Street-Style Fried Sambusa with Spiced Lentil Filling

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-03 · Updated 2026-05-03

Golden and crispy Ethiopian sambusas filled with a warmly spiced lentil mixture, perfect as street food or appetizer. This Ethiopian-inspired street-food recipe, ready in about 70 minutes, pairs all-purpose flour, water, salt for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 320 calories and feeds 6, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. 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.

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup water
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 3 tbsp + 2 cups vegetable oil (for dough and frying)
• 1 cup dry red lentils
• 1/2 cup yellow onion, finely chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tbsp berbere spice blend
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp salt

Nonstick skillets worth buying → Best Nonstick Cookware for 2026: Top 5 Skillet Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: Rinse 1 cup dry red lentils and boil in 2.5 cups water over medium heat for 15 minutes until tender but not mushy, then drain any excess water.
2. Step 2: In a skillet, heat 3 tbsp vegetable oil over medium heat. Add 1/2 cup finely chopped yellow onion, 2 minced garlic cloves, 1 tbsp berbere spice blend, 1 tsp ground cumin, 1/2 tsp black pepper, and 1 tsp salt. Sauté for 5 minutes until fragrant and onions are translucent.
3. Step 3: Stir the cooked lentils into the spiced onion mixture, cook together for 3 minutes, then remove from heat and let cool.
4. Step 4: To make the dough, combine 2 cups all-purpose flour, 1/2 tsp salt, 3 tbsp vegetable oil, and 3/4 cup water in a bowl. Knead for 5 minutes until smooth and elastic. Cover and rest for 30 minutes.
5. Step 5: Divide dough into 12 equal pieces and roll each into a 6-inch circle on a floured surface.
6. Step 6: Place 2 tbsp lentil filling on one half of each circle, fold over to form a semicircle, and press edges firmly to seal.
7. Step 7: Heat 2 cups vegetable oil in a deep skillet over medium-high heat to 350°F. Fry sambusas in batches for 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown and crisp.
8. Step 8: Drain on paper towels and serve hot with dipping sauce or as a flavorful snack.