Go Back

Spicy Jamaican Beef Patties

Chef Devan Rajkumar's shares his recipe for spicy, savoury Jamaican-style beef patties.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Servings 5

Ingredients
  

Pastry

  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 2 tsp curry powder
  • 1 tsp ground turmeric
  • 2 tbsp vegetable shortening chilled
  • ¼ cup + 2 tbsp butter butter chilled, divided
  • 1 tsp salt

Filling

  • 2 tsp vegetable oil
  • 2 lbs ground beef
  • 2-3 Scotch bonnet chili peppers to taste, chopped
  • 3 scallions chopped
  • 1½ tsp salt
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • ¾ tsp cayenne
  • 1¼ tsp ground allspice
  • 1 tsp thyme leaves
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • ¾ tsp onion powder
  • ¾ tsp garam masala
  • ¼ cup beef stock or water
  • 2 tsp browning sauce see note
  • 2 tsp soy sauce

Assembly

  • 1 egg beaten

Instructions
 

Pastry

  • In a bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a hook attachment, combine flour, baking powder, curry powder, turmeric, shortening, 2 tbsp chilled butter and salt. Working quickly to prevent butter from melting, process until the mixture forms pea-sized crumbs.
  • Pour in ½ cup ice-cold water and mix until a ball of dough has formed. Flatten into a disk, wrap in plastic wrap and chill in the fridge until needed.

Filling

  • Heat oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Add beef and sear for 3 minutes. Add the remaining ingredients and simmer for 7 to 8 minutes, until stock has reduced by half. Using an immersion blender, pulse the beef mixture several times. Transfer filling to a baking sheet and spread out evenly to cool. Set aside.

Assembly

  • Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • In a small bowl, combine egg and 2 tsp water.
  • Remove pastry from fridge. Using a rolling pin, roll out dough to a large rectangle, about ⅛ inch thick.
  • Using a box grater, grate the remaining ¼ cup (½ stick) cold butter over the dough. Fold it onto itself several times to form a square. Roll out dough again, about ⅛ inch thick.
  • Using a side plate as your template, trace out circles into the dough with a paring knife. Carefully spoon the cooled beef filling on one half of each disk. Brush edges with egg wash, then fold dough over to create a half moon. Using a fork, gently crimp the edges together. Brush tops with egg wash and place on the prepared baking sheet.
  • Bake for 25 minutes, until golden. Serve immediately.

Notes

You’ll find Jamaican browning sauce used everywhere throughout the Caribbean. Sugar is caramelized until deep and golden, then thinned out with water. You can buy it online or at West Indies supermarkets.