Samsa

Name: Samsa
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 12 servings
Cuisine: Tunisian
Ingredients: 12 sheets phyllo dough; 200g ground almonds; 100g sesame seeds, toasted; 100g sugar; 1 tsp ground cinnamon; 1 tbsp orange blossom water; 80g unsalted butter, melted; For syrup: 200g sugar; 200ml water; 1 tbsp lemon juice; 1 tbsp rose water

سمسة (SAM-sah)

Almond and Sesame Diamond Pastry

⏱ Prep Time 1 hour

📈 Difficulty Medium

👥 Servings

🔥 Calories 268 kcal

Crispy phyllo pastry diamonds filled with ground almonds and sesame seeds, baked golden and soaked in fragrant lemon and rose water syrup.

Nutrition & Info

Protein 6.0g

Carbs 34.0g

Fat 12.0g

Protein Carbs Fat

Dietary

vegetarian

Allergen Warnings

⚠ tree nuts ⚠ gluten ⚠ sesame

Equipment Needed

baking pan mixing bowl small saucepan pastry brush

Presentation Guide

Vessel: decorative pastry platter

Garnishes: ground pistachios, sesame seeds

Accompaniments: mint tea, Turkish coffee

Ingredients

12 sheets phyllo dough
200g ground almonds
100g sesame seeds, toasted
100g sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tbsp orange blossom water
80g unsalted butter, melted
For syrup: 200g sugar
200ml water
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tbsp rose water

Instructions

1
Mix ground almonds, toasted sesame seeds, sugar, cinnamon, and orange blossom water into a fragrant filling.
2
Layer six sheets of phyllo in a buttered baking pan, brushing each sheet generously with melted butter.
3
Spread the almond-sesame filling evenly over the phyllo layers in a uniform layer across the entire surface.
4
Top with remaining six sheets of phyllo, each brushed with butter. Cut into diamond shapes before baking.
5
Bake at 180C for twenty-five minutes until deep golden brown and crispy on top and bottom edges.
6
Make syrup by boiling sugar and water with lemon juice for five minutes, add rose water, and pour hot over warm pastry.

💡

Did You Know?

Every Tunisian pastry shop has its own secret ratio of almonds to sesame in samsa, and customers are fiercely loyal to their favorite.

Chef's Notes

Equipment Tips

baking pan
mixing bowl
small saucepan
pastry brush

Garnishing

ground pistachios, sesame seeds

Accompaniments

mint tea, Turkish coffee

The Story Behind Samsa

Samsa is one of Tunisia's most refined pastries, a legacy of Ottoman confectionery traditions adapted with local ingredients. The combination of almonds and sesame seeds reflects Tunisia's position at the crossroads of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern culinary traditions. During Ramadan, pastry shops prepare thousands of samsa daily, and the fragrance of baking phyllo and toasting sesame fills entire neighborhoods.

🕐 Traditionally enjoyed ramadan, weddings, celebrations 📜 Origins: Ottoman-Tunisian

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