Air Fryer Samosas with Filo Pastry

Filo samosas on a piece of baking parchment next to a bowl of chutney.

Yes, I’ve figured out how to make delicious Air Fryer Samosas with filo pastry – yes, perhaps not as authentic as the ones fried in traditional pastry, but they’re great to batch cook for parties and gatherings, stuffed with fragrant, spiced potatoes and frozen peas. It is almost the holidays, after all!

When we go get a curry, unlike when we order a Chinese we rarely get starters (hello Homemade Sesame Prawn Toasts), but sometimes we’re in the mood for a vegetable samosa. The spiced potato and pea filling encased in hot pastry, there is something so addictive about them served with a tonne of different, delicious chutneys. So, seeing as I’ve got a feast coming up where I’m planning on serving a couple of my favourite curries it seemed like a good idea to refine an easy, at home samosa recipe for you all that I can also serve to guests as they arrive.

Sheet pan of cooked samosas with coriander chutney.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make these air fryer samosas ahead?

I really love you can both make the filling ahead, and assemble them lightly sprayed with oil before batch cooking in the air fryer (they only take 5 minutes at 200 degrees to crisp up) either as people arrive, or ahead to be kept warm on a baking tray.

Why use the air fryer instead of the oven?

Why air fry them, rather than bake them I ask? Well, brushed or spritzed with light oil, I find they’re far crispier and tastier than if the filo was allowed to dry out in patches which is more likely to happen in the oven.

How on earth do you fold perfect samosas?

With practice, I’m afraid! But I found this picture tutorial really helpful when I was learning.

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Sheet pan of cooked samosas with coriander chutney.

Air Fryer Samosas with Filo Pastry

  • Author: Rachel Phipps
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Total Time: 50 minutes (plus cooling time)
  • Yield: Makes 10 1x
  • Category: Sides
  • Method: Air Fryer
  • Cuisine: Indian
  • Diet: Vegan

Description

These cheats-style Air Fryer Samosas pair a gently spiced potato and pea filling with flaky filo pastry for a quick and easy party treat or accompaniment to an Indian-style meal.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 medium potatoes (approx. 400g / 14 oz)
  • 1 tbsp light oil, plus extra for brushing (or use a spray oil mister)
  • 1/4 tsp cumin seeds
  • 1/4 tsp chilli powder
  • 1/4 tsp ground turmeric
  • large handful frozen peas
  • thumb size piece fresh ginger
  • 1 tsp garam masala
  • 1/2 tsp sea salt
  • small handful fresh coriander
  • 10 x square filo pastry sheets
  • 1 x quantity Quick Coriander Chutney, for serving

Instructions

  1. Peel and chop the potatoes into small cubes – just slightly smaller than if you were making Bombay-style potatoes. Bring to the boil in a pan of cold, salted water and cook just just fork tender – this should not take any longer than about 10 minutes. Drain.
  2. Heat the oil in a large frying pan set over a medium high heat. Add the cumin seeds, chilli powder and the turmeric and stir until sizzling. Stir in the peas until defrosted and add back in the potatoes, stirring until they’re well coated in the spice mixture.
  3. Remove from the heat and stir in the ginger, peeled and grated, the garam masala, the sea salt, and the coriander, finely chopped. Set aside to cool, transferring to the fridge if necessary.
  4. Once the mixture is cooled, fold into 10 samosas – I find this tutorial helpful – brushing with a little more oil to help the folds stick.
  5. Brush each samosa all over with oil, or spritz with a fine oil spray, and batch cook in the basket of your air fryer for 5 minutes at 200C until golden. Serve immediately – if you brushed rather than spritzed, you may want to set them aside on a piece of kitchen paper to remove any excess oil.

Notes

The filling can be made ahead and kept in the fridge for up to 3 days.

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