; Skip to Content

Kenyan Samosa Recipe – with a step by step instructions

Kenyan samosas are fun to make and freeze very well. They’re so versatile, you can use whatever ground meat and vegetables you happen to have. Just make sure to make extra for snacking on later.

Kenyan samosas are one of those fun cultural foods that people just use what they have so there are many variations. These freeze well and my children love them!

We have some dear friends who moved here about three years ago from Kenya. To say that their friendship has enriched our lives would be an understatement. We have learned so much from them about contentment, needs vs wants, education and a whole host of other things.

I’ve also learned how to make some pretty yummy food, like lentils and rice and rainbow salad. Last week I learned how to make Kenyan samosa. Samosa is a fried savory pie that is made in many Middle Eastern and African countries. It can be filled with just veggies or a veggie and meat combination.

Like in many cultures there isn’t an “official” recipe that everyone follows because people just use what they have. My friend had only had samosa a few times as a young child. Then another local Kenyan friend showed her how to make them, and she showed me.

One thing I love about this recipe is that samosa freezes well so I made a bunch and put them in the freezer for my kids for snacks. You can also freeze them before frying.

How to make Kenyan Samosas

You can make your own pastry but my Kenyan friend (and her friend) use these uncooked tortillas. So that’s what I used. I realize that makes them not completely authentic. But if that’s what they use now that they’re living in the States, who am I to question it?

Kenyan samosas are one of those fun cultural foods that people just use what they have so there are many variations. These freeze well and my children love them!
Kenyan samosas are one of those fun cultural foods that people just use what they have so there are many variations. These freeze well and my children love them!
Kenyan samosas are one of those fun cultural foods that people just use what they have so there are many variations. These freeze well and my children love them!

Cut the tortillas in half and then make them into a funnel. You’ll make a paste with flour and water to seal all the edges.

Kenyan samosas are one of those fun cultural foods that people just use what they have so there are many variations. These freeze well and my children love them!
Kenyan samosas are one of those fun cultural foods that people just use what they have so there are many variations. These freeze well and my children love them!

Brown the meat and then add chopped onions, garlic, shredded cabbage, grated carrots and whatever other vegetables you want to the mixture.

Kenyan samosas are one of those fun cultural foods that people just use what they have so there are many variations. These freeze well and my children love them!

Fill the tortilla funnels and seal the edges with the flour and water glue. Deep fry until golden brown. My friend used an electric fryer but I just use my deep cast iron skillet.

Kenyan samosas are one of those fun cultural foods that people just use what they have so there are many variations. These freeze well and my children love them!
Yield: 20

Kenyan Samosas Recipe

Kenyan Samosas Recipe

Kenyan samosas are fun to make and freeze well. My Kenyan friends showed me an easy way to make them by using raw tortillas instead of making pastry. It's such a time saver.

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour

Ingredients

  • 1 pound ground meat (my friend used turkey, I used beef; they were both good)
  • 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
  • 1 grated carrot
  • 1 cup finely chopped cabbage
  • 1/2 finely chopped onion
  • 5 cloves garlic (we love garlic, feel free to use less)
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1/2 cup of flour and water - mixed
  • Oil for frying  (my friend used canola, I used coconut)
  • Uncooked tortillas or (make your own pastry)

Instructions

  1. Cut tortillas in half and set aside.
  2. Brown meat.
  3. Chop all vegetables and add to meat.
  4. Add salt and pepper.
  5. Fold tortillas into a triangle so that they make a pocket.
  6. Use the flour and water mixture as a paste to seal the seams.
  7. Put a heaping teaspoon of meat in the pocket.
  8. Again, use the flour and water mixture to seal the top seam and fold it over. At first I used quite a bit of the flour and water but as I got more comfortable with sealing the seams I didn't need as much.
  9. After you have a few made, heat the oil to fry them.
  10. Fry them until the pastry is brown and then flip.
  11. Remove from pan when both sides are brown and put them on a plate with a towel to absorb the oil or on a rack with a platter underneath.
  12. Makes about 20

Notes

Samosas are one of those cultural recipes where it's really more of a process than an exact recipe. For the most part, people just use what they have to fill it. So feel free to experiment.

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Pinterest

image of Kenyan samosa cut in half

Thanks for sharing with your friends!

Julie croff

Friday 1st of March 2024

Oy! Haters gonna hate love! These are perfect. My sister lives in Kenya, and I kid you not, nearly every day we went to “Java House” for coffee and Samosas. (and oh my gosh their butter cookies!) These are very good. And Yes! You must serve with lime to be the Kenyan version! It's all about the seasoning whether indian or Kenyan hot sauce if latino! And homemade dough of course is always preferable, but who has time! Tortillas, phyllo, eggroll wrappers, pie crust, or best… empanada wrappers are closest if you can get.

Ben

Sunday 26th of November 2023

Is it flour or corn tortilla?

Angi Schneider

Thursday 21st of December 2023

It's a flour tortillas that is sold in the refrigerator section as it's uncooked.

Pillip Minyard

Thursday 18th of May 2023

Can these be baked instead of fried and if so, time and temp suggestion, please.

Angi Schneider

Sunday 21st of May 2023

I've never baked them, so I can't give you a time and temperature.

Jacqueline

Wednesday 2nd of November 2022

I made these. I added 2 teaspoons of medium hot curry powder to the filling mixture while browning meat. They were delicious. Thank you.

Angi Schneider

Sunday 6th of November 2022

I'm so very glad!

Carmen

Saturday 28th of May 2022

I recently returned from Kenya and my daughter in law’s family make these. They are one of my favorite. I did also try at the airport cafe and you can buy two Jumo ones filled with ground meat and green onion for 3500 ksh and they are amazing! Those were my favorite! I did try and make and my dough fell apart. It seems I added too much of something. I don’t think cooking something from any other part of the world has anything to do with what race you are, I think it’s more important of what taste you like. I did wander about using tortillas but they have more of an egg roll texture and taste. Also the flour in Africa is different than what we have as are most other products we purchase in America. Most sugary items are using unrefined and not over processed goods. It’s healthier also. The ones my mother in law made where stuffed with some type of pea. This is a very tasty food! I will continue to make until I perfect my own ! Thanks for sharing!

Angi Schneider

Friday 3rd of June 2022

Thank you Carmen. Food should be a uniting thing and I'm so thankful for those who share their food with us. It's hard when people move to other countries and can't find the same type of products they used in their homeland. I love that you're going to continue trying to find the perfect version for you!

Skip to Recipe