Jamaican Beef Patties

Flaky, golden turmeric-tinted pastry shells filled with savory, spiced ground beef seasoned with Scotch bonnet, thyme, and curry powder. These handheld Jamaican favorites are the ultimate street food snack.

Ingredients

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1.5 tsp turmeric
• 1 tsp salt
• ¾ cup cold unsalted butter, cubed
• ½ cup ice water
• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 small yellow onion, finely diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 Scotch bonnet pepper, seeded and minced
• 2 tsp curry powder
• 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves
• ½ tsp allspice
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ tsp black pepper
• ½ cup beef broth
• ¼ cup breadcrumbs
• 1 egg, beaten (for egg wash)

Method

1. Make the pastry: Whisk flour, turmeric, and salt in a large bowl. Cut in the cold butter with a pastry cutter or fork until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add ice water a tablespoon at a time until the dough comes together. Flatten into a disc, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
2. Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Cook onion for 3 minutes, then add garlic and Scotch bonnet. Cook 1 minute. Add beef, breaking it up, and cook until browned, about 5 minutes.
3. Add curry powder, thyme, allspice, salt, pepper, and beef broth. Simmer for 10 minutes until most liquid is absorbed. Stir in breadcrumbs to bind the filling. Let cool completely.
4. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Roll out the dough to 1/8-inch thickness. Cut into 6-inch circles using a plate or large cutter.
5. Place about 3 tablespoons of filling on one half of each circle. Fold the other half over and press the edges firmly with a fork to seal. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
6. Brush the tops with beaten egg. Bake for 25-30 minutes until golden brown and flaky.

Chef's note: These freeze beautifully before or after baking. Freeze unbaked patties on a sheet pan, then transfer to a bag. Bake from frozen, adding 5-8 minutes to the baking time. The filling must be completely cool before assembling or it will melt the pastry.

Nutrition per serving

More Jamaican recipes

• Jerk Chicken
• Rice and Peas