Fennel Scented Spinach And Potato Samosas Recipes

SPINACH & SWEET POTATO SAMOSAS

Steps:

• Put the sweet potatoes in a large bowl, cover with cling film and microwave on High for 8 mins or until soft.
• Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large pan, add the chopped onion and cook for a few mins to soften. Stir in the ginger, garlic, chilli (if using) and coriander stalks, stirring for a couple mins more until fragrant (the garlic will burn easily, so keep an eye on it). Add the curry paste and half the black onion seeds to the pan, stir for 30 secs or so until fragrant, then add the spinach and 2-3 tbsp water. Cook the spinach until wilted, then add the sweet potato and any liquid from the bowl. Season well and mash everything together with the back of a spoon, leaving some chunky bits of potato. Leave to cool completely.
• Unroll the pastry and pull out two sheets to work with - keep the rest covered with a tea towel to prevent it from drying out. Brush both sheets with a little oil and scatter some of the black onion seeds over one sheet. Put the other sheet on top. With the shortest side facing you, cut down the centre to make two long strips. Scoop a sixth of the sweet potato mixture onto the top right-hand corner of the filo in a rough triangle shape. Fold the pastry over on an angle, continuing down the length of the pastry until you reach the bottom and have a neat triangle encasing the filling. Trim off any excess pastry with a knife. Repeat to make six samosas. Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6.
• Put the samosas on a baking tray lined with baking parchment. Brush with a little more oil and sprinkle over the remaining black onion seeds. Bake for 25-30 mins or until deep golden brown. Meanwhile, peel the cucumber into ribbons, then toss with the sliced onions and coriander leaves. To serve, dollop some yogurt onto each plate, top with two samosas, a mound of the cucumber salad and mango chutney.

FENNEL SPINACH SAUTE

Steps:

• In a large cast-iron or other heavy skillet, heat oil and butter over medium-high heat. Add fennel and onion; cook and stir until tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Add remaining ingredients; cook and stir just until spinach is wilted, 4-5 minutes.

SPINACH AND POTATO PHYLLO SAMOSAS

Steps:

• Stack the thawed phyllo pastry between 2 sheets of waxed paper, cover with a damp kitchen towel, and set aside.
• Simmer the potatoes in salted water until just tender, about 12 minutes, then drain and cut into 1/4-inch cubes.
• Set the potatoes aside.
• Heat a heavy skillet over moderate heat, and then add the fennel seeds, cumin, and turmeric.
• Dry roast the spices for about 2 minutes, stirring occasionally, and taking care not to burn them.
• When the spices are fragrant and darker in colour, add the oil, onion, chilies, gingerroot, and garlic, and cook, stirring, until the onion is softened.
• Now add the potatoes and spinach to the skillet and sauté over moderately high heat, stirring, until spinach is wilted but still bright green, about 2 minutes.
• Season to your taste with salt and pepper, then set aside to cool.
• Heat oven to 400F and lightly grease a baking sheet.
• To assemble samosas, place a sheet of phyllo dough on a flat surface with the long side facing you, and brush lightly with melted butter.
• Top with a second phyllo sheet and brush that lightly with butter also.
• Cut the stacked phyllo crosswise into 5 strips, each approximately 12" by 3 1/2" inches.
• Put 1 heaping teaspoon of potato/spinach filling near one corner of each strip.
• Fold the corner of phyllo over to enclose filling and form a triangle.
• Continue folding the pastry strip, maintaining a triangle shape.
• Place samosa, seam side down, on a baking sheet and cover with plastic wrap.
• Continue making the samosas with the remaining phyllo and filling in the same manner.
• You can prepare the samosas up to this point, six hours ahead of cooking - keep them covered, in the refrigerator.
• Bake the samosas in middle of oven until golden brown, about 10 minutes.
• Garnish samosas with mint and serve warm with mint chutney.

POTATO VEGETABLE SAMOSAS (INDIA)

Steps:

• For dough, combine flour and salt. Stir in oil, then stir in warm water. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured worksurface and knead until dough is elastic, about 5 minutes.
• Cover and set aside while preparing filling.
• Filling:.
• Boil potatoes uncovered in salted water until tender, then drain well and set aside.
• In a large sauté pan, toast fennel, cumin and coriander seeds for 2 minutes (until a fragrance is noticeable). Add oil, then onion and sauté for 4 minutes, until onion is translucent. Add garlic and ginger and sauté one minute more. Stir in spinach, peas and cooked potatoes, mashing lightly to combine and warm, then season to taste. Let filling cool.
• To assemble samosas, divide dough into 12 equal portions and shape each portion into a ball. On a lightly floured surface,roll out 1 ball into a 6-inch circle. Cut circle in half. Fold 1 corner of semicircle up and over middle. Fold second corner over to make triangle, and pinch corners of triangle to seal (leave rounded side open). Hold triangle in your hand with open rounded side facing up and let dough fall open to make cone. Fill cone with approximately 2 tablespoons potato mixture, then pinch along rounded side to seal.
• Repeat with remaining dough and filling. Cover and chill samosas until ready to cook.
• Fill a pot with 2-inches of oil (make sure oil fills pot not more than halfway) and heat to 350°F With tongs, place samosas in oil, leaving an inch between them, and cook until golden brown, about 4 minutes. Turn over and cook other side until brown, then remove onto a paper-towel lined plate to drain.
• Samosas can be served warm or at room temperature with mango chutney.
• TIP: Alternately, the samosa can be brushed with an eggwash and baked at 375 °F on a parchment-lined baking tray for 30 minutes.

LIGHTER FENNEL & POTATO GRATIN

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Quarter the fennel lengthways, and cut out and discard the root. Thinly slice the fennel. Heat 2 tbsp of the oil in a large frying pan, season the fennel and gently cook for about 5 mins until starting to soften.
• Drizzle a little oil over the base of a 1.5-litre gratin dish. Arrange half the potatoes over the base, then season. Spread the fennel over, then cover with the remaining potatoes. Pour over the stock, season and drizzle with the remaining oil. Scrunch a piece of baking parchment around the edge of the dish to make a seal, then bake for 1 hr. Can be made a few hours ahead up to this point.
• Remove the dish from the oven and put the tomatoes on top. Scatter over the Parmesan and return to the oven for 20 mins until the top is golden.