Gourmet Appetizers - Vegetable and Blue Samosa Recipe

The samosa, believed to have originated in Central Asia prior to the 10th century, has been served as a popular snack in South Asia for many centuries, and today has the samosa has made a resurgance in the Western world as gourmet appetizers suitable for any occasion.

Today's modern version of the samosa are gourmet appetizers that have evolved through numerous modifications to the traditional samosa recipe, with many health-conscious people now opting to go with a lighter baked samosa recipe instead of the traditional deep frying method.

This more traditional but updated version of the samosa recipe combines spicy vegetables with blue cheese for delicious gourmet appetizers that are also suitable as a filling main course or a delicious snack.

Vegetable and Blue Samosa Recipe

Ingredients:
7 oz (200 g) sweet potato, peeled and diced
1/2 medium red onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1-2 tblsp sunflower oil
1 tsp cumin
Black pepper
2-3 tblsp frozen peas, dethawed
6 1/4 oz (175 g) blue cheese, broken into medium sized pieces
Small bunch coriander
4 sheets filo pastry
Oil for frying
Mango Chutney for serving

Directions:
1) Heat oil in frying pan and gently cook the onions, sweet potato and garlic until soft, stir in cumin and pepper and then drain on paper towel.
2) When cooled combine with peas, crumbled blue cheese and a little chopped coriander. Spread out the filo pastry and cut the sheets in half down their length, and stack the strips on top of each other.
To form the Samosa: Place one eighth of the mixture on the filo strip off centre (to the left) approx. 2.5 cm (1 inch) from end of pastry nearest you. Fold over right hand corner of pastry to cover filling. Fold over wrapped filling to give a triangular shape. Continue folding down the pastry strip, ensuring points are tucked in to avoid filling seepage. Seal the final fold with a little water.
3) Continue with remaining filo and filling until all samosas are formed. Heat oil in a pan and gently fry the samosas a few at a time, turning occassionally until the pastry is puffed and golden. Keep warm while remainder are cooked then serve garnished with fresh coriander and mango chutney.

Enjoy!!

Samosa Recipe courtesy Rosenborg Castello Cheese and Arla Foods Inc.

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