These quick and easy Air Fryer Vegan Samosas are made with a brilliant shortcut: store-bought spring roll wrappers! They may not be authentic or traditional, but my super simple pea and potato samosas have all the crispy pastry crunch and perfectly spiced, creamy veggie filling your hungry heart desires.
About ThEse Plant Based Samosas
The first time I ever tried Indian food, it was a plate full of veggie samosas and pakoras. 30 years later, they are still two of my favorites.
These delectable little triangular pastries are filled with fragrantly spiced potatoes and sweet green peas. But I think it’s the first bite of that sweet-tart tamarind sauce that won me over.
I mean, who doesn’t love the stellar combination of a perfectly crunchy pastry and the perfection of creamy potatoes? Then top that off with an amazing sauce — yum!
Ever since that first taste, I’ve been hooked. While I simply LOVE to explore all the wonders of Indian food, making from-scratch samosas (or really any pastry) can be too time-consuming to make as often as I want to eat them.
Luckily, I’ve found a delightful shortcut so I can get all the flavor of my beloved Indian samosas without all the fuss.
This impossibly easy samosa recipe:
- It is naturally vegan and soy-free, and can easily be made oil-free, meaning it’s perfect for all types of dietary restrictions.
- It uses store-bought vegan spring roll wrappers, so you don’t have to take the time to make a homemade crust. Note: check the ingredients of the wrappers if they are not clearly labeled vegan.
- Requires just 11 easy-to-find ingredients, half of which you probably already have in your pantry right now.
- Swaps the deep fryer for the air fryer. You know how much I love my air-fryer for getting shatteringly crisp results without oil, right? (By the way, you simply have to try these Crispy Air Fryer Potatoes — they’re the bee’s knees!) Turns out, it’s also an excellent option for making perfectly crisp and golden vegetarian samosas.
Want more vegan air-fryer recipes? Here are a bunch of whole-food plant-based air fryer goodies you need to try!
Ingredients & Substitutions
As promised, you don’t need a ton of ingredients to make these crave-worthy vegetable samosas. Here’s what to grab:
- Optional Oil* – Any cooking oil you prefer will work here. But it’s easy to make them oil-free by toasting the spices in a dry pan, then using some water as needed to saute the veggies.
- Coriander Seeds, Cumin Seeds, Garam Masala, Ground Cardamom, & Chili Powder – Indian food requires the generous use of spices. While whole coriander seeds and cumin seeds are preferred, you can swap in ground spices in a pinch.
- Cooked Potatoes – I suggest reaching for a starchy variety like Russets or a middle-of-the-road variety like Yukon Golds. But you can use whatever potato you have on hand in a pinch.
- Green Peas – You know that peas aren’t my favs, but in this recipe they work perfectly and meld into the perfect filling.
- Salt – For seasoning, to taste. If you don’t use salt, just sub your favorite salt substitute or add a sprinkle of garlic and onion powder to give it the bite it usually gets from salt.
- Water – If possible, use filtered water for the best flavor.
- Brown Sugar – Either light or dark brown sugar will work. Avoiding refined sugar? You can use coconut sugar or date past instead.
- Tamarind Concentrate – You can also use tamarind paste depending on what is available near you. If it’s unavailable at your regular grocery store, I suggest looking at your local Indian market. Don’t have one near you? Amazon will definitely carry my fav brand, Indira’s tamarind concentrate.
- Vegan Spring Roll Wrappers – These are usually located in the refrigerated section of my normal grocery store near the tofu. Look for vegan on the label! You can use plant-based wonton wrappers in a pinch.
Equipment
To make these air fryer samosas, you’ll need:
- An air fryer (or an oven and a sheet pan)
- A skillet & a saucepan
- A silicone spatula
Pro Tip: Search the Amazon Warehouse for amazing deals on kitchen equipment!
How To Make Shortcut Vegan Samosas In The Air Fryer
These easy samosas come together in less time than it takes to watch an episode of your favorite sitcom. Here’s how to make them:
Step 1: Bloom Spices. Heat the oil, if using, in a large saute pan over medium-high heat. Once warm, add in coriander seeds and the cumin seeds.
Cook until the seeds start to pop and their aromas are released. Then add the garam masala, cardamom, and chili powder and saute for a minute.
Fun Fact: This process of blooming the spices in hot oil is known as tadka in Hindi!
Step 2: Make Filling. Add in the cooked potatoes and frozen peas. The mixture will look like mashed potatoes as you mix it all together. Cook until the peas are tender. Set aside and let cool.
Step 3: Make Samosa Dipping Sauce. While you’re waiting for the potato mixture to cool, make the tamarind sauce. Add the water, brown sugar, and tamarind concentrate to a small saucepan.
Bring to a boil, then lower the heat to medium. Cook until the mixture reduces and thickens, about 10 to 15 minutes.
Step 4: Assemble Samosas. Cut the spring roll wrappers in half lengthwise. Take one strip and place a rounded tablespoon of the filling in the bottom left corner.
Dip your finger in the water and wet the edges of the spring roll wrapper.
Fold the wrapper by taking the filled corner and bringing it to the top to form a rectangle. Keep wrapping until you are left with a triangle. Repeat until all the samosas are formed.
Step 5: Air Fry. Place a single layer of samosas into your air fryer basket. Cook at 375 degrees for 5 minutes. Flip and cook for 4 to 5 minutes more or until crunchy.
Step 6: Serve with dipping sauce on the side. Enjoy!
