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Sambusa (Ethiopian Fried or Baked Pastry)

Sambusa is a traditional Ethiopian snack made from layers of flaky pastry filled with spiced lentils and onions.

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Ingredients

Vegetable Oil

• 1 cup vegetable oil

Pastry Dough

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/4 cup vinegar
• 1/2 cup warm water

Filling

• 1 cup cooked red lentils
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
• Salt and black pepper to taste
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

Spiced Lentil Sauce (optional)

Mix the following:

• 2 tablespoons vinegar
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 teaspoon grated ginger
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon ground coriander

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Recipe Steps

1. Prepare the Pastry Dough

Combine flour, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper in a bowl. Gradually add vinegar and warm water to form a dough. Knead for 5 minutes.

2. Roll Out the Pastry

Divide the dough into small balls and flatten each ball slightly. Use a rolling pin to roll out the dough to a thickness of 1/8 inch (3 mm).

3. Fill with Spiced Lentils and Onions

Mix cooked lentils, chopped onion, minced garlic, ground cumin, ground coriander, ground cinnamon, salt, and black pepper in a bowl. Spoon about 2 tablespoons of the filling onto one half of each dough circle.

4. Fold and Seal the Sambusa

Fold the other half over the filling to form a triangle or square shape. Press edges together with a fork to seal. Repeat with remaining dough and filling.

5. Fry or Bake the Sambusa (optional)

Heat about 2

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Generated time: 2026-03-14 09:23:11