Jamaican Beef Patties
In short: Flaky turmeric pastry filled with spiced ground beef, thyme and scotch bonnet, baked until golden. Jamaica's favorite hand-held snack. It takes about 1 h 40 min in total and makes 12 servings.
- Prep
- 50 min
- Cook
- 50 min
- Resting
- 45 min
- Total
- 1 h 40 min
- Servings
- 12
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 365 kcal
The beef patty is Jamaica's go-to lunch on the move, sold at bakeries, school gates and corner shops across the island, often tucked into a soft coco bread. The golden crust gets its color from turmeric. The filling is ground beef cooked with onion, thyme, allspice, curry powder and scotch bonnet, then thickened with breadcrumbs so it stays moist inside the pastry. This version uses a shortening dough that bakes up flaky.
Instructions
- Mix the flour, turmeric, salt and baking powder. Rub in the shortening with your fingertips until the mixture looks like coarse crumbs with a few pea-size pieces.
- Add the ice water a little at a time, mixing until the dough just holds together. Shape it into a disc, wrap and chill for 45 minutes.
- Heat the oil in a skillet over medium heat. Cook the onion, scallions, garlic and scotch bonnet for 4 minutes until soft.
- Add the beef and cook, breaking it up, for 8 minutes until no pink remains. Stir in the curry powder, allspice, thyme, salt and pepper and cook for 1 minute.
- Add the water and simmer for 5 minutes. Stir in the breadcrumbs and cook until the mixture is thick and moist but not wet. Cool completely.
- Heat the oven to 200°C (400°F) and line two baking sheets with parchment. Roll the dough 3 mm (1/8 inch) thick and cut twelve 14 cm (5.5 inch) circles, rerolling the scraps.
- Put 3 tablespoons of cooled filling on one half of each circle. Fold over, press the edges together and crimp with a fork.
- Place on the sheets, brush with oil and prick each top once with a fork. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes until golden. Cool for 5 minutes before serving.
Tips
- Chill the shaped patties for 15 minutes before baking. Cold dough gives the flakiest crust and holds its shape in the oven.
- Ground chicken or sautéed mixed vegetables make good alternative fillings. Cook chicken until no pink remains before filling the pastry.
Questions and answers
Can I freeze Jamaican beef patties?
Yes. Freeze unbaked patties on a tray, then bag them for up to 3 months and bake from frozen, adding 8 to 10 minutes. Baked patties also freeze well and reheat in a 180°C (350°F) oven.
Why is the patty crust yellow?
Turmeric colors the pastry and adds a mild earthy flavor. Some bakeries use yellow food coloring as well.
What is coco bread and do I need it?
Coco bread is a soft, folded Jamaican bun that is split and filled with a hot patty. It is a popular partner but not required, and patties are good on their own.
How long does it take to make Jamaican Beef Patties?
About 1 h 40 min in total: 50 min of preparation and 50 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Jamaican Beef Patties?
About 365 kcal per serving, with 11 g of protein, 28 g of carbohydrates and 23 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 365 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 11 g |
| Carbohydrates | 28 g |
| Fat | 23 g |
| Fiber | 2 g |
| Sugar | 1 g |
| Sodium | 430 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
