A Bold and Spicy Dish — Jamaican Beef Patties

Imagine a gold perfect crispy delicious pastry filled with a savory and spicy meat filling, well that’s exactly what we made today.

Beef patties have been around for centuries, and they are easily found at any local Caribbean restaurant or even in the frozen section of your local grocery store, but nothing beats a fresh home-made patty dough.

The dough is infused with turmeric and curry powder to give it a bold flavor and provide the patty with its’ bright yellow color. The butter adds a nice flaky texture to the patty, making every bite as crispy as the last! 

The spice is easily adjusted with the use of scotch bonnet peppers, but beware, they are spicy! Most recipes call for about 1 scotch bonnet pepper, but it can be omitted entirely. I opted to add two to give it an extra kick. 

The simplicity and sharp flavor of this recipe, makes it a go-to for any day of the week.  

If you’d like to make this recipe for yourself, follow the steps below!  

Recipe

For dough

1. Add flour, spices and butter to a food processor. Pulse until the butter is fully incorporated.
2. Transfer to a bowl and slowly add the ice water until it forms a dough similar to play dough. (You may need to adjust the amount of water depending on the consistency of the dough)
3. Place dough in the fridge, covered, while you work on the filling.

For filling

1. Add enough oil to a l pan to coat the bottom.
2. When the oil is hot, add the onions and sauté until soft, about 5-7 minutes.
3. Add the scallions and mix to incorporate. Add the beef and spices, and mix thoroughly. Let cook until the meet is almost done.
4. Add the garlic, liquid browning, and scotch bonnet. Mix thoroughly.
5. Add the beef broth, cover and let simmer for 10 minutes or until most of the broth evaporates.

To assemble

1. Add the dough to a floured surface, and roll out until you have a thin, flat dough.
2. Using a small bowl, cut out circles (circle sizes depends on how big you want the patties).
3. Add a good amount of filling to the middle of the dough. Fold it over and seal the ends with a fork.
4. Mix 1 egg with 2 tbsp of water, and lightly brush the top of the patties.
5. Bake at 400 degrees for about 20-25 minutes, or until the dough is flaky and crispy.
6. Serve and enjoy!

Ingredients

For dough

• 2 cups flour
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter
• 1 tsp tumeric
• 1 tsp curry powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup ice water
• 1 egg, for coating
• 2 tbsp water, for coating

For filling

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 onion, diced
• 3 scallions, diced
• 2 garlic cloves, diced
• 1-2 scotch bonnet peppers, diced
• 2 tsp curry powder
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp tumeric
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 6 oz beef stock
• 1 tbsp liquid browning