Ethiopian-Inspired Spiced Lentil Sambusas

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-07-25 · Updated 2026-07-25

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

Crisp, golden fried pastries filled with spiced lentils and fragrant berbere seasoning, perfect as a flavorful snack or appetizer. This Ethiopian-inspired recipe, ready in about 35 minutes, turns brown lentils, yellow onion, garlic cloves into a satisfying snack for between meals, packed lunches, or game-day spreads — minimal active time and easy to scale up for a crowd. Each serving lands at about 220 calories and feeds 6, so it fits into lunchboxes, road trips, or an afternoon-energy gap without derailing the day. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 20 min Cook: 15 min Serves 6 Ethiopian cuisine 220 cal/serving

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Ingredients

1 cup, cooked and drained brown lentils
1 small, finely chopped yellow onion
2, minced garlic cloves
1.5 tbsp berbere spice mix
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp coriander powder
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp salt
12 sheets spring roll wrappers
for frying, about 2 cups vegetable oil
2 tbsp, chopped (optional) fresh cilantro

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Instructions

Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add 1 small finely chopped yellow onion and sauté for 5 minutes until soft and translucent.
Step 2: Add 2 minced garlic cloves, 1.5 tbsp berbere spice mix, 1 tsp ground cumin, 1 tsp coriander powder, and 1 tsp salt. Stir and cook for 2 minutes until fragrant.
Step 3: Add 1 cup cooked brown lentils and 2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro (optional), stirring to combine. Cook for 3 more minutes until heated through, then remove from heat and let cool slightly.
Step 4: Lay out 12 spring roll wrappers on a clean surface. Place 2 tbsp of the lentil filling on each wrapper near one corner. Fold sides and roll tightly to form triangular sambusas, sealing edges with a little water.
Step 5: Heat about 2 cups vegetable oil in a deep skillet to 350°F. Fry sambusas in batches for 3-4 minutes each side until golden and crisp.
Step 6: Drain on paper towels and serve warm with a yogurt or spicy dipping sauce.