Samosas (Deep-Fried Indian Pastries)

Serve these golden brown turnovers with Mango Chutney. For an easy sauce, stir snipped cilantro or parsley into plain yogurt.

Pastry
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
1 tablespoon shortening
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 egg yolk
1/2 cup cold water

Cut margarine and shortening into flour and salt until mixture resembles fine crumbs; stir in egg yolk. Sprinkle in water, 1 tablespoon at a time, tossing with fork until all flour is moistened and pastry almost cleans side of bowl. Gather pastry into a ball; knead on lightly floured cloth-covered board until smooth, about 1 minute.

Filling
1 pound ground lamb or beef
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon pepper
Vegetable oil
Chutney

Cook and stir lamb or beef, onion and garlic in 10-inch skillet until meat is light brown; drain. Stir in salt, coriander, cumin, ginger and pepper. Cool.

Divide pastry into fourths. Cover with damp towel to prevent drying. Roll one fourth into 12-inch circle (dough will be springy and may be slightly difficult to roll). Cut into 4-inch circles; cut circles into halves. Moisten edges with water. Place 1 teaspoon filling on each half circle. Fold pastry over filling to form triangle. Press edges to seal securely. Repeat with remaining pastry.

Heat 1 to 1 1/2 inches of oil to 375 degrees F. Fry about 5 pastries at a time until light brown, turning 2 or 3 times, 3 to 4 minutes; drain. Keep warm in a 200 degrees F oven. Serve warm with chutney.

Makes about 60 pastries.