Gujiya Vs Samosa: Which Is The Better Holi Party Snack?

Holi is almost here and if you’re staying at home this year, make sure you have your snacks ready! Both gujiya and samosas are popular Holi snacks, while one is savoury, the other is usually sweet and creamy. However, can you skip one if you’re making the other? Though they are not the same in flavour, it’s worth looking into if one is more versatile than the other.

Samosas are savoury snacks filled with a spiced mixture of potatoes, peas and lentils and their filling is seasoned with a blend of spices such as cumin, coriander, turmeric, and garam masala. The outer pastry shell is typically crispy and golden brown. Gujiyas are sweet dumplings filled with a mixture of khoya, dried fruits, nuts, and aromatic spices like cardamom and saffron. These sweet treats are deep-fried or baked until golden and crispy and they are often coated with a sugar syrup or dusted with powdered sugar.

Gujiyas Are More Versatile

Samosas may be versatile but they don’t have much use at a dinner or lunch table, as they’re typically used as appetisers. Whereas gujiyas are sweet dumplings filled with a mixture of khoya, dried fruits, nuts, and aromatic spices like cardamom and saffron. They can be served as appetisers, and snacks and can also double up as desserts. In festive gatherings like Holi, gujiya makes for a better option as they’re versatile.

While the classic potato and pea filling is popular, samosas can also be filled with minced meat, paneer, mixed vegetables, or even seafood; they can be made in different shapes and sizes, from traditional triangular pockets to bite-sized mini samosas, making them adaptable to different party settings.

In gujiyas, the traditional khoya and dried fruit filling is popular, modern adaptations may include chocolate, coconut, or even savoury fillings like cheese and herbs. However, compared to samosas, gujiyas are more commonly associated with sweet flavours and are less likely to be customized extensively for savoury options.

Which one has an easier prep for bulk volume?

If you’re hosting a Holi gathering, chances are it’s not just meal-oriented as guests are expected to engage in playing with colours and catching up over refreshments and coolers. Both gujiyas and samosas can be passed around as snacks. Gujiya is flakier than samosa and needs to be deep-fried. It also may need a second round of cooking if you want a sugar syrup glaze, whereas samosas can be baked or half-fried. In case you don’t know what half-frying is, it’s a method in which you give the snacks a quick dip in hot oil and you cook the rest in an oven.

It’s possible that you may have to make fresh batches of snacks as more people arrive, and the gujiya mixture does take some time to prepare. Samosas however are much easier to prep and can be made quicker and in large batches, so samosas may be the easier and faster option.