Samosas + Mint Chutney

Some people come into your life and spark your sense of wanderlust. Enter Laurel - my world traveling friend. She is taking a gap year to take on the world and see what's next. After two years working as a manufacturing engineer in Arizona, Laurel has been wondering around South East Asia since December getting to know new people and volunteering in various cities. She's stayed in hostels, in homes with families, and along trails while trekking her heart out. 

She was in Nepal in May when the earthquake hit, and she then decided to make room for trained volunteers to help out and regroup. So for Mother's Day, she used her travel insurance, hopped a plane and surprised her mom by coming home for the summer. While she is home, she is catching up with her family and friends and making plans for the next part of her journey to South America.

She came over one night to visit with me and Ethan. After hearing about all the good food she experienced, we got motivated and decided to make Samosas! 

Samosas are a popular entree appetizer or snack in the local cuisines of Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, Central Asia and Southwest Asia, the Arabian Peninsula, the Mediterranean, the Horn of Africa and North Africa. They are a fried or baked pastry that are usually filled spiced potatoes, lentils, onions, peas, and or minced meat. 

It's a labor intensive process to make these tasty bites, but grab a few of your closest friends and you'll feel like you're having a party! Pair it with this minty chutney, too and you'll find yourself transported to a different continent. 

Check out more of Laurel's adventures here. And read on for the recipe! 

SAMOSAS and MINT CHUTNEY- INGREDIENTS

For the beef filling:

• 2 pounds ground beef
• 1 onion, finely diced
• 1 lemon, juiced
• 1 tsp + 1 tablespoon cumin
• 1 tsp coriander powder
• 1 tsp garam masala
• 1 tsp tumeric powder
• 1 bunch fresh coriander (if you can find it!)
• 1 tsp garlic paste
• 1 tsp ginger paste
• 4 oz canned green chiles
• Salt to taste 

For the wraps:

• It's probably best to buy pre-made wraps, but you can make your own too
• 3 cups flour
• 2 tsp salt
• 1 cup water
• Vegetable oil for frying

For the mint chutney: 

• 1.5 cups chopped cilantro
• 1.5 cups fresh mint, chopped
• 1 green chile pepper
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1/4 cup water

DIRECTIONS

• In a big bowl combine the ground beef, onion, chiles, ginger, garlic, the spices, half of the coriander and lemon juice. Make sure the ground beef is very lean. 
• Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large pan over medium heat and cook the beef mixture until completely browned and dry. Stir it constantly so you don't make lumps. It should look something like this.
• While making the beef, get a couple other people on wrap duty.
• For the wraps: combine all the ingredients and knead until the ball is really firm. Cover and let it rise for about 15 minutes. Then divide it into 6ish equal balls. 
• Roll out the balls into a thin dinner plate sized circle. 
• Once the meat is ready, get the individual wraps and shape them into a cone. Fill the cones with the meat mixture. 
• Get a dutch oven or deep soup pan and fill it with 1.5 cups vegetable oil over medium high heat. 
• Then, with the filled wraps get them in the oil!
• Fry them on each side for about 5 minutes. When cooked, place on paper towel to drain and cool.
• For the mint chutney: combine all the ingredients in a blender and puree! 

AND ENJOY :)

And per usual, eat well! Be well! And subscribe below by email to never miss a beat.