Optional Variations
While I love these semi-homemade samosas just the way they are, I’m all about encouraging my readers to tweak recipes to fit their needs. Here are a few variations to consider:
- Oil-Free – Bloom your spices in a hot dry pan instead of using oil.
- Gluten-Free Samosas – I’ve never found store-bought gluten-free wrappers, but you can take soft gluten-free tortillas like BFree or Mission brand (not harder ones like the Food for Life Brown Rice ones). Cut into a rectangle, then fold the same way. Just secure it with a toothpick or two while air frying.
- No Air Fryer? No Problem! If you don’t have an air fryer, you can cook these on a baking sheet in the oven at 350 degrees. Cook for about 15 minutes, then turn and cook for 5 minutes more.
Expert Tips
This vegetable samosas recipe is pretty straightforward, but I’ve learned a few tricks along the way. Here are some things to keep in mind:
- Cook the potatoes in their skins, then peel them afterward. This will help prevent them from taking on too much water and becoming soggy, plus the skins will slip right off without needing a vegetable peeler!
- Let the potato-pea filling cool quite a bit before trying to stuff the samosas. Burning your fingers is no fun.
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket. You want the samosas to be fully exposed so the whole wrapper gets crispy. Work in batches as needed. How many batches? That depends on the size of your air fryer.
- These cheater’s vegetarian samosas using spring roll wrappers are best served straight from the air fryer basket, but any leftovers can be cooled to room temperature before storing in an airtight container in the fridge. To reheat, use the air fryer or toaster oven instead of the microwave to help re-crisp the exterior.
- One batch of my vegan samosas makes about 30 pieces. Feel free to scale the recipe up as needed, but consider pulling in a friend to help you wrap them all if you do.
- Make a double batch and only cook half. Set aside the ones you won’t eat immediately. Then freeze in a ziplock bag and reheat straight from the freezer when the mood hits you!
Frequently Asked Questions
While pea and potato-filled Punjabi samosas were my first love, there are tons of different fillings you can use. Consider other starchy veggies like cauliflower, sweet potato, or winter squash, vegan cheeses, Indian-spiced lentils, butter “chicken” soy curls, spicy jalapeños, or even sweet fillings like apple pie samosas… the sky is the limit!
I love the delightfully tangy tamarind dip for samosas, but Indian cuisine is rife with saucy possibilities. Try dipping them in your favorite chutney or use my second favorite sauce, a bright green mint chutney.
More Tasty Indian-Inspired Recipes
- Oil-Free Vegan Butter Chicken Soy Curls
- Vegan Richa’s Bombay Potatoes
- Creamy Vegan Indian Slow Cooker Lentils & Kidney Beans
- Indian Stuffed Potato Chaat
- Vegan Aloo Jeera (Cumin Potatoes)
If you try my recipe for Easy Vegan Samosas in the Air-Fryer, let me know how they turned out by giving me a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating and/or commenting below!
Easy Air Fryer Vegan Samosas Using Spring Roll Wrappers (Soy-Free, Oil-Free* Option)
Ingredients
Filling ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon oil , optional dry saute the spices and water saute the veggies to make oil-free
- ½ teaspoon coriander seeds
- ½ teaspoon cumin seeds
- 2 teaspoons garam masala
- ¼ teaspoon ground cardamom
- ⅛ teaspoon chili powder
- 2 cups cooked peeled potatoes
- ¾ cup green peas
- Salt to taste
Dipping sauce ingredients:
- ½ cup water
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon tamarind concentrate
- 1 12 ounce/340 g package vegan spring roll wrappers
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large saute pan over medium high heat, if using – if not saute the spices in a dry pan. Once warm, add in coriander seeds and the cumin seeds. Cook until the seeds start to pop and their aromas are released. Then add the garam masala, cardamom, and chili powder and saute for a minute.
- Add in the potatoes and peas. If you aren't using oil, add water as needed to keep the mixture from sticking in the pan. The mixture will look like mashed potatoes as you mix it all together. Cook until the peas are tender. Set aside and let cool.
- While you’re waiting for the potato mixture to cool, make the tamarind sauce. Add the water, brown sugar, and tamarind concentrate to a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat to medium. Cook until the mixture reduces and thickens, about 10 to 15 minutes.
- Cut the spring roll wrappers in half lengthwise. Take one strip and place a rounded tablespoon of the filling in the bottom left corner. Dip your finger in the water and wet the edges of the spring roll wrapper.
- Fold the wrapper by taking the filled corner and bringing it to the top to form a rectangle. Keep wrapping until you are left with a triangle. Repeat until all the samoas are formed.
- Place a single layer of samosas into your air fryer basket. Cook on 375 degrees for 5 minutes. Flip and cook 4 to 5 minutes more or until crunchy.
- Serve with dipping sauce on the side.
- Tip: If you don’t have an air fryer, you can cook these on a baking sheet in the oven at 350 degrees. Cook about 15 minutes, then turn and cook 5 minutes more.
Notes
- Oil-Free – Bloom your spices in a hot dry pan instead of using oil.
- Gluten-Free Samosas – I’ve never found store-bought gluten-free wrappers, but you can take soft gluten-free tortillas like BFree or Mission brand (not harder ones like the Food for Life Brown Rice ones). Cut into a rectangle, then fold the same way. Just secure it with a toothpick or two while air frying.
- No Air Fryer? No Problem! If you don’t have an air fryer, you can cook these on a baking sheet in the oven at 350 degrees. Cook for about 15 minutes, then turn and cook for 5 minutes more.
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