Jamaican Beef Patties
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp turmeric powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 6 tbsp cold unsalted butter, cubed
- 1 large egg yolk
- 6 tbsp ice water
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 medium onion, minced
- 2 scotch bonnet peppers, minced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp fresh thyme leaves
- 1 tsp allspice
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 egg, beaten (for egg wash)
Instructions
- Make the pastry: whisk together flour, turmeric, and salt in a large bowl. Cut in cold butter until mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs. In a small bowl, whisk egg yolk with ice water. Add to flour mixture and mix until dough just comes together. Form into a disk, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for at least 20 minutes.
- Brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat (5-6 minutes), breaking it into small pieces. Remove beef to a plate, leaving 1 tbsp fat in pan.
- Lower heat to medium, add minced onion, scotch bonnets, and garlic. Cook 3-4 minutes until softened and fragrant. Add thyme, allspice, and black pepper; toast for 30 seconds.
- Return beef to skillet with breadcrumbs and 2 tbsp water. Simmer 3-4 minutes until mixture is moist but not wet. Season with additional salt and pepper to taste. Cool filling to room temperature (about 10 minutes).
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Roll chilled dough between parchment paper to 1/8-inch thickness. Cut 8 circles using a 4-inch round cutter.
- Place 2 tbsp filling on one half of each circle, leaving 1/2-inch border. Fold dough over to create half-moon, press edges firmly, then crimp with a fork to seal.
- Arrange patties on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Brush generously with beaten egg wash. Bake at 400°F for 22-25 minutes until deep golden brown and crispy.
- Cool patties on a wire rack for 5 minutes before serving. The pastry should be flaky and shatter slightly when bitten, with a savory, spiced beef filling that balances heat and aromatics.
Inspired by Demetrius Brown’s winning jamaican beef patties. This is a plausible recreation, not the chef’s original recipe.