I was born in Tashkent, and nothing brings back memories of home faster than biting into a hot, crispy meat samsa. It's the ultimate comfort food, and making this kosher version at home is incredibly easy.

Quick answer

Pour a full-bodied, peppery Syrah with meat samsa. My pick is Shirah's 2020 "Power to the People": its black pepper and warm spice meet the cumin and coriander, and its firm tannins stand up to the rich beef and flaky pastry.

You don't need to make dough from scratch. Grab some pre-made flaky dough and let the spices do the heavy lifting.

Hands folding a square of puff pastry into a closed parcel around the spiced beef filling on a wooden board
A red pastry brush painting egg wash over an unbaked samsa on a wooden board

What wine goes with meat samsa?

The pairing

Meat samsa&Shirah Power to the People Syrah

Black pepper and warm spice echo the cumin and coriander, and those firm tannins (that drying grip on your gums) love something rich, like spiced beef in flaky pastry.

Anne holding the Shirah Power to the People 2020 Syrah, its dark label marked Kosher with a raised-fist emblem

Tasting notes

2020 · Central Coast, California · 14.8% ABV

  • Kosher OU
  • Mevushal No
  • Passover Kosher for Passover
Look
Nearly opaque: deep ruby, turning purple at the rim. Young and inky.
Nose
It leaps out of the glass. Blackberry jam and ripe plum first, then a crack of black pepper, a little violet and mint, and just a whisper of cedar and smoke.
Taste
Dry, but the fruit is so ripe it feels lush. Blackberry and baking spice up front, a little cocoa, then a savory, almost meaty finish that lingers.
  • Sweetnesshow sugary it tastesDry
  • Aciditymouth-watering freshnessBalanced
  • Tanninthat drying grip on your gumsFirm
  • Alcoholwarmth in the throatPowerful
  • Bodyweight on the tongueFull
  • Finishhow long the flavor lingersLong

Verdict Outstanding · drink now or over the next 5–7 years

Watch the reel

Anne at her kitchen counter with a glass of Shirah Syrah, the bottle and a plate of golden samsa

Watch the full reel on Instagram @oyveyrose.

In the kitchen

Hands pulling apart a flaky samsa over a tray of golden, sesame-topped samsa

How to Make Kosher Meat Samsa

  • Bake about 30 min
  • Meat

Ingredients

  • Pre-made flaky dough (puff pastry), cut into squares
  • Beef, cut into very small pieces
  • Minced onions
  • Salt, black pepper, cumin and coriander
  • 1 egg (for egg wash)
  • Sesame seeds

Method

  1. Mix the diced beef, minced onions and all the spices together in a bowl.
  2. Add a scoop of the meat filling to the center of each dough square.
  3. Fold the edges of the dough in over the filling and pinch them together to close it up tight.
  4. Flip the samsa over so the folded seam is on the bottom.
  5. Brush the top with egg wash and sprinkle generously with sesame seeds.
  6. Bake for about 30 minutes, until golden brown and crispy.

More for your Shabbat table: five challah dips in 20 minutes and one-pan pepper chicken with a cold unoaked Chardonnay.

Save this recipe for your next Shabbat, subscribe so you never miss a new one, and L'Chaim!