Chopped beef with plenty of onion, salt, black pepper and a pinch of zira. The beef is halal, from the supplier Halal Latvia.
Prepared foods
Classic samsa set
Beef and onion samsa from our partner bakers, delivered to the counter each morning: flaky pastry and a fragrant meat filling, ready to reheat.
Classic Uzbek samsa is a flaky triangle of thin pastry filled with chopped beef, onion and a pinch of zira (cumin). Our partner bakers in Riga make it, and it arrives at the counter still warm every morning. A set holds 4 or 6, enough for an ordinary family lunch.
- Origin
- Baked by partner bakers in Riga
- Category
- Prepared food
- Packaging
- Sets of 4 or 6, or single pieces at the counter
- Shelf life
- Up to 24 hours after baking; up to 30 days frozen
- Certification
- Halal (beef from the supplier Halal Latvia)
The pastry for classic samsa is rolled out and folded several times to build thin layers. The filling is chopped beef, not mince, with plenty of onion and a pinch of zira. That gives a juicy centre and a dry, crisp crust, which is what sets samsa apart from an ordinary meat pie.
Samsa makes an easy lunch: a set of 4 with a bowl of shurpa or some ayran for two, or a set of 6 for a family. If you are not eating them straight away, leave them at room temperature until the evening or put them in the freezer; 8–10 minutes in a 180 °C oven brings back the fresh taste.
With their samsa, people at the counter often pick up achichuk, a tomato and onion salad, or simply some fresh herbs. If you want to make something similar at home, the recipes section has step-by-step instructions for the pastry and filling, with weights and timings.
FAQ
Classic samsa set: common questions
Give it 8–10 minutes in a 180 °C oven and the crust crisps up again. We do not recommend the microwave, which makes the pastry soft. You can also warm it in a dry frying pan with the lid on, 3–4 minutes on each side.
It is best eaten the same day, at room temperature; in the fridge it keeps for up to a day. To keep it longer, freeze it as soon as it has cooled (for up to 30 days) and reheat it straight from frozen.
In season the counter has samsa with pumpkin, potato and herbs, and in the colder months with spinach and cheese. Ask the seller what goes into each one.
For plov or tea
Everything for dinner at one counter
At Arkan Bazar in Riga you can get everything for a meal in one go: rice, spices, dried fruit, flatbread and tea. Planning a family celebration or cooking for a large group? Write to us through the form in advance, and we will have your order ready on time.