Uzbek Kuk Somsa (Baked Herb and Onion Pastries)

About This Recipe

Uzbek Kuk Somsa is a real, traditional Uzbek dish, known as Baked Herb and Onion Pastries. Flaky baked pastries filled with a vibrant green mixture of fresh herbs and onion, a lighter, vegetarian cousin of meat samsa.\n\nKuk somsa, meaning 'green samsa', reflects a vegetarian variation of Uzbekistan's beloved baked pastry tradition, historically popular during spring when fresh herbs are especially abundant.\n\nThe result is a dish worth making on its own merits: it rewards patience with the technique and delivers real, specific flavor rooted in Uzbek home cooking, not a generic stand-in for a search term.

Ingredients

Serves 8

• 500 gall-purpose flour
• 1 tspfine sea salt(for dough)
• 200 mlwarm water
• 2 tbspneutral oil, for the dough
• 2 cupschopped fresh cilantro
• 1 cupchopped fresh dill
• 1 cupchopped fresh green onion
• 3 tbspbutter(melted, for filling and layering)
• 1 tspfine sea salt(for filling)
• 1egg(beaten, for egg wash)
• 2 tbspsesame seeds

Instructions

1. 1

   Make the dough

   Mix flour, salt and warm water into a smooth dough, kneading for 8 minutes. Rub with oil, cover, and rest for 30 minutes.

2. 2

   Make the filling

   Combine chopped cilantro, dill, green onion, half the melted butter and salt, mixing well; the herbs should be well coated but not soggy.

3. 3

   Roll and layer

   Roll the dough into a large thin sheet, brush with remaining melted butter, fold in layers, and rest for 15 minutes before rolling again.

4. 4

   Cut and fill

   Cut the dough into squares, place a spoonful of the herb filling in the center of each, and fold into a triangle, sealing the edges firmly.

5. 5

   Top

   Arrange on a baking sheet, brush with egg wash, and sprinkle with sesame seeds.

6. 6

   Bake

   Bake at 200°C (400°F) for 25 to 30 minutes until deeply golden and flaky.

Variations

• •

  Add a bit of crumbled feta or farmer's cheese to the herb filling for extra richness.

• •

  Some households use a mix of spinach and herbs for a heartier green filling.

• •

  Serve alongside a simple yogurt dip.

Storage

Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave with a splash of water or stock to loosen the texture.

Frequently Asked Questions