Crispy, golden and packed with flavour – these Air Fryer Samosas are the perfect side dish for your next fakeaway. Made with shop-bought spring roll pastry and a simple spiced potato & pea filling – they’re easier than you think!
These homemade air fryer samosas are such a handy little snack or side dish to have up your sleeve!
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Traditionally, samosas are deep fried, but cooking them in the air fryer makes them so much lighter – and a bit healthier too.
The filling is nice and simple – just potatoes, peas and a few spices – but you can easily tweak it to suit your taste or any dietary needs. (I’ve included allergy-friendly options below) They freeze brilliantly as well, so they’re great for batch cooking.
I’ve also added oven instructions if you don’t have an air fryer – they still turn out lovely and crisp.
And I tested them with both one and two layers of pastry – both versions were tasty, but the two-layer ones definitely had more crunch (especially with spring roll pastry!).
If you’ve made my Air Fryer Spring Rolls, you’ll be using the same pastry here – it works perfectly for these samosas too!
These samosas make the perfect addition to this chicken & aubergine curry & gluten-free naan breads.
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🥘 Ingredients You Will Need & Notes
Here’s a quick photo showing you everything you’ll need to make these air fryer samosas. I’ve also added a few notes to highlight any extra info or tips for certain ingredients.
To find out how to make them allergy-friendly, simply scroll down to the section below this one.
✋ Double check all packaging for allergens ✋
Ingredient Notes
- Spring Roll Pastry - You will find this in the freezer section at most major supermarkets. Remove from the freezer a few hours before using. While you are making the samosas, keep the remaining pastry on a plate under a clean, damp tea towel to stop it drying out.
- Green Chillies - Use one for a mild samosa or two if you prefer things hotter.
- Garlic & Ginger - I’ve used fresh ginger and garlic in this recipe, but you can swap it for a teaspoon each of garlic and ginger paste if you prefer.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
🥜 How Can I Make This Dish Allergy Friendly?
✔️ Make It Gluten-Free: The spring roll pastry contains gluten, so use rice paper spring roll wrappers instead.
✔️ Make It Dairy-Free: Use the rice paper spring roll wrappers as above.
✏️ How to Make Air Fryer Samosas
⬇️ Here you will find an overview of how to make the recipe. For full information on ingredients and quantities please see the recipe card at the bottom of the page ⬇️
Making the Samosa Filling
The filling is really simple to make but full of flavour – you’ve got soft potatoes, peas, and loads of lovely spices to give it that proper samosa taste.
I like to mash the potatoes a little once they’re in with the spices and peas – not completely, just enough so you’ve got a mix of soft mash and little chunks. It gives the filling a bit more texture and stops it from feeling too mushy.
The ginger, garlic and green chilli add a nice bit of heat, but feel free to tweak it depending on who you’re cooking for. If you or the kids aren’t into spice, just skip the chilli and add a big grind of black pepper instead.
When you add the cumin seeds to the hot oil, give them a moment to sizzle – it really brings out the flavour before the onions go in.
And finally, don’t skip the fresh coriander at the end! It brightens everything up. If you’re not a fan, a bit of chopped mint works well too.
How To Fold The Samosas
Prep the pastry: (photo 4)
Start by cutting each spring roll pastry sheet into 3 equal strips lengthways.
Keep any strips you're not using straight away on a plate under a damp tea towel – this stops them from drying out or sticking together.
Choose your layering: (photo 5)
Decide if you'd like to use one or two layers of pastry for each samosa.
– One layer gives a lighter finish
– Two layers gives a crispier texture (my personal favourite!)
How much pastry you’ll need:
– For 15 samosas using one layer, you’ll need 5 sheets of spring roll pastry (cut into 3 strips each).
– For 15 samosas using two layers, you’ll need 10 sheets (also cut into 3).
Start folding: (photos 5 & 6)
– Take one strip (or two stacked together for double layer).
– Fold the bottom left corner up and over to the right to form a triangle.
– Brush the left edge above the fold with cornflour slurry (this helps it stick).
Create the pocket: (photos 7& 8)
– Fold the triangle over to the left – this forms a little pocket ready for the filling.
Add the filling: (photo 9)
– Spoon your filling into the pocket – don’t overfill or it’ll be tricky to seal.
Seal the samosa: (photos 10 & 11)
– Brush the final flap with cornflour slurry and fold over again to seal the samosa tightly.
🤔 Can I Bake Them In The Oven Instead?
You sure can! Bake them at 200°C/390˚F for around 20 minutes, turning halfway.
🤔 Which Air Fryer Do You Use?
This recipe is tested with my Ninja Foodie Dual Zone AF300UK Air Fryer, and the timings and temperatures are tailored for this model. Keep in mind that different air fryer brands may cook differently, so regularly check your food for the best results.
🔨 The Meal Planning Toolbox
🗒️Make Ahead
You can make the filling the day before and store it in the fridge, ready to assemble.
You can also make up the samosas and store them uncooked in the fridge for up to a day. Make sure the filling is cold before adding to the pastry, though, or the pastry will go soggy.
🗒️ Batch Cooking
Make a double batch, assemble the samosas and freeze before cooking. Flash freeze flat on a baking tray, before transferring to a freezer bag when hard.
🗒️ Leftovers & Storage
Cooked samosas can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the air fryer for 5-6 minutes to crisp them back up.
🗒️Freezing
It's best to freeze the samosas before air frying – lay flat on a tray, then transfer to a bag once solid.
Cook from frozen at 160°C for 16–18 minutes.
You can also freeze them cooked and reheat for the same time, but the pastry may be drier this way.
💬 Recipe FAQs
It depends on your air fryer! Some models recommend preheating, while others don’t need it. If your air fryer manual suggests preheating, you will need to take a couple of minutes off the cooking time stated in the recipe.
It's best to check the food as its cooking to check when its ready.
⚡ More Asian Recipes
Serve these samosas with these delicous recipes
If you loved this recipe, please leave me a 5🌟 rating or comment below. I really do appreciate it. 😊
📖 Recipe
Air Fryer Samosas
Ingredients
- 10 sheets spring roll pastry if using double layers, otherwise 5 sheets
- 500 g approx 3 potatoes peeling and chopped into small cubes
- 1 medium onion finely diced
- 85 g (¼ cup) peas
- 1 medium green finger chilli finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 medium garlic clove finely chair
- salt and pepper to taste
Spices
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1 teaspoon garam masala
- ½ teaspoon turmeric
- 2 tablespoon fresh coriander finely chopped
Cornflour slurry
- 1 tablespoon cornflour
- 1 tablespoon water
Instructions
Make The Filling
- Peel the potatoes and chop them into small, bite-sized chunks. Boil in a saucepan for around 10 minutes, until soft. Drain and set aside.
- Dice the onion, and finely chop the garlic, ginger, and green chilli.
- Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the cumin seeds and stir for a minute or so until they start to sizzle.
- Turn the heat down to medium. Add the diced onion and cook for 2–3 minutes, stirring often.
- Add the chopped garlic, ginger, and chilli. Cook for another minute.
- Stir in the ground coriander, garam masala, and turmeric. Let it cook for about 30 seconds.
- Tip in the cooked potatoes and peas. Stir well and cook for 3–4 minutes, stirring regularly so it doesn’t stick. Mash the potatoes a little with the wooden spoon, keeping some whole and some mashed.
- Add the chopped fresh coriander and season with salt and pepper to taste.
Assemble & Cook The Samosas
- To assemble, follow the tutorial in the main post above (there are helpful step-by-step photos!).
- Once assembled, brush each samosa with oil or spray them lightly.
- Air fry at 180°C (350°F) for 10–12 minutes, turning halfway through, until golden and crisp.
Amy says
These were really crispy and the filling was mild enough for the children to eat. Will be making again.