International Cuisine, Lentils, Soup

Samusa Thouk – Burmese Street Food

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Samosa thouk is a Burmese street food delight blending chopped samosas with zesty vegetables and tangy dressing.

I am a sucker for street food – any day, anytime. Unless of course, I am down with severe stomach flu :-)) (Even then, I keep nagging the husband man with what my wish lists are, and most of them are street food :-)) I am not apologetic about my street food preferences (as long as they are hygenic and made in a clean place), but trust me I was blown away when I saw this recipe where street food favourite Samosa was an INGREDIENT in a soup..

Yes, you heard it right! Samosa in a soup – best of both worlds. heh 🙂 .. With the cold season approaching here, we can do with so many warming soups, and this samusa Thouk is just the perfect excuse to indulge in a warm bowl of goodness. A very similar lentil based soup in Bangalore’s eateries served in the evenings is Bonda Soup

Go ahead and make this .. Step by step instructions below (with detailed pics and tips and tricks) will have go for seconds and thirds, as it happened when we made this (again) recently

Origin of Samusa Thouk

Samusa thouk, also known as samosa thoke or samosa salad, is a popular street food in Myanmar (Burma). The dish consists of chopped samosas (fried pastry filled with spiced potatoes, peas, and sometimes meat), mixed with various ingredients such as onions, cabbage, tomatoes, chili, coriander leaves, and a tangy, flavorful dressing made of tamarind, garlic, lime juice, and fish sauce.

The origin of samusa thouk is deeply rooted in Burmese cuisine, where samosas are a well-loved snack, brought to the region by Indian immigrants. Over time, the Burmese people incorporated samosas into their culinary culture and adapted them to create new dishes like samosa salad or samusa thouk. This dish became popular as a street food due to its convenient and flavorful nature, offering a blend of crispy samosas with fresh, tangy ingredients.

Samusa thouk has gained popularity not only in Myanmar but also in neighboring countries due to its unique fusion of flavors and textures, making it a beloved street food option.

Samosa thouk is a Burmese street food delight blending chopped samosas with zesty vegetables and tangy dressing.
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So, do make it for wintery / chilly evenings for a snack or as a pre dinner appetiser. Of course, with the samosa in, its dinner all the way, and not just an appetiser :-))

Prep time : 20 mins | Cook time : 20 mins | Serves : 4

Tips & tricks to make a Tasty Samusa Thouk:

  1. Use Homemade veg stock rather than plain, filtered water to make the base : it is a sure game changer
  2. If using store bought / homemade samosa, warm them slightly and cut into bite sized pieces before adding to the soup, just before serving
  3. Don’t simmer the soup after adding the samosa chunks, soup will get soggy and unpalatable.
  4. If using mung bean sprouts, make sure they are fresh and not soggy before adding as garnish. 

Samusa Thouk – Burmese Soup with lentils and samosa(yes!!)

Ingredients to make Samusa Thouk:

  • 1/4 cup Pigeon pea (Toor Dal)
  • 1/4 cup Black channa (I subbed with mixed lentils)
  • 1/2 tsp cumin (Jeera)
  • 2 TBSP Oil (any neutral oil will do)
  • 1 tsp Jeera powder
  • 1 tsp coriander powder 
  • 1 tsp garam masala
  • 1 tsp red chilli powder (can sub with smoked paprika) 
  • 1/2 tsp  black pepper powder
  • 1/3 tsp  turmeric
  • 2 onions (minced) 
  • 4 green chillies (slit vertically) 
  • 1/2 cup cabbage (julienned)
  • 1/2 TBSP Tamarind paste
  • 1 cup Bean sprouts  Subbed with fresh sweet peppers garnished on top)
  • 500 ml Homemade veg stock
  • 1.5 tsp Salt (or to taste)
  • 1 tsp lemon juice 
  • 2 tsp cilantro – to garnish
  • 4 samosas (mini –  bought or homemade)

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Samosa thouk is a Burmese street food delight blending chopped samosas with zesty vegetables and tangy dressing.Pin

How to make Burmese Samusa Thouk:

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  1. Soak kala channa overnight. pressure cook toor dal and channa separately the next day till done (you can make it slightly mushy)
  2. In a pan, splutter jeera, add onions, red chillies and saute till browned
  3. Add the powdered spices and cook. To this add stock or broth, green chillies, cooked dals , tamarind and let it simmer to a thickish broth (about 8-10 mins)
  4. Add cabbage, salt and let the cabbage cook, now add the sprouts and let it simmer again.
  5. As I was using frozen cooked lentils, I mashed it up a bit towards the end before adding the cabbage. 
  6. Ladle out portions of the soup, place 1/2 -1 mini samosa per serving portion (if using large size, cut into halves or quarters depending on the portion size)
  7. Top with cilantro, I added a dash of lemon juice too, but that’s totally optional.
  8. Serve hot
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Samosa thouk is a Burmese street food delight blending chopped samosas with zesty vegetables and tangy dressing.Pin

Samusa Thouk – Burmese Street Food

Kalyani
Samosa thouk is a Burmese street food delight blending chopped samosas with zesty vegetables and tangy dressing.
5 from 3 votes
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Appetizer, Soup
Cuisine Burmese, International
Servings 4 servings

