Jamaican Beef Patties
Jamaican Beef Patties feature a delicious and flavorful beef filling covered with a perfectly flaky buttery pastry in that classic yellow color! These beef patties are not only incredibly tasty in every bite, but they’re also super easy to make. Watch the video tutorial to make these amazing street food snacks.
WHAT ARE JAMAICAN BEEF PATTIES?
Jamaican beef patties (also known as Jamaican puff) are flaky patties filled with perfectly seasoned beef and Caribbean flavor. What’s best is that these little snacks are baked, not fried, making them the ideal comfort food that you can enjoy without any guilt!
The spices in the filling have a kick without being overwhelming, making them perfect for the family. The dough has a classic yellow color thanks to the turmeric powder.
Jamaican patties taste slightly like Mexican Empanadas or English meat pie. They are considered fast food and a great snack.
❤️ WHY YOU’LL LOVE JAMAICAN PATTIES
Authentic Jamaican flavors: This recipe captures the bold and spicy flavors synonymous with Jamaican cuisine. If you admire Carrebian food, try my Jamaican Brown Stew Chicken.
Versatile: This Jamaican patty recipe can be enjoyed as a snack, appetizer, or main course. It is perfect for a quick lunch or a picnic.
Flaky pastry: The secret to these patties’ success lies in their flaky pastry. The buttery and light pastry dough contrasts the savory beef filling, making each bite a heavenly experience.
Easy to make: Despite its impressive flavors, the recipe is surprisingly easy. The preparation steps are straightforward, and the ingredients are easily accessible, making it a go-to recipe for beginners and experienced cooks.
Family favorite: The Jamaican beef patty recipe is a crowd-pleaser that will have everyone coming back for seconds. Its delicious flavors and satisfying texture make it a hit with both adults and kids alike.
🍊 INGREDIENTS FOR JAMAICAN BEEF PATTIES
To make Jamaican patties you’ll need simple ingredients to whip them up.
(More details about the ingredients and measurements are in the recipe card below!)
Curry powder and turmeric: To achieve that classic yellow color, we’ll use curry and turmeric powder in the dough. See if you can find the Jamaican version. Otherwise, the Indian curry powder will also work well for this recipe.
Butter: The beef patty dough will contain chilled unsalted butter cubes, which will make the patties buttery and perfectly flaky! Make sure the dough is chilled so the butter doesn’t melt immediately.
Beef: We’ll also need some ground beef for our Jamaican Beef Patties! I’ve used lean ground beef here, and it gave me perfectly juicy patties that weren’t too greasy, either.
Peppers: To get that quintessential Jamaican flavor, we’ll use scotch bonnet chiles in the filling. If you can’t find these anywhere, check the variation section below for some ideas on what else you can use.
🔪 HOW TO MAKE JAMAICAN BEEF PATTY
Not only are these Jamaican patties easy to make, but they’re rewarding, too.
The full instructions are in the recipe card below, but let’s look at the main steps to making this treat.
Step 1
Let’s start by cooking our filling. Brown meat in a pan without oil and set it aside. Then sauté onions in olive oil, add garlic, spring onion, and chilis.
Step 2
Add the browned meat to the pan and add the spices and ketchup. Pour broth on top and cook until around two tablespoons of liquid are left. Set it aside.
Step 3
Time to make the pastry crust! Add the dry ingredients to a large bowl and butter and rub them together until they look like coarse crumbs. Then add water to it and let the dough come together but don’t knead it. Form a disc and refrigerate for 40 minutes.
Step 4
Roll out the dough to 1/8″ inch thick. Fold the right and left corners of the dough to the center, then fold the top and bottom parts to the center; you should have a square dough. Roll out the dough again and trim the edges to make it 1/8″ inch thick. Keep the trimmed edges.
Step 5
Cut the rectangle into six smaller ones. Form a seventh patty from the previously trimmed edges. Fill each pastry with beef filling and fold the crust in half. Crimp the edges with a fork to seal and bake them in the oven at 350F/180C for 25 to 30 minutes.
Your delicious Jamaican Beef Patties are ready to be served!
👩🏽🍳 PRO TIPS FOR JAMAICAN PATTIES
Don’t knead the dough: Make sure not to knead the dough, otherwise it will not be flaky.
Preparing the dough: To guarantee a flaky and tender crust, chill the dough before rolling it out. This will help prevent the butter from melting too quickly and will improve the texture.
Chill the butter: Also, ensure the butter is chilled to get the best texture in your pastry crust.
Deseed the peppers: If you don’t like spicy food, you can easily deseed the peppers for less heat.
Look for authentic Jamaican curry powder: The Jamaican beef patty recipe calls for Jamaican curry powder, but if you can’t, Indian curry powder will work as well.
Sealing the edges: To prevent the filling from leaking out during baking, make sure to crimp the edges of the dough well. You can use a fork to create a decorative pattern or press the edges together firmly with your fingers.
Egg wash for a golden crust: To achieve a beautiful golden crust, brush the beef patties with egg wash before baking. This will give them a glossy finish.
How to make an egg wash: Egg wash is made of one beaten egg mixed with one to two tablespoons of water.
Rest the beef patties: After baking, allow the patties to cool for a few minutes before serving. This will help the filling to set and make them easier to handle. Plus, the flavors will meld together and become even more delicious.
📋 VARIATIONS
These Jamaican beef patties are perfect as is, but if you’re looking to add some variation to them, here are some great ideas to try:
Filling variation: Although beef filling is the most common and popular for Jamaican Patties, you can also make it using chicken or vegetables.
Pepper variation: If you can’t find Scotch Bonnet chilies anywhere, you can use habanero peppers instead.
Shape variation: These Jamaican beef pattie pockets are classic, but if you want to change things up, you can shape them into half-moon crescents.
🍽️ HOW TO SERVE JAMAICAN BEEF PATTIES
- Serve as a delicious appetizer by cutting them into smaller bite-sized pieces and serving them with a spicy dipping sauce. This is perfect for parties or gatherings.
- Serve Jamaican patties as a main course with a side of rice and peas, plantains, and a fresh salad. This combination provides a complete and satisfying meal.
- For a twist on the traditional burger, serve the Jamaican beef patty on a bun with lettuce, tomato, and your favorite burger toppings. This adds a Caribbean flair to a classic American dish.
- Make a Jamaican-inspired taco by stuffing the Jamaican beef patty into tortillas and topping it with salsa, shredded cheese, and sour cream. This fusion of flavors is sure to be a hit.
- Create a Jamaican beef patty pizza by using the patties as a topping on a pizza crust, along with your favorite cheese and vegetables. Bake until the cheese is melted and bubbly for a unique and tasty pizza experience.
💬 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
These patties are inspired by Cornish pastries, which immigrants brought along. Indian laborers introduced curry powder, and African slaves brought chiles. All these flavors combine to give you the classic Jamaican patties.
Empanadas and Jamaican patties are quite similar but with some key differences. Jamaican patties are spicier and have more varied fillings, while empanadas are milder and have a bit of paprika.
These delicious patties are usually served hot or warm and plain, meaning they are served without condiments or dipping sauces because the meat is juicy and flavorful enough to shine on its own!
🌡️ STORING BEEF PATTIES
Fridge: You can store leftover patties in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Freezer: To freeze these patties, layer them in a single layer divided by parchment paper if you’re stacking them, and freeze them for up to 3 months.
Reheat: Let the patties thaw in the fridge overnight, and then reheat them in the oven or toaster oven before serving them.
Related Recipes To Try
- Chicken Samosa Recipe.
- Chicken Pot Pie.
- Sausage Onion Galette.
- Burger Pizza.
- Mushroom Egge Galette.
- Coco Bread Recipe.
⭐ PLEASE RATE AND REVIEW
If you have tried these Jamaican Beef Patties and liked them, please give them a 5-star rating and leave a comment below with your experience!
Jamaican Beef Patties
Ingredients
FOR THE CRUST
- 1 ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ teaspoon sugar
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon curry powder
- 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
- 3 tablespoon chilled water
- 10 tablespoons chilled butter cubes
FOR THE FILLING
- 500 grams ground beef
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 3 garlic minced
- ¼ cup chopped spring onion
- 1 chopped scotch bonnet peppers
- 1 cup chicken or beef broth
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon oregano
- 1 tablespoon ketchup
Instructions
MAKING THE FILLING
- In a hot pan, add the meat and cook without adding oil until it’s brown or cooked. Remove from pan and keep aside.
- In a large pan, add the olive oil and when hot, add the onion and sauté until translucent.
- Add minced garlic and cook for a minute on medium low heat, then add the spring onion and the chili and cook for another minute.
- Return the browned meat to the pan and mix with the onion and garlic mixture. Add the spices and the ketchup and mix well.
- Pour the chicken or beef broth and cook on low heat for 15 to 20 minutes. Make sure the filling is not dry and there is a round two tablespoons of liquid in it since it will cook further in the oven and might become drier.
MAKING THE CRUST
- In a large mixing bowl, add the butter, flour, baking powder, salt, sugar, curry powder, and turmeric powder. Rub the ingredients together until it looks like coarse crumbs.
- Add the chilled water and gather the dough together (do not knead). Form a disc and cover it with a plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 40 minutes.
- Dust the