Samosas are a delicious and popular Indian snack food. They are typically made with a deep-fried pastry filled with a mixture of potatoes, peas, and spices. However, samosas are also high in calories and fat, which can make them a challenge for people who are trying to lose weight.
But don’t despair, samosa lovers! There are a few healthy ways to enjoy samosas during your weight loss journey. Here are 6 tips:
Choose baked or air-fried samosas over deep-fried samosas:
Deep-frying adds a significant amount of calories and fat to samosas. Baking or air-frying samosas is a healthier option that can reduce the calorie and fat content.
If you’re buying samosas from a store, look for baked or air-fried varieties. If you’re making samosas at home, you can bake or air-fry them yourself.
Use healthier fillings:
The traditional potato and pea filling in samosas is high in carbohydrates. You can make a healthier filling by using vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, mushrooms, or spinach. You can also add lean protein, such as chicken or tofu, to the filling.
Here are a few healthy samosa filling ideas:
Vegetable samosas:
Fill your samosas with a mixture of roasted vegetables, such as broccoli, cauliflower, mushrooms, and onions. Add some spices, such as turmeric, cumin, and coriander, for flavour.
Lentil samosas:
Lentils are a good source of protein and fibre. For lentil samosas, cook lentils in a broth with some spices. Once the lentils are cooked, mash them and add them to your samosa dough.
Chicken samosas:
Chicken samosas are a good source of protein. For chicken samosas, cook chicken breast in a pan with some spices. Once the chicken is cooked, shred it and add it to your samosa dough.
Make smaller samosas:
Samosas can be quite large and filling. You can make smaller samosas to reduce your calorie intake.
This will help you to control your portion size and avoid overeating.
Eat samosas in moderation:
Samosas are a high-calorie food, so it is important to eat them in moderation. If you are trying to lose weight, you may want to limit yourself to one or two samosas per week.
It’s also important to be mindful of the other foods you’re eating on the same day. If you’re having samosas as a snack, try to make sure your other meals and snacks are healthy and balanced.
Serve samosas with healthy sides:
Instead of serving samosas with sugary chutney or creamy dips, try serving them with healthy sides such as a mint chutney, yoghurt dip, or a side salad. This will help to make your meal more balanced and nutritious.
Here are a few healthy side ideas for samosas:
Mint chutney:
Mint chutney is a refreshing and healthy condiment that can be paired with samosas. It is made with mint leaves, cilantro, green chiles, yoghurt, and lemon juice.
Yoghurt dip:
yoghurt dip is a creamy and healthy dip that can be paired with samosas. It is made with yoghurt, cucumber, mint leaves, and garlic.
Side salad:
A side salad is a healthy and refreshing way to complement samosas. Choose a salad that is low in calories and fat, and high in nutrients.
Make your own samosas.
If you’re feeling adventurous, you can try making your own samosas at home. This will give you more control over the ingredients and cooking method.
When making your own samosas, you can use healthier ingredients and baking or air-frying methods to reduce the calorie and fat content.
Here are a few tips for making healthier samosas at home:
Use whole-wheat flour instead of all-purpose flour. Whole-wheat flour is more nutritious and filling.
Use less oil when frying your samosas. You can also use a healthier oil, such as olive oil or avocado oil.
Add vegetables and lean protein to the filling. This will make your samosas more nutritious and satisfying.