When the calendar fills up with work and school, I look for things to make that are quick and easy, can be made ahead, and still have that wow-factor flavor. With a simple combo of fresh and frozen ingredients, these Jalapeno Cheese Samosas come together in a flash! A flaky crispy shell holds the spicy, melty cheese filling with little bursts of sweet corn goodness.
If you have kids in school, you know how they come home ravenous. Bursting through the door, leaving a trail of backpacks and jackets, they make a bee-line for the kitchen. We always have a variety of fresh fruits and veggies, but sometimes my active boys need more to hold them over until dinner.
Ingredients
Frozen parathas, frozen corn, sweet peppers, jalapeno, pantry spices, and shredded cheese are all you need to make this fun twist on samosas—and no one will believe they are homemade. Really! They’re so good, so impressive, and SO EASY. Fill, AirFry, and Enjoy!
Freezer-ready parathas are already a staple in my house for the Best Paneer Kathi Rolls, Chicken Kathi Rolls, and Chicken Shawarma. The texture is unbeatable.. flaky, buttery-crisp, and absolutely delicious. They’re not only a time-saver ingredient, but they elevate any filling and create something special.
Make ahead snacks for kids
Jalapeno Cheese Samosas can be made ahead and chilled in the fridge for a few hours or frozen, which is another big time-saver. When the kids bring friends over, these are the perfect snack. They’re full of real ingredients and better than any take-out or overly processed food.
These samosas are so easy and such a fun project for kids who want to help in the kitchen! From filling to sealing with the fork to brushing with melted butter, there are lots of ways to get kids involved. Older kids, more comfortable in the kitchen, can even make these from start to finish. If you have some made ahead, your teens can pop them out of the fridge or freezer and into the AirFryer for a totally satisfying snack.
I’ll certainly be sending this recipe to my college kid! Perfect for sharing, perfect for a quick meal between classes, doesn’t require too many ingredients, and is customizable.
Perfect last-minute appetizer
This awesome snack isn’t just for kids! They make an amazing appetizer for any occasion—game nights, movie nights, dinner parties, or cocktails with friends. Last minute? No problem! Entertaining can be stress-free!
These are two of my go-to hacks for the best snacks and appetizers that just make life easier: Frozen Kawan Parathas and my AirFryer.
With the AirFryer there is no need to heat the oven (and the entire kitchen), no overly long preheating time, and the cooking time is a fraction of a conventional oven. It’s also a healthier cooking method that produces perfectly crispy results that beat any fast food or fried food. And because nothing is soaked in oil, you can taste the ingredients.
How to Make Jalapeno Cheese Samosas
Let me show you a quick step-by-step process to make these delicious samosas. Start by making the no-cook filling. Finely dice the peppers and mix with cheese, chat masala, and salt and reserve.
- Take out 2 frozen Parathas from the freezer. Note: These parathas thaw in 2 to 3 minutes. You do not want them to fully thaw as they can get too soft to handle, especially if your kitchen is warm. So take out only 1 to 2 parathas at a time from the freezer. Remove plastic wrappers from one paratha and place it on a parchment-lined cutting board. Allow it to thaw for 2 minutes. Using a pizza cutter, cut the paratha in half (photos 1 and 2)
- Take one half of the paratha and fold it in half making it a triangle shape. Pressing down firmly about half an inch along the straight cut side, sealing one side of the paratha and creating a pocket. (photos 3 and 4)
- Stuff 2 tablespoons of filling into the pocket gently pushing down with a spoon and leaving about half an inch border of paratha to seal in the filling. Press together the 2 open sides of the pocket sealing the samosa completely (photos 5 and 6)
- Place the filled samosa on the cutting board and press down on the two sealed sides using a fork. This will help seal the filling and also create a pretty pattern on the edges. Lightly brush both sides with melted butter (photos 7 and 8). Repeat the above steps and make samosas with the remaining parathas.
- Place 4 samosas in the air fryer keeping enough space between them. If you have a smaller air fryer, cook only 2 samosas at a time. Air Fry at 350 F for 12 minutes. You may brush with more butter and cook for an additional 1 to 2 minutes if needed (photos 9 and 10)
Carefully take out the samosas with a pair of silicone tongs.
Serving
Serve hot with chutney, ketchup, sour cream, or your favorite hot sauce for an extra kick. Kids will love these cheese samosas with a cooling Mango Lassi while the adults enjoy a cup of hot ginger chai. Enjoy!
Storing
- To reheat any leftover samosas, simply pop them in the air fryer or oven and cook at 300 F for 5 minutes.
- You can also freeze the jalapeno cheese samosas as a make-ahead snack. Partially air fry them for 8 minutes, cool them down, and store them in a single layer in freezer containers or zip lock bags. When ready to serve simply reheat in the air fryer at 330 F for 5 to 7 minutes.
Tips
- The filling can be made ahead for 1 to 2 days. Keep it refrigerated in an airtight container
- Take out only 1 to 2 parathas at a time from the freezer. Since they are thin they defrost in 2 to 3 minutes at room temperature. You want to start making the samosas while they are still a bit frozen.
- Do not keep the parathas at room temperature for more than 5 to 10 minutes. They can get very soft making it a bit difficult to handle.
- Parathas seal easily by simply pressing down the side edges. You can also apply a little bit of water on the inside edges to help them seal.
- You can fill and make the samosas a couple of hours ahead and keep them refrigerated until ready to cook
- To reheat any leftover samosas, simply pop them in the air fryer or oven and cook at 300 F for 5 minutes.
- You can also freeze the jalapeno cheese samosas as a make-ahead snack. Yup, just like the frozen samosas available in Indian stores. I would recommend partially air frying them for 8 minutes, cool them down, and store them in a single layer in freezer containers or zip lock bags. When ready to serve simply reheat in the air fryer at 330 F for 5 to 7 minutes.
Substitutions
- You can also use thawed puff pastry sheets to make these samosas. I love making these samosas with Kawan Parathas as you can make 2 to 4 samosas. Use flakey, original, or the Low GI Kawan Parathas. They all taste delicious
- Reduce the jalapenos, keep or remove the seeds based on the level of heat you prefer. You can also substitute jalapenos with serrano peppers
- Add any cheese you like – Mexican blend or pepper jack cheese can be substituted for mozzarella and cheddar cheese
