Every time I mentioned to somebody that I was about to make Jamaican beef patties, the answer was “oooh!!”, and rightly so. The patties were a flaky goodness. The turmeric gives them their yellow color, and on top of that, they are brushed with an egg wash before being baked. Both of those make for bright yellow patties, that made me think of the sun.The filling could be modified to adjust for your taste, and you will probably have some left-over.
Jamaican beef patties
Print recipe
| Serves | 6-8 |
| Prep time | 30 minutes |
| Cook time | 30 minutes |
| Total time | 1 hour |
| Meal type | Appetizer, Snack |
Ingredients
- Pastry
- 2 cups flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon turmeric
- ⅔ cup vegetable shortening
- ½ cup iced water (( you might need a little more or a little less))
- 1 egg
- 1lb ground beef
- 1 teaspoon all-spice
- black pepper and salt to taste
- hot pepper (( I used cayenne pepper) to taste)
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon thyme
- 1 tablespoon ketchup
- 1 cup water
- ¼ cup of finely sliced green onions (both white and green parts)
Directions
| Pastry | |
| 1. | Mix the flour, salt, and turmeric in a bowl |
| 2. | Rub the shortening into the flour until it is completely coated with flour, pour ½ cup of iced water and mix with your hands, Keep adding water a little bit at a time until you obtain a dough |
| 3. | Cut the dough in half, wrap both pieces in plastic wrap, and put them in the fridge for 30 min |
| Filling | |
| 4. | Sprinkle in all-spice and black pepper on beef. Heat oil in pan and add onions when hot. Saute the onions until translucent, then hot pepper, garlic and thyme, then salt (to taste). |
| 5. | Add beef, and cook until the meat is no longer pink, breaking any large clumps that may form. Add ketchup and salt |
| 6. | Pour in the cup of water and stir. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer until most of the liquid has evaporated |
| 7. | Fold in the green onions and let it cool completely. The filling can be prepared a day ahead |
| Assembling the patties | |
| 8. | Flour your work surface and your rolling pin |
| 9. | Work with one of the pieces of dough at a time, leave the other one in the fridge in the meantime |
| 10. | Roll the dough to about ¼ in (0.5cm) thick. Using a bowl with a wide rim, I used a cereal bowl (~ 3in wide), cut pieces in the dough |
| 11. | Place 2-3 spoonfuls of the filling onto one half of the dough. You will use more or less filling depending on the size of your patties. Dip a finger into some water and wet the edges of the circle. Fold the other half over and use a fork to crimp both halves together. |
| 12. | Set the patty on a baking sheet and continue to work until you run out of dough. Once you are finished with the first half of the dough, put all the patties you have prepared back in the fridge and make more patties with the 2nd half of your dough |
| 13. | Once all your patties are done, keep them in the fridge while you preheat the oven to 350F |
| 14. | Beat the egg and water together and set aside. Right before putting the patties in the oven brush them with the egg wash.Bake the patties for 30 min or until golden brown. Serve warm |
| 15. | Serve warm |
Recipe adapted from http://www.stabroeknews.com/2010/the-scene/tastes-like-home/09/18/tastes-like-home-patty/
Found that the “Jamaican” beef patties actually originated in Haiti. The recipe is slightly different and the Haitian ones do not have that distinct gold yellow color.
I live in the Bahamas and grew up eating these. Still I’d go out of my way for one at any gas station for one. Will make soon!
Very nice! Let us know how it goes!