Jamaican Beef Patties

⏱ 90 mins 🍽 24 patties 🏷 Savory Pies

These homemade Jamaican beef paties feature a distinctive pastry coloured with turmeric and curry powder, encasing a flavourful filling of seasoned ground beef, onions, and hot peppers. The recipe yields 24 individual pastries, which are baked until golden. They are ideal for serving as a substantial snack or party appetiser, often accompanied by a jerk barbecue sauce.

Jamaican Beef Patties

Ingredients

  • 4 cups flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
  • 1 teaspoon curry powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup vegetable shortening
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 3/4 cup water (or more)
  • 2 medium onions, finely chopped
  • 3 scallions, including tops finely chopped
  • 2 hot peppers, finely chopped (preferably scotch bonnet)
  • 1 1/2 lbs lean ground beef
  • 2 tablespoons oil
  • 5 cups fresh breadcrumbs
  • 3/4 teaspoon ground thyme
  • 3/4 teaspoon ground turmeric
  • salt and pepper
  • 3/4-1 cup water

Method

  1. For the pastry, sift the flour with baking powder, turmeric, curry powder and salt.
  2. Use a pastry blender to cut the shortening into the flour until it resembles cornmeal. A food processor can be pulsed for this step. Combine the egg with the water.
  3. Mix just enough of the egg mixture into the dry ingredients with your fingers to form a cohesive dough.
  4. Wrap the dough in plastic and chill it for 30 minutes.
  5. To prepare the filling, combine the chopped onions, scallions and hot peppers with the ground beef, mixing thoroughly by hand.
  6. Warm the oil in a large frying pan or Dutch oven.
  7. Place the meat mixture into the hot pan.
  8. Cook the meat for about 10 minutes until it has lightly browned.
  9. Stir in the breadcrumbs, thyme, turmeric, salt and pepper.
  10. Pour in the water.
  11. Cover the pan and let it simmer for 30 minutes, or until any extra liquid has cooked off, leaving a moist but not wet filling.
  12. Let the filling cool completely while you work on the pastry.
  13. Separate the chilled dough into 24 equal portions.
  14. Roll out each piece on a floured surface to a 3/8 inch thickness and cut into a 4 inch circle.
  15. Stack the pastry circles and cover them with a damp cloth to prevent drying.
  16. Take one circle and place a spoonful of filling over one half.
  17. Fold the other half over the filling and press the edges together, then crimp them sealed with a fork.
  18. Arrange the patties on ungreased baking sheets and bake at 400°F for 30-35 minutes.
  19. Enjoy the patties while they are still hot.

Nutrition (per serving)

Sodium292500 mg

Recipe details

CategorySavory Pies
AuthorJust Call Me Martha