Sunday Afternoon Samoosas

Though many versions of this dish exist, beef or chicken samoosas filled with traditional spices are most popular in the Cape Malay communities of South Africa. They are served at parties or anywhere that people gather, and often with peach chutney. The sweetness of the chutney paired with crispy spiced beef parcels keep people coming for more. You can buy South African chutney online now, as well as most of the spices used. Traditionally,  pur or readymade Indian pastry is used. Pur is a common item at any Indian grocery store, but I could only find phyllo pastry where I live. Both work wonderfully.

I remember my mom frying samoosas last December when I visited home for the first time in eight years. Making them in large batches (necessary during holiday season) is time consuming, so she had ordered 250 premade but unfinished from a lady who is well-known for her samoosas. Every town has that Aunty - One who has perfected the art of samoosas, savory pies or smaller confections like lamingtons. Those aunties are a godsend for people like my mom who work full-time. If you do not order by November, you can forget about it because they are that popular. The fragrant aroma of coriander and leaf masala filling our house during the holidays is always magical. Mom knew how much I had missed samoosas while living here in the states, and 250 seems like a lot, but we enjoyed them so much almost every day. If only I could've brought some back with me!

When I returned home to Mississippi in January I was inspired to make them here and shared the image to Instagram, but never made the recipe available. I'm sorry for the wait :) We booked our tickets back to Cape Town the other day and thinking of all the samoosas I'll soon be eating, I remembered. You can substitute the beef with ground chicken thighs or even lamb - I just wanted to share how I make mine, but feel free to change it up as you wish :) 

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 lb ground sirloin or lean ground beef
1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon fenugreek powder
1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1 tablespoon South African curry powder OR mixed masala
1/4 cup finely minced fresh coriander
1 teaspoon each sugar and salt
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
10 sheets phyllo pastry (You may need more depending on how much filling added)
1 small egg, beaten (to seal pastry)
olive oil spray
Optional to serve: Peach Chutney 
 

Filling:
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat and add ground sirloin until browned, about 5 minutes. Add the onion, garlic and spices and sauté until onions are golden and soft. Finish the filling by adding coriander, sugar, salt and lemon juice. Stir and remove from heat - Allow to cool. Can be made ahead of time, stored in the fridge and assembled later. 

Preheat oven to 375F.

Assembly:
Place phyllo on a clean, dry surface and use a sharp knife to divide phyllo rectangle into three parts lengthways. You should have three equal long stacks of pastry. Take one at a time and cover the remaining sheets with a clean damp kitchen towel so that they don't dry out. 

Lay the phyllo strip on a work surface and add a tablespoonful of filling to the top corner, then fold the filled pastry across to close the open side. Keep folding from one edge to the other, keeping the triangular shape and making sure the corners are tight, until you're left with a lip. Brush it with the beaten egg and secure. Alternatively you could make a slurry of 1 tablespoon cake flour and 2 tablespoons water to do this. If you prefer, you could also just cut this portion off. Set finished samoosa aside on a baking sheet covered with a clean damp kitchen towel and repeat this process with all phyllo pastry sheets. Makes 30 - These freeze very well in an airtight container and then you can bake it off later. 

Spray with olive oil spray and bake for 8 minutes or until pastry is golden. Serve immediately. 

Easy Deviled Eggs

They get upset if I don't bring these to the party, the family gathering, the cookout, the picnic or wherever else we get together. "Dale, did you bring them?" They know the answer because they know I like to make them happy! They know that I make these with care.

I learned that deviled eggs are a Southern staple when I first moved to Mississippi. Everybody has a signature recipe that they swear by and there are a multitude of ingredients, toppings and ways to prepare them. All are delicious but honestly, I prefer mine quite simple.  A touch of peppery watercress, great smoked paprika and high quality Sir Kensington's Avocado Oil Mayonnaise all come together to make simple taste absolutely delicious! 

I've used Sir Kensington's Avocado Oil Mayonnaise for the last few years now, and what drew me to it was the perfect tanginess and creamy consistency. It reminds me of one that I grew up enjoying in my home country, so once I discovered it here I never looked back. 

I will be travelling to South Africa soon and thought I'd have a small gathering with family here before we leave. Of course I have to make these, and while I'm at it I could share a few Deviled Egg tips and tricks that I've learned along the way!  

If you can use an electric pressure cooker I highly recommend it. Not only can you boil eggs perfectly within 3 minutes, the shells slide right off once you crack them. If you prefer to go the conventional route, bring your water to a boil before carefully lowering eggs in with a slotted spoon. The sudden heat will shock the lining away from the shell, making it easier to peel after they are cooked. Now lower the heat and simmer for 12 minutes. For hard boiled eggs cooked this way I recommend you set a timer so that you don't go over.

Once your eggs are cooked remove them from the heat, drain the hot water out, place the pot in the sink and run cold water over the eggs until the shells are cold to the touch. Your eggs will be perfect and ready to slice or store them whole in an airtight container until ready to prepare.

---

If you can:

1. Wear food safe gloves to minimize the amount of time spent touching the eggs. I think people are often turned off by deviled eggs because they are labor intensive and therefore need to be picked up and put back quite a bit. My family knows that I do this and it's nice to know they feel comfortable eating what I have prepared.

2. Use a very sharp knife and carefully wipe the blade after slicing into each egg. In doing so, you wipe away any yolk that may have stayed behind on the knife and that may discolor the whites of your next egg.

3. Place a paper towel at the bottom of your plate. Eggs are so slippery! Use a paper towel to prevent them from sliding around and potentially fall to the floor. Both when you are removing the yolks and piping the filling back in.

4. Work as quickly as you can. Pre-measure your other ingredients ahead of time so that the eggs and yolks remain cold during the assembly process. I have found that cold yolks are easier to pipe and keep their shape better. 

Ingredients:

6 hard boiled eggs

1/2 teaspoon fresh black pepper (or cayenne pepper)

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 scant teaspoon smoked paprika

1 tablespoon finely chopped watercress

2-3 tablespoons Sir Kensington's Avocado Oil Mayonnaise

1 teaspoon Sir Kensington's Dijon Mustard

Method:

Slice each egg in half and remove the yolks. Set the egg whites aside.

Add the egg yolks and all other ingredients to a small bowl and mash with a fork until the mixture is smooth in consistency. Scoop the mixture into a piping bag with a star tip attached. Pipe 1 tablespoon of yolk mixture into each egg white half and garnish with fresh watercress or herbs of your choice. I like to sprinkle just a touch of black pepper and paprika on each one right before serving.

Makes 12 halves. 

This post is sponsored by Sir Kensington's. Thank you for supporting the amazing brands that I love!