Cocktail Samosa (Mini Paneer Samosa)

Throwing a party? Here is the best easy appetizer: Cocktail samosa. This mini paneer samosa turned out super crispy on the outside with flavorful, spiced, grated paneer stuffing inside. 

❤️ You’ll Love This Cocktail Samosa Recipe

Are these mini samosa? YES, these paneer samosa are truly super mini. You can finish it in two bites.

Perfect for parties, and potluck: Your guests will love this cocktail samosa to munch on as an appetizer.

Make-ahead: You can shape these cocktails samosa ahead of time, store them in the refrigerator or freezer and bake them right before the party and they are ready in minutes.

Versatile: You can bake them, air fry them or even deep fry them. I prefer baking them as I can make a large batch in one go. Plus, baking is a healthier option than deep frying. 

Serve these cocktail samosa as a finger food appetizer with green chutney and tamarind date chutney. It can be enjoyed with a drink or a cup of tea, coffee.

🧾 Ingredient Notes For Paneer Samosa

Here is the pic of the ingredients you’ll need to make this mini paneer samosa aka cocktail samosa. 

For Stuffing: 

• Paneer: I have used frozen paneer that is grated using a box grater. TIP: Grate the paneer while it is still chilled/cold. Room-temperature paneer may crumble or fall apart while grating. 
• Onion: I prefer to use red onion for Indian cooking.
• Tomato: I prefer to use Roma or plum tomatoes for Indian cooking. Beefsteak or other salad tomatoes has more seeds and water in them which are not good for cooking here.
• Ginger, Garlic, Green chili: I usually grind all there together in the wet jar of my spice grinder. Alternatively, you can use ginger, garlic paste and chopped green chilies.
• Spice powders: Here we are using all the basic spices to make cocktail samosa stuffing.

For Outer Layer: 

• Spring roll pastry (or egg roll wrappers): It is easily available in Indian grocery stores or regular American grocery stores in the freezer section.
• Flour & Water: A thick paste is made using both and it is used as a glue to seal the pastry while shaping the mini samosa. 

👩‍🍳 How To Make Cocktail Samosa? (Stepwise)

Cooking Peas: 

• Here I am using frozen green peas, so I cook them in the microwave. Take green peas in a microwave-safe bowl. Add a splash of water and salt. Cook in the microwave for 5 minutes. 
• Alternatively, you can cook them on the stovetop in boiling water.
• If using fresh green peas then it takes longer to cook. You can cook them in a pressure cooker as well.

Making Stuffing For Cocktail Samosa:

1) Heat the oil in a pan on medium heat. Once hot add cumin seeds and let them sizzle.

2) Add onion and crushed ginger, garlic, and chili.

3) Stir and saute for 3-4 minutes or until the onion turns translucent or light pink in color.

4) Add tomatoes and cook until tomatoes become soft and mushy.

5) Add salt and spice powders (turmeric powder, red chili powder, coriander powder, garam masala and kasoori methi.

6) Mix and cook for a minute.

7) Add peas, grated paneer and lime juice.

8) Mix well and cook for 2 minutes. Add freshly chopped cilantro and mix. Let the stuffing cool down to room temperature. 

Making Flour Paste:

1) Take all purpose flour in a bowl and add water.

2) Stir and make a lump-free thick paste.

Shaping & Baking Mini Samosa (Cocktail Samosa):

1) Take a stack of spring roll wrapper sheets. Using a pizza cutter or a sharp knife cut into 3 long strips.

2) Take one strip and place it on a work surface. Place around 1 tablespoon of paneer samosa stuffing at one end by keeping some room at the edge. 

3) Then fold that edge to make a triangle. Repeat the triangle fold as shown in the pic until your reach to almost end.

Apply the prepared flour paste at the end part of the sheet and seal it nicely and you’ll get a triangle mini samosa. 

Repeat the shaping process until you finish all. 

When you are ready to bake them, preheat the oven to 400F (200C).

4) Arrange them on a parchment paper lined baking tray and spray them with a cooking oil spray or brush with oil. Flip and spray or brush the oil again.

5) Bake in the preheated oven for 12 minutes, flip them and bake again for 8 minutes. (total 20 minutes baking time).

💭 Expert Tips For Mini Samosa

• Shaping cocktail samosa can look tricky but once you get a hang of it. You’ll be able to do it quickly. 
• Air Fryer Setting: 400F (200C) for 5 minutes, flip, again for 5 minutes.
• Variations in mini samosa stuffing:
  • You can make classic potato-peas stuffing. Here is my Punjabi samosa recipe, you can find the stuffing recipe there. Just make sure to make tiny pieces or potatoes or simply mash them so you can stuff these mini samosa easily.
  • You can chan dal stuffing. For that boil the chana dal until soft (not mushy) yet hold the shape. Temper the dal with spices just like this paneer samosa stuffing but without onion tomato. 
  • The choices are endless like paneer & spinach, onion stuffing, sweet potato, mixed veg, etc.

🥣 Storage Instructions

• Shaped (uncooked) cocktail samosa can be stored in the refrigerator for a day or in the freezer for up to 3 months. 
• To freeze shaped mini paneer samosa, arrange them on a tray, freeze until frozen and then transfer them to a freezer-safe ziplock bag. 
• Cooked cocktail samosa should be served within a few hours. Once you store them it loses the crisp texture of the outer layer. 

Did you try this cocktail samosa recipe (mini paneer samosa)? I’d love to hear about it! Leave a review in the comment section below.