Jamaican Beef Patties

Name: Jamaican Beef Patties
Prep time: 60 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 90 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Jamaican
Ingredients: 3 cups all-purpose flour; 1 tsp ground turmeric (for pastry); 1 tsp salt (for pastry); 3/4 cup cold unsalted butter, cubed; 8 tbsp ice water; 1 lb ground beef (80/20); 1 yellow onion, finely diced; 4 scallions, thinly sliced; 4 garlic cloves, minced; 1/2 Scotch bonnet pepper (or habanero), seeded, minced; 1 tsp ground allspice; 1 tsp dried thyme; 2 tsp curry powder; 1/4 cup dry breadcrumbs; 1/2 cup beef broth; 1/2 tsp salt (for filling); 1 egg (for egg wash), beaten with 1 tbsp water

Flaky turmeric-yellow pastry shells filled with a boldly spiced ground beef mixture fragrant with Scotch bonnet, allspice, and thyme. These iconic Caribbean hand pies bake to a golden, satisfying crisp.

90 minMediumServes 4420 cal/serving

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Ingredients

3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp ground turmeric (for pastry)
1 tsp salt (for pastry)
3/4 cup cold unsalted butter, cubed
8 tbsp ice water
1 lb ground beef (80/20)
1 yellow onion, finely diced
4 scallions, thinly sliced
4 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 Scotch bonnet pepper (or habanero), seeded, minced
1 tsp ground allspice
1 tsp dried thyme
2 tsp curry powder
1/4 cup dry breadcrumbs
1/2 cup beef broth
1/2 tsp salt (for filling)
1 egg (for egg wash), beaten with 1 tbsp water

Instructions

1

Make the pastry: whisk together 3 cups all-purpose flour, 1 tsp ground turmeric (for pastry), and 1 tsp salt (for pastry). Cut in 3/4 cup cubed cold unsalted butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add 8 tbsp ice water a little at a time until dough just comes together. Flatten into a disk, wrap, and refrigerate 30 minutes.
2

Make the filling: in a skillet over medium-high heat, cook 1 lb ground beef (80/20) until browned, breaking it up, about 6 minutes. Drain excess fat.
3

Push the beef to one side. Add 1 finely diced yellow onion, 4 thinly sliced scallions, and 4 minced garlic cloves to the pan and cook 3 minutes. Stir in 1/2 seeded, minced Scotch bonnet pepper (or habanero), 1 tsp ground allspice, 1 tsp dried thyme, and 2 tsp curry powder.
4

Pour in 1/2 cup beef broth, add 1/4 cup dry breadcrumbs and 1/2 tsp salt (for filling). Stir and simmer until the mixture is moist but not wet, about 4 minutes. Cool completely.
5

Preheat oven to 400F. On a lightly floured surface, roll out pastry to 1/8-inch thickness. Cut into 5-inch circles (about 8 circles for the standard batch).
6

Place a heaping spoonful of filling on one half of each circle, leaving a 1/2-inch border. Fold the dough over to form a half-moon. Press edges firmly and crimp with a fork.
7

Brush the patties with 1 beaten with 1 tbsp water egg (for egg wash). Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake until golden brown, 25-30 minutes.
8

Cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes before serving.

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Questions

What oven temperature does Jamaican Beef Patties need?

For Jamaican Beef Patties, the oven is set to 400 F (about 205 C) in step 5. The longest stretch at that heat is 30 minutes, in step 7.

What should Jamaican Beef Patties look like when it is ready?

Go by the cues in the method rather than the clock. Step 7: cook until golden brown.

Is there a substitute for allspice in Jamaican Beef Patties?

The entry for Jamaican Beef Patties calls for 1 tsp ground allspice. In its place: Equal parts ground cinnamon, nutmeg and clove.

Can I use ground turkey instead of ground beef in Jamaican Beef Patties?

Yes. Choose turkey that is not extra-lean and add a tablespoon of oil to the pan, because turkey has less fat and browns more slowly. Season it a little harder than you would beef. As written, the entry for Jamaican Beef Patties uses 1 lb ground beef (80/20).

Is Jamaican Beef Patties spicy?

Yes, it is properly hot. The heat in Jamaican Beef Patties comes from 1/2 Scotch bonnet pepper (or habanero), seeded, minced. For a milder plate, remove the seeds and ribs from the hot pepper, or use half; nothing else in the method changes. For more, add it at the table rather than in the pot, so everyone sets their own level.

Can I make Jamaican Beef Patties dairy-free?

Yes. The dairy in Jamaican Beef Patties is 3/4 cup cold unsalted butter, cubed. Swap the butter for olive oil where it melts, or a plant-based block butter where it is creamed. The richness shifts slightly, but the method does not change.

Can I make Jamaican Beef Patties ahead?

Yes, it takes well to being made ahead. Refrigerate what is left of Jamaican Beef Patties within two hours and eat it within three days. Reheat covered in a 300 F oven until warmed through.

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