacks in many parts of the world. Here are some of the healthy chutneys options that we provide which go well with veg samosa:

Mint Chutney: This Mint chutney is a classic chutney that is made with fresh mint leaves, coriander, green chilies, olive oil, and some spices. It has a refreshing taste and is perfect to balance out the rich and spicy flavors of the samosas.

Coriander Chutney: Coriander chutney is made with fresh coriander leaves, olive oil, green chilies, and other spices. It has a bright green color and a slightly tangy taste that goes well with the crispy texture of the samosas.

Schezwan Chutney: Shezwan chutney is made with onions, olive oil, salt, ginger, chili, garlic, sugar, tomato paste, spices (cinnamon, cloves, fennel seeds, black pepper, nutmeg), star anise, and yeast extract powder. It has a sweet and spicy taste that pairs well with the savory flavors of the samosas.

Garlic Chutney: Garlic Chutney is made with garlic paste, water, red chilies, salt, sugar, olive oil, cumin powder, coriander powder, chili powder, and lime juice. It has a creamy texture and a tangy taste that balance out the spicy flavors of the samosas.

May your samosas always be golden brown and perfectly filled with flavours.

Experimenting with different chutneys is a fun way to explore new flavors and find the perfect match for your samosas. You can try tamarind chutney for a tangy and sweet taste or mint chutney for a refreshing kick. And if you're looking for a healthy option, our Soul Foods chutney made with olive oil is a great choice. With our air fry and baked samosas recipe and a variety of chutneys to choose from, you can enjoy a delicious and healthy snack anytime you want.

Popular Chutney on Soulfoods

Schezwan Chutney | Garlic Chutney | Mint Chutney | Coriander Chutney