Sambuusa (Somali Fried Meat Pastries)

Name: Sambuusa (Somali Fried Meat Pastries)
Prep time: 40 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 60 min
Yield: 12 servings
Cuisine: Somalia
Ingredients: 1 lb ground beef; 1 onion, finely chopped; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 1 tbsp xawaash spice blend; 1 jalapeño, minced; 2 tbsp chopped cilantro; 12 spring roll or samosa wrappers; 2 tbsp flour mixed with water (for sealing); Oil, for deep frying

Sambuusa (Somali Fried Meat Pastries) photo 1

12 servings40 min prep20 min cookMedium Somalia

♡ Sign in to save Print / Save as PDFPro

The Story Behind It

The Tale of Sambuusa (Somali Fried Meat Pastries)

Story updated September 17, 2026

Sambuusa, crisp fried pastries filled with spiced meat or lentils, trace back to the samosa, which spread from South Asia and the Middle East along Indian Ocean and overland trade routes into East Africa. Somalis adopted and adapted it into a beloved snack, especially popular during Ramadan iftar meals.

Ingredients

Scale:· 12 servings

1 lb ground beef
1 onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp xawaash spice blend
1 jalapeño, minced
2 tbsp chopped cilantro
12 spring roll or samosa wrappers
2 tbsp flour mixed with water (for sealing)
Oil, for deep frying

Instructions

1Cook the ground beef in a pan with onion and garlic until browned and the onion is soft.
2Stir in xawaash, jalapeño, and cilantro and cook 2-3 minutes, then cool completely.
3Cut the wrappers into strips and fold each into a cone shape.
4Fill each cone with a spoonful of the meat mixture.
5Fold the top over to seal the triangle, sealing the edge with the flour paste.
6Heat oil to 350°F (175°C) and fry the sambuusa in batches until golden and crisp, about 3-4 minutes.
7Drain on paper towels and serve hot.

Want Cook Mode, your own recipe photos, and unlimited calculators?

Get Home Cooking Pro

Comments

Loading comments…