Samosa is a popular dish during Ramadan, known for its crispy texture and diverse fillings, whether it's stuffed with meat, chicken, vegetables, or cheese. In this article, we will cover how to prepare samosas, from the dough to the frying stage, along with some tips to achieve the perfect samosa. Despite its nutritional benefits, such as containing proteins, vitamins, and minerals, samosa is not the healthiest option due to its high calorie content and the presence of saturated and trans fats, which can impact heart and cardiovascular health.

Ingredients for Samosa Dough:

To prepare the samosa dough, you will need the following ingredients:

• 1¾ cups of flour
• 4 tablespoons of cornstarch
• ½ tablespoon of sugar
• ½ teaspoon of salt
• About ½ cup + a little extra water
• 2 tablespoons of oil

Method of Preparation

Preparing the Dough:

1. Mix the Dry Ingredients: Start by mixing the flour, cornstarch, sugar, and salt in a large bowl.
2. Add Water: Gradually add the water to the dry ingredients and knead until you get a dough that is firm, not too hard or too wet.
3. Add Oil: Add the oil and knead again until the oil is fully incorporated into the dough.
4. Resting Time: Let the dough rest for 15 to 30 minutes.

Shaping the Dough:

1. Rolling the Dough: After resting, roll the dough on a surface dusted with a little flour until it reaches a thickness of about 1 cm or less.
2. Cutting the Dough: Cut the dough into circles using a round cutter.
3. Shaping the Samosa: Take each circle and cut it in half diagonally. Then, fold the halves together to form a triangle shape.

Filling Options:

You can use a variety of fillings based on your preferences. Here are some options:

• Ground Meat: Cook the ground meat with onions and spices until fully cooked.
• Chicken: Boil chicken breasts, then chop and cook them with onions, green peppers, and spices.
• Cheese and Olives: Mix cheese with chopped olives and pizza sauce.

Stuffing and Frying:

1. Stuffing: Open the dough triangle and place a small amount of filling in the center. Then, seal the edges tightly with a little water to ensure they stick.
2. Frying: Heat enough oil in a pan over medium heat. Fry the samosas until they turn golden and crispy.
3. Draining: Place the samosas on paper towels to remove excess oil, and avoid covering them to keep them crispy.

Additional Touches:

• Try adding different spices to the filling, such as cilantro, chili, cumin, or cinnamon, to create new and unique flavors.
• A few drops of lemon or orange juice can add a refreshing flavor to the filling.
• Adding roasted nuts and seeds, such as pine nuts, almonds, or sesame seeds, increases the nutritional value and adds extra crunch.

Serve the samosas with a variety of sauces like tahini sauce, yogurt, or chili sauce.

 Caloric and Nutritional Values:

Ingredients for Samosa Dough:

1. Flour (approximately 250 grams):
   • Calories: 910 kcal
   • Carbohydrates: 190 g
   • Protein: 26 g
   • Fat: 2.5 g
2. Cornstarch (approximately 40 grams):
   • Calories: 150 kcal
   • Carbohydrates: 38 g
   • Protein: 0 g
   • Fat: 0 g
3. Sugar (approximately 6 grams):
   • Calories: 24 kcal
   • Carbohydrates: 6 g
   • Protein: 0 g
   • Fat: 0 g

4. Salt (approximately 3 grams):

• Calories: 0 kcal
• Carbohydrates: 0 g
• Protein: 0 g
• Fat: 0 g

5. Water (approximately 125 milliliters):

• Calories: 0 kcal
• Carbohydrates: 0 g
• Protein: 0 g
• Fat: 0 g

6. Oil (approximately 30 milliliters):

• Calories: 240 kcal
• Carbohydrates: 0 g
• Protein: 0 g
• Fat: 27 g

Total Nutritional Values for the Dough:

• Calories: 1324 kcal
• Carbohydrates: 234 g
• Protein: 26 g
• Fat: 29.5 g

These values are for the dough only, without considering the filling or the oil used for frying.

Nutritional Values for Some Potential Fillings:

1. Ground Meat (approximately 100 grams):
   • Calories: 250 kcal
   • Carbohydrates: 0 g
   • Protein: 26 g
   • Fat: 17 g
2. Cooked Chicken Breasts (approximately 100 grams):
   • Calories: 165 kcal
   • Carbohydrates: 0 g
   • Protein: 31 g
   • Fat: 4 g
3. Cheese (approximately 50 grams):
   • Calories: 200 kcal
   • Carbohydrates: 1 g
   • Protein: 14 g
   • Fat: 16 g

Approximate Nutritional Values for One Samosa (using the dough recipe for 10 pieces):

For one samosa (just the dough):

• Calories: 132 kcal
• Carbohydrates: 23.4 g
• Protein: 2.6 g
• Fat: 2.95 g

When adding 50 grams of ground meat as the filling:

• Calories: 132 (dough) + 125 (meat) = 257 kcal
• Carbohydrates: 23.4 g
• Protein: 2.6 (dough) + 13 (meat) = 15.6 g
• Fat: 2.95 (dough) + 8.5 (meat) = 11.45 g

Thus, one samosa with ground meat filling would contain approximately 257 kcal.

Conclusion: Preparing samosas requires understanding the nutritional values of the ingredients used to ensure a balanced meal that meets different nutritional needs. You can adjust the fillings to suit your specific dietary requirements, but always remember to consume fried foods in moderation to maintain good health.