Description
Jamaican beef patty brings Caribbean spice and comfort to your dinner table with golden, flaky pastry packed with seasoned ground beef that sings with island flavors. Flavorful and easy to make, this classic recipe delivers a delicious handheld meal that connects you straight to Jamaica’s culinary heart.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 lb ground beef
- 2½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup cold unsalted butter
Supporting Ingredients:
- 1 small onion
- 2 garlic cloves
- ½ cup beef broth
- ½ cup cold water
Seasonings and Extras:
- 1 tablespoon curry powder or turmeric
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 tablespoon dried thyme
- 2 tablespoons breadcrumbs
- 1 teaspoon allspice
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 Scotch bonnet pepper
- Salt and black pepper
Instructions
- Mix 2½ cups flour, 1 tbsp curry powder, and 1 tsp salt in a large mixing bowl. Your goal is to create a uniform dry blend with no lumps.
- Dice 1 cup cold butter into small cubes. Work the butter into the flour mixture using your fingertips until it resembles coarse breadcrumbs.
- Pour ½ cup cold water into the flour mixture. Gently knead the dough until it forms a cohesive ball. Add extra water if the dough feels dry.
- Wrap the dough in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 30 minutes to allow the butter to firm up and the gluten to relax.
- Heat 1 tbsp vegetable oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Sauté 1 finely chopped onion for 2 minutes until translucent.
- Add 2 minced garlic cloves and 1 chopped Scotch bonnet pepper to the skillet. Cook for another 30 seconds.
- Introduce 1 lb ground beef to the skillet. Break the meat into small pieces and cook until completely browned.
- Sprinkle 1 tsp allspice, 1 tsp dried thyme, salt, and black pepper over the meat. Stir thoroughly to distribute seasonings.
- Pour ½ cup beef broth into the skillet. Add 2 tbsp breadcrumbs and simmer for 5 minutes until the liquid reduces and the mixture thickens.
- Remove the filling from heat and allow it to cool completely to room temperature.
- Preheat your oven to 375°F. Roll the chilled dough on a floured surface to ¼-inch thickness.
- Cut the dough into 6-inch circles using a round cutter or plate as a guide.
- Place 2 tbsp of cooled beef filling on one half of each dough circle. Fold the dough over to create a half-moon shape.
- Crimp the edges firmly with a fork to seal the patties completely. Your seal prevents filling from leaking during baking.
- Transfer patties to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Space them 1 inch apart to ensure even cooking.
- Bake at 375°F for 22-25 minutes until the pastry turns a deep golden brown and looks crispy.
- Remove from the oven and let the patties rest for 5 minutes before serving. The filling will be extremely hot.
Notes
- Chill the dough thoroughly to ensure a flaky, tender crust that separates beautifully when you bite into the patty.
- Use lean ground beef to prevent excess grease, but don’t go too lean or the filling might become dry and tough.
- Toast your spices briefly in the pan before adding the beef to intensify their Caribbean flavor profile and create deeper complexity.
- For a gluten-free version, swap wheat flour with a blend of rice and almond flour, and use gluten-free breadcrumbs in the filling.
- Prep Time: 34 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Beef
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Jamaican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 365 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 290 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg