Super Easy Samsa Dessert!

 

Samsa Dessert

Turkish Samsa Dessert Recipe

Desserts with sherbet are special to Anatolia (Turkish) cuisine among the world cuisines. Actually, the secret tastes of Turkish desserts with sherbet is the most important stage that gives its taste to dessert and creates its shape. Of all desserts with sherbet of Cuisine of Anatolia (Turkish Cuisine), the most famous is Baklava dessert. It is so famous dessert with sherbet from the Turks world, Arabic-speaking world, mediterranean region and some part of European.

There are many diferent types of baklava desert. But on the other hand, some desserts with sherbet are not baklava but they look like baklava desert very much. Maybe, most famous one is "Samsa Dessert". This is a dessert common all around Mediterranean coast Algeria, Tunisia, Balkans and Turkey. It is often triangular shaped. But we, here in Turkey, mostly make it as rectangular shape.

In this post, we are going to share one of our desserts with sherbet with you. Its name; "Samsa Dessert". It is delicious, flaky, chewy, nutty and yummy desert. We generally prepare this dessert for our religious feasts (Eid al Fitr, Eid al Adha) or special days (neighbours meeting, friends meeting etc). When you look for a dessert easy to make and finish quickly. This dessert really good option for you. We are sure that when you try this dessert, you and your family like it so much.

Turkish Samsa Dessert

What is "Samsa" or What are "Samsas"!

Samsa is a very popular Tunisian pastry, just as popular as other famous North African pastries such as "Debla, Makroud, Yoyo, Griwech, Zlabia, or Harisset el louz". There is still some controversy as to the origin of "Samsa". Because, there are many different type of samsas.  Some say with confidence that this is an Algerian pastry. Others will say that this is a Tunisian specialty. According to some experts; Samsa is almond-based North African pastries that is very popular during the festivities of Ramadan. Their particularity is their crispy exterior and the honey syrup with a wonderful taste of orange blossom water. 

On the other hand, some experts claim that; Samsa is a triangular-shaped (sometimes it is a rectangular shaped) almond-based Tunisian pastry. After the almonds are toasted and ground, they are mixed with granulated sugar, orange blossom water and cinnamon to make the filling. Then the pastries are deep-fried until golden brown. After being thoroughly drained, they are soaked in a syrup flavored with honey and orange blossom water, then sprinkled with sesame seeds. Actually, "Samsa" is known all around the world.

Samsa (or Samsas) All Around the World!

• In Turkey, we call it "Samsa Dessert (in Turkish; Samsa Tatlısı)". This dessert with sherbet is very common throughout the Anatolia (Turkey). It is often triangular or recktangle shaped. It can be prepared with almonds, pistachois, walnuts and hazelnuts.
• In Morocco, people call them briouate (briwate or briwat). The almond briouates are quite similar to Tunisian samsas. However, there is also a savory version of briouate where the filling varies according to the regions and local ingredients. 
• In Asia, samsa is known as "Samosa" which is served as a savory appetizer. Also, samosa is native to India and Pakistan. The filling is mainly made of vegetables, meat, hot pepper and spices including coriander and turmeric. 
• In Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, samosas are almost always cooked instead of being fried. The samosa dough can be a simple bread dough or a pastry dough. 
• In Lebanon, Jordan, Syria and Israel, people talk about samboussak (or samboussek). The triangles are savory, prepared with tomato sauce, chard, cheese or meat and are baked in a traditional oven (it is called taboun). 
• In the Middle East, people call it as "Fatayer" and they enjoy fatayer, a triangle of bread dough filled with spinach, cheese or minced meat. On Reunion island, samosas with cheese are very popular. Also in the streets of Madagascar, traditional sambos are sold alot in daily life.

How to Make Turkish Samsa Dessert!

We mostly prepare this dessert for our religious feasts of Eid al Fitr and Eid al Adha. If you look for a dessert easy to make and finish quickly, Samsa dessert is really a good option. Its preparation is really so easy and not complicated. It can be prepared with pistachios, almonds, walnuts and hazelnuts. We generally use pistachios or walnuts for filling. Bye the way, its dough sheet abit thicker than the baklava's dough sheet. When you try this dessert, we are sure you like it.

Ingredients: For dough; all purpose flour,

Ingredients: For dough; baking powder and corn starch,

Ingredients: For dough; 2 eggs - eggs yolk for dough
and eggs white for filling mixture,

Ingredients: For dough; yogurt,

Ingredients: For dough; lukewarm water,

Ingredients: For dough; olive oil
(if you want, you can use sunflower oil or others)

Ingredients: For dough; A pinch of salt and mineral water,

Ingredients: For dough; lemon juice,

Ingredients: For filling; Coarsely chopped walnuts,
(if you want, you can use hazelnuts, almonds etc.),

Ingredients: For filling; cinnamon,
granulated sugar and eggs white,

Ingredients: For Sherbet; granulated sugar and lemon juice,

Ingredients: For sherbet; water,

Ingredients: For topping; Coarsely chopped pistachios,

First preparing the sherbet (syrub); put the sugar
into the saucepan,

Then add water in it and mix them to dissolve
the sugar while on the stove to boil, 

When the water comes to boil, add the lemon juice
and lower the heat to simmer, then set aside to cool,

Then prepare the filling; use a mortar and pestle for the nuts,

Then put coarsely chopped walnuts in a bowl
and then add a teaspoon of sugar over it and mix them,

Then add a teaspoon of cinnamon and eggs white into mixture
and mix them well. Eggs yolk is used for dough, then set aside,

For topping; Coarsely chop the pistachios and set aside,

Preparing the dessert's dough; in a large bowl, 
put the yogurt in it,

Then add olive oil in it and mix them,

Then add eggs yolk into mixture and mix them,
(eggs white is used for the filling)

Mix these ingredients well, then add baking powder in it, 

Then add nearly 5 gram baking powder in it and mix well,

Then add 4-5 cios flour in it and knead the dough until it turns
to elastic, then cover it with a towel and let it for a while,

Then make 4-5 small ball pieces from this dough,

Now we need to flatten and thinned dough shape,

First sprinkle the corn starch over the work surface
 and dough balls,

Then flatten the balls with your hands and roll in
a rectangular shape and thinned with the help of roller pin,

Then place an oven paper in the oven tray,

Then place your first rectangular sheet on the work surface,
  then put enough filling mixture in the longer side,

Then roll it till the end and repeat this process
to rest of the sheets, 

Then with the knife cut them into small rectangular shapes,

Place your desserts on oven tray with the
joining part facing downwards,

Then bake in a preheated oven 180°C (356°F) for about 20-25 mins,

Bake them until the top and bottom is golden,

Then transfer the desserts another pan,

Now your desserts are ready and pour the sherbet over it,

Pour the cooled sherbet all over the pieces,
let rest for about 2 hours,

Lastly place 1/2 teaspoon of chopped pistachios
on each piece's topping and serve,

Recipe for Turkish Samsa Dessert!

Here it is our Turkish Samsa Dessert's recipe;

Very good family favourite;

Serving: 24-25 pieces, Preparation Time: 15-20 minutes, Cooking Time: 25-30 minutes, Resting time: 2 or 2,5 hours, Calories: 160kcal, Cuisine: Mediterranean & Turkish Cuisines,

Ingredients:

• 4 Sheets store bought puff pastry dough or,

For Handmade Dough:

• 4 - 5 Cups of flour,
• 1/2 Tablespoon baking powder, (nearly 5 gr), 
• 2 Eggs yolk, (we used egg's white for the filing), 
• 1 Teaspoon Yogurt, 
• 1/2 Cup of water and olive oil, (if you want, you can use sunflower oil instead of the olive oil), 
• 1 Tablespoon Lemon juice, 
• 1/2 Tablespoon Mineral water, 
• 1 pinch of salt, 
• A handful of corn starch, 

For Filling (Stuffing):

• 1 Cup walnuts, coarsely chopped, (or pounded in the mortar),
• 1 Teaspoon granulated sugar,
• 1 Teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 Egg white, (we used eggs yolk for the desert dough),

For Sherbet (syrup):

• 1 Cup granulated sugar,
• 1 Cup water,
• 1 or 2 Teaspoons lemon's juice,

For Topping:

• A handful of pistachios, coarsely chopped, (or pounded in the mortar),

Preparation:

1. First of all, put your all ingredients on your work surface. Then, start with the sherbet (syrup). Put the sugar and the water in a saucepan. Then mix them to dissolve while on the stove to boil. Once the sugar is dissolved, mix only once in a while. When the water comes to boil, add the lemon's juice and lower the heat to simmer. After 10 minutes remove it from heat and set aside to cool. 
2. For filling (Stuffing); Coarsely chop your walnuts or use a mortar and pestle for the nuts. Please watch out! Do not turn your walnuts into a powder. Then, in a bowl; mix egg white, sugar, walnuts and cinnamon well and set aside. Also coarsely chop your pistachios or use a mortar and pestle for it. Do not turn your pistachios into a powder and then set it aside. 
3. If you use store-bought puff pastry; bring the puff pastry to room temperature. For handmade dough; in a large and deep mixing bowl put the all dough materials (Flour, mixture of lukewarm water and olive oil, yogurt, eggs yolk, baking powder, mineral water and lemon juice) and mix them very well. Then, knead the dough until it turns to smooth and elastic, then, cover with a clean damp towel and let it rest for a while (it takes 30 minutes). 
4. Then give a small ball shape. 4 or 5 small ball shape pieces are prepared from this dough. After these processes, now we need to flatten and thinned dough shape, first, sprinkle corn starch over it and then flatten the balls with your hands and roll in a rectangular shape (or oval shape) and thinned with the help of roller pin. Generally samsa's dough sheets are thicker than the baklava's dough sheets. (If you use store-bought puff pastry, roll out to flat the puff pastry sheets with a rolling pin too). 
5. Then place your first rectangular sheet on the work surface (if your dough sheets are too big, cut rectangular stripes about 5 or 6 cm x 20 or 25 cm size). Then put enough filling mixture  in the longer side and roll till the end. And repeat the same process for rest of the sheets. Then, with the knife cut it into small rectangular shapes. Then place an oven paper in the oven tray and place your desserts on an oven dish with the joining part facing downwards. 
6. Then bake in a pre-heated oven at 180°C (356°F) for about 20-25 minutes, until the top and bottom is golden. Then transfer to your desserts another tray and pour the cooled syrup all over the pieces, let rest for about 2 or 2,5 hours. 
7. When serving, place 1/2 teaspoon of chopped pistachios on each piece's topping and serve.

Enjoy! 

Samsa Tatlısı 

Please let us know how this "Turkish Samsa Dessert (Samsa Tatlısı) Recipe" turns out for you in the comments. We are always so eager to hear from you.

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