Ahmet SezekCommis
25 May 2026 Last updated: 11 September 2026

Sambusa, one of Ethiopia’s favorite snacks, is made by wrapping a lentil filling in thin pastry triangles and frying them. Cooking the lentils in a pressure cooker makes the filling quick to prepare.

Step by Step

How to make it?

1

Cook the lentils in a pressure cooker

8 min

Put the rinsed red lentils and one 200 ml measure of water in a pressure cooker. Lock the lid and cook over medium heat for 8 minutes from when the cooker begins to whistle.

2

Prepare the filling

7 min

Sauté the onion in 2 spoonfuls of olive oil until softened. Add the crushed garlic, cumin, and Turkish red pepper flakes. Drain the cooked lentils, mix them into the filling, adjust the salt, and remove from the heat.

3

Fold the pastry

15 min

Place one spoonful of filling at one end of a strip of pastry and fold it from end to end into a triangle. Seal the tip with water.

4

Fry

5 min

Heat the remaining olive oil in a pan and fry the sambusas for 5 minutes, turning them until golden on both sides. Drain on paper towels and serve.

Reminder

To keep the pastry sheets from drying out, cover them with a damp cloth and work one at a time; dry sheets crack when folded. Contains an allergen: wheat (gluten).

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Comments (3)

2.8 5 reviews 40% recommend it 2 rated without leaving a comment
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4 2
3 1
2 1
1 1
B
Baran Aykaç Aide de Cuisine 4 months ago

Kızartmak yerine airfryerda pişirsem süresi ve ısı ayarı nasıl olmalı, dışı aynı çıtırlıkta olur mu acaba? Denemek istiyorum ama hangi ısıdan başlamam gerektiğinden emin değilim.

Ş
Şahnur Kaya Commis de Cuisine 3 months ago

Yufkaları nemli bezle örtmeyi unuttum, katlarken üçü kenarlarından çatladı ve harç dışarı taştı, sofraya çıkana kadar iki tanesini de kaybettim. Tarifte bu uyarı var, bir dahakine mutlaka uygulayacağım.

B
Burcu Balaban Commis 3 months ago

Beslenme çantasına koydum, soğukken bile kıvamını koruyup çıtırlığını kaybetmedi, çocuğum tamamını bitirdi.

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