Jamaican Beef Patties

Ingredients

• 4 cupsall-purpose flour, approx 4 cups
• 1 tspsalt (for dough)
• 1 tspcurry powder (for pastry color), instructions reference turmeric; either produces the characteristic yellow crust
• 9 ozbutter (cold), traditional recipe uses shortening; butter works well
• 1 cupice water (for dough), approx 1 cup; add gradually
• 2 lbground beef
• 1 tspallspice
• black pepper, approx 1/2 tsp
• 2 tbspvegetable oil
• onion (chopped), approx 1 cup chopped
• Scotch bonnet or cayenne pepper, ground red pepper to taste
• 2 tspgarlic (ground or minced)
• 1 tbspdried thyme
• salt (for filling), approx 1/4 tsp
• 2 tbsptomato ketchup
• 2 cupswater (for filling), approx 2 cups; simmered until mostly evaporated
• scallions, approx 1/2 cup; folded in at the end of cooking
• 1egg (for egg wash), beaten with 1 tbsp water

Method

1. 1

   Make the dough: whisk together the flour, 1 tsp salt and curry powder in a large bowl. Rub in the cold butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with pea-sized pieces. Add ice water a little at a time, mixing with your hands until the dough just holds together. Divide into 10–12 pieces, place on a tray, cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

2. 2

   Make the filling: heat the oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Sauté the chopped onion until translucent. Add the hot pepper, garlic and thyme; cook for 1 minute. Season with the filling salt.

3. 3

   Mix the ground beef with the allspice and black pepper, then add to the pan. Cook, breaking up any clumps, until no longer pink.

4. 4

   Add the ketchup and 2 cups water. Bring to a boil, then simmer until almost all the liquid has evaporated and the mixture is thick, about 20 minutes. Fold in the scallions. Remove from heat and cool completely, about 45 minutes.

5. 5

   Preheat the oven to 350°F. Beat the egg with 1 tbsp water for the egg wash. On a floured surface, roll each dough piece into a circle about 12–13cm across.

6. 6

   Place 3 heaped tablespoons of filling on one half of each circle. Moisten the edges with water, fold the other half over and press firmly to seal. Crimp edges with a fork. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.

7. 7

   Brush all patties with egg wash. Bake for 30 minutes until deep golden. Cool on a wire rack and serve warm.

Nutrition per serving