Crispy, triangular pastries filled with spiced beef, onions, and vegetables, deep-fried to a golden crunch, popular in eastern DRC's Swahili-influenced cuisine.
Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp salt
2 tbsp vegetable oil plus more for frying
1/2 cup warm water
300g ground beef
1 onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp coriander
1 small carrot, finely diced
Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
1Make dough: mix flour, salt, and oil. Add water gradually and knead until smooth. Rest 30 minutes.
2Brown ground beef with onion and garlic. Add cumin, coriander, carrot, salt, and pepper. Cook 10 minutes. Cool.
3Roll dough thin and cut into strips about 8cm wide.
4Fold each strip into a cone shape, fill with meat mixture, and seal edges with water.
5Heat oil to 170°C. Fry sambusas for 3-4 minutes until golden and crispy.
6Drain on paper towels. Serve hot with chili sauce.
Did You Know?
Sambusas are a testament to the DRC's cultural diversity — this East African-Arab snack arrived via Swahili traders and became a beloved street food in Lubumbashi and Goma.