Ethiopian · appetizer
Sambusa (Ethiopian Stuffed Pastry)
Sambusa (Ethiopian Stuffed Pastry) reads umami 8.5, richness 7.9 and allium 4.8 on Palate's 0–10 flavor X-ray — a Ethiopian appetizer, about 45 min. Measured from the recipe itself: ingredients and technique.
The flavor X-ray — six axes, 0–10
- Umami & Savory — 9.0 / 10
- Sweet & Fruity — 1.6 / 10
- Sour & Bright — 1.0 / 10
- Bitter & Earthy — 3.3 / 10
- Rich & Fat — 8.1 / 10
- Aromatic & Spice — 5.4 / 10
The measured notes (of 18)
Umami 8.5 · Richness 7.9 · Allium 4.8 · Salinity 4.3 · Earthy 3.0 · Warm Spice 2.7 · Heat 2.1 · Bitterness 1.8 · Herbaceous 1.7 · Sweetness 1.5 · Floral 1.5 · Nutty 0.9 · Sourness 0.9 · Citrus 0.5
What's in it (13)
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 tbsp oil
- 1 lb ground beef, cooked
- 1 onion, minced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp fresh ginger, minced
- 1 jalapeno, minced
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp coriander
- 1/2 tsp turmeric
- oil for frying
Time & effort: about 45 min · effort: involved
Nutrition (per 100 g, engine-estimated): 164.3 kcal, 11.6 g protein, 4.6 g fat, 19.5 g carbs
Dietary: Contains meat — engine-derived; double-check anything allergy-critical.
How it's cooked (4 steps)
- Make a stiff dough with flour, salt, and water, rest it, then roll very thin and cut into triangles.
- Cook the filling by browning spiced ground beef or lentils with onion, garlic, chili, and spices until dry.
- Place a spoonful of filling in each triangle, fold into a cone shape, and seal the edges with a flour-water paste.
- Deep-fry until golden and crisp.
Dishes with a similar flavor shape
- Kotlet (Persian Meat Patties) — Persian
- Hoppin' John — Southern
- Axoa de Veau — Basque · Iparralde (France)
- Keftedes — Greek
- German Pizza — German
Keep reading: what umami, richness, allium mean in the flavor lexicon · the world's cuisines, by flavor.
See how this dish fits your palate — take the short taste test →
Every number above is Palate's engine-measured estimate, computed from this recipe's ingredients and techniques — not human-tasted ratings or reviews.