Jamaican Beef Patties Recipe

Introduction

Jamaican Beef Patties are a flavorful, savory pastry that combines a spiced ground beef filling with a flaky, turmeric-tinted crust. Perfect for a snack or a meal, these patties offer a delicious taste of Caribbean cuisine right in your own kitchen.

Ingredients

• 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
• 1 tablespoon Jamaican curry powder
• 2 tablespoons turmeric powder
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, grated
• 1 cup ice cold water
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 lb ground beef (grass-fed recommended)
• 1 large yellow onion, finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon garlic paste or minced garlic
• 1 teaspoon ginger paste or freshly grated ginger
• Kosher salt & freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 1 teaspoon fresh or dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon ground Jamaican allspice
• 1/2 teaspoon Jamaican curry powder
• 1-2 scotch bonnet peppers, deseeded & finely chopped (use gloves)
• 4 scallions (green onion), chopped
• 1/2 cup chicken stock or broth, plus more as needed
• 1/2 cup plain breadcrumbs
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, cubed

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, sugar, curry powder, and turmeric powder. Add the grated butter and use your hands to pinch it into the dry ingredients until pea-sized bits form and are coated.
2. Step 2: Make a well in the center and pour in the ice-cold water. Use your hands to combine as much as possible, then transfer the dough onto a clean surface. Knead until it forms a smooth, cohesive ball with no dry bits.
3. Step 3: Shape the dough into a ball, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to chill.
4. Step 4: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef and cook, stirring frequently, until browned. Add the chopped onion and cook 3-4 minutes until tender.
5. Step 5: Stir in garlic, ginger, thyme, allspice, curry powder, scotch bonnet peppers, and scallions. Continue cooking for 2-3 minutes to blend flavors.
6. Step 6: Pour in chicken stock, stir for 1 minute, then mix in breadcrumbs until mostly absorbed. Add cubed butter and stir until melted. If the mixture looks dry, add stock as needed. Remove from heat and cool.
7. Step 7: Preheat oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil.
8. Step 8: Remove dough from fridge and divide into equal portions (about 5 ounces each for 8 patties). Roll each piece into a smooth ball, then flatten to a 3 mm thick circle about 6-7 inches across.
9. Step 9: Place about 4 tablespoons of beef filling on one side of each pastry circle. Fold over to form a crescent and seal edges by folding under and crimping with a fork.
10. Step 10: Arrange patties spaced on the baking sheet. Bake 25-30 minutes until light golden brown. Let cool 5 minutes before serving. Enjoy!

Tips & Variations

• Use gloves when handling scotch bonnet peppers to avoid irritation.
• For milder patties, reduce or omit the scotch bonnet peppers.
• Add finely diced vegetables like carrots or bell peppers to the filling for extra texture and flavor.
• Brush patties with a beaten egg before baking for a glossy finish.
• Substitute chicken or turkey for ground beef if preferred.

Storage

Store cooked Jamaican beef patties in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in an oven or toaster oven at 325°F for 8-10 minutes until hot and crisp. Patties can also be frozen for up to 2 months; thaw in the refrigerator before reheating.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I make the dough ahead of time?

Yes, the dough can be made and refrigerated for up to 24 hours before assembling the patties. Just cover it well with plastic wrap to prevent drying out.

What can I use if I don’t have Jamaican curry powder?

If you don’t have Jamaican curry powder, a mild curry powder blended with a pinch of allspice and turmeric can work as a substitute to approximate the flavors.

Jamaican Beef Patties Recipe

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★★★★★

4.8 from 87 reviews

• Author: Aiden
• Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
• Yield: 8 beef patties 1x

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Description

These Jamaican Beef Patties feature a flaky, perfectly seasoned pastry crust filled with a savory and aromatic ground beef mixture infused with traditional Caribbean spices like curry powder, allspice, thyme, and scotch bonnet peppers. Baked to golden perfection, they are an iconic Jamaican snack perfect for any occasion.

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Ingredients

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Dough Ingredients

• 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
• 1 tablespoon Jamaican curry powder
• 2 tablespoons turmeric powder
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, grated
• 1 cup ice cold water

Beef Filling Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 lb ground beef (grass-fed preferred)
• 1 large yellow onion, finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon garlic paste or minced garlic
• 1 teaspoon ginger paste or freshly grated ginger
• Kosher salt & freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 1 teaspoon fresh or dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon ground Jamaican allspice
• 1/2 teaspoon Jamaican curry powder
• 1–2 scotch bonnet peppers, deseeded & finely chopped (use gloves)
• 4 scallions (green onion), chopped
• 1/2 cup chicken stock or broth, plus more as needed
• 1/2 cup plain breadcrumbs
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, cubed

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Instructions

1. Prepare the Dough: In a large bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, kosher salt, granulated sugar, Jamaican curry powder, and turmeric powder until combined. Add the grated unsalted butter and use your hands to pinch and mix the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles little pea-sized bits coated in flour.
2. Add Water and Knead: Make a small well in the center of the flour-butter mixture and pour in the ice-cold water. Use your hands to bring everything together, then transfer the mixture onto a clean surface and knead the dough by repeatedly folding and squeezing it until a cohesive ball forms with no dry flour remaining.
3. Chill the Dough: Shape the dough into a ball, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to firm up.
4. Cook the Beef Filling: Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add olive oil. Once shimmering, add the ground beef and cook, stirring often, until browned and cooked through. Add the finely chopped onion and cook for 3-4 minutes until tender.
5. Add Aromatics and Spices: Stir in the garlic paste, ginger paste, thyme, allspice, curry powder, scotch bonnet peppers, and scallions. Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld.
6. Moisten and Finish Filling: Pour in the chicken stock or broth, stirring to combine for one minute. Mix in the breadcrumbs until mostly absorbed. Add the cubed unsalted butter and stir until melted and the mixture is moist but not watery. Remove from heat and allow to cool.
7. Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheet: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Position the oven rack in the center and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper, foil, or a silpat liner.
8. Divide and Roll Dough: Remove the chilled dough from the refrigerator and divide it into 8 equal pieces (each about 5 ounces) for uniform patties. Roll each piece into a smooth ball, then flatten it with a rolling pin into a 3mm thick round disk about 6-7 inches in diameter.
9. Assemble Patties: Place about 4 tablespoons of the cooled beef filling on one half of each dough round. Fold the other half over to form a half-moon shape. Press the edges together and tuck or roll the edges under, then crimp with a fork to seal.
10. Bake Patties: Arrange the assembled patties on the prepared baking sheet, leaving space between each. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the crust is a light golden brown.
11. Cool and Serve: Remove the patties from the oven and let them cool for 5 minutes before serving warm. Enjoy these flavorful Jamaican beef patties as a snack or meal!

Notes

• Use gloves when handling scotch bonnet peppers to avoid skin irritation.
• Dough can be prepared a day ahead and kept refrigerated.
• Adjust the number of scotch bonnet peppers to control the heat level.
• Ground beef can be substituted with ground turkey or chicken for a lighter option.
• For best results, ensure the beef filling is moist but not watery to prevent soggy pastry.
• You can freeze assembled patties before baking for up to 3 months; bake directly from frozen, increasing baking time slightly.

• Prep Time: 45 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Snack
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: Jamaican

Keywords: Jamaican beef patties, Caribbean beef patties, spicy beef pastry, curry beef patties, Jamaican snack