Equipment

  • Thick Bottomed Pan Sub with Soup Pot
  • Ladle

Ingredients
  

  • 1/4 cup Pigeon pea Toor Dal
  • 1/4 cup Black channa I subbed with mixed lentils
  • 1/2 tsp cumin Jeera
  • 2 TBSP Oil any neutral oil will do
  • 1 tsp Jeera powder
  • 1 tsp coriander powder
  • 1 tsp garam masala
  • 1 tsp red chilli powder can sub with smoked paprika
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper powder
  • 1/3 tsp turmeric
  • 2 onions minced
  • 4 green chillies slit vertically
  • 1/2 cup cabbage julienned
  • 1/2 TBSP Tamarind paste
  • 1 cup Bean sprouts Subbed with fresh sweet peppers garnished on top)
  • 500 ml Homemade veg stock
  • 1.5 tsp Salt or to taste
  • 1 tsp lemon juice
  • 2 tsp cilantro – to garnish
  • 4 samosas mini – bought or homemade

Instructions
 

  • Soak kala channa overnight. pressure cook toor dal and channa separately the next day till done (you can make it slightly mushy)
  • In a pan, splutter jeera, add onions, red chillies and saute till browned
  • Add the powdered spices and cook. To this add stock or broth, green chillies, cooked dals , tamarind and let it simmer to a thickish broth (about 8-10 mins)
  • Add cabbage, salt and let the cabbage cook, now add the sprouts and let it simmer again.
  • As I was using frozen cooked lentils, I mashed it up a bit towards the end before adding the cabbage.
  • Ladle out portions of the soup, place 1/2 -1 mini samosa per
serving portion (if using large size, cut into halves or quarters depending on the portion size)
  • Top with cilantro, I added a dash of lemon juice too, but thats
totally optional.
  • Serve hot

Notes

Tips & tricks to make a Tasty Samusa Thouk:
  1. Use Homemade Veg stock / broth rather than plain, filtered water to make the base : it is a sure game changer
  2. If using store bought / homemade samosa, warm them slightly and cut into bite sized pieces before adding to the soup, just before serving
  3. Don’t simmer the soup after adding the samosa chunks, soup will get soggy and unpalatable.
  4. If using mung bean sprouts, make sure they are fresh and not soggy before adding as garnish. 
Keyword Burmese Soup, Easy Soups, Fusion Food, Fusion Soup, Indian Street Food, party appetiser, Party Ideas, Party snack, Samosa Soup, Samousa Thouk, Samusa Soup
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24 Comments

  1. vaishali sabnani

    Yes, this street food from Burma was loved by everyone at my place too, glad you guys enjoyed it, and you have made it so well, I am tempted to make it all over again. Thanks dear for trying it .

  2. Gayathri Kumar

    This looks incredible Kalyani. Love those samosas floating in the soup..

  3. On seeing you post I'm like???????? samosa in soup… Need to try out

  4. MySpicyKitchen

    Samosa in a soup looks good.

  5. I remember this from Vaishali's place — such an interesting dish. I'm sure it must have tasted amazing.

  6. cookingwithsapana

    It must have been a flavorful soup.Looks fabulous.

  7. samosa in soup.. wowww.. Bookmarking this. Will try it out soon.

  8. Omg, this samosa in soup is killing me, excellent to give a try Kalyani, lovely dish.

  9. OMG! this looks mind blowing, Kalyani. Should make it some time.

  10. This is like taking already tempting samosas to another level. Love it.

  11. Sandhya Ramakrishnan

    Wow! Looks so wonderful and I am tempted to eat some 🙂

  12. Wow samosa in soup. Love the idea Kal. Guess mine will too comeback for refills.

  13. I was going to make this soup for the first week. Finally ended up with other soups. Your version looks lovely!

  14. Wow street food and I am there..this one with samosa sounds so sinful..I do remember drooling over Vaishali's space..very nice one and I know I am going to enjoy the week's dishes..

  15. Priya Srinivasan - I Camp in My Kitchen

    i m literally drooling kalyani, just imagining the flavors, slurping the soup and a bite of little soggy samosa, oh man, you are killing me with this!!!

  16. Wow! This looks awesome! Samosa in soup….what more to ask for!

  17. The Pumpkin Farm

    this is like a one pot meal…my husband will love this dish as it has everything going in this one for his tastes

  18. Sandhya Ramakrishnan

    I am just drooling at your pictures. Looks and sounds so flavorful!

  19. Priya Srinivasan

    5 stars
    Samusa thouk looks incredible kalyani! If i could i will make it now! Such a wholesome and hearty recipe! On the same page with regard to street food, its an yes, anytime!!! Brilliant recipe, i m definitely making it!

  20. Mayuri Patel

    5 stars
    What a lovely recipe Kalyani, one can enjoy samosa and soup together. An interesting recipe which I must try out, especially now that it is winter and I am looking for different soup recipes.

  21. Neha (My Culinary Expressions)

    5 stars
    Wish I could get to taste this Samusa Thouk. I marvel at the fact that how food metamorphoses as we go from one nation to another- Similar yet different. Would definitely try it out.

5 from 3 votes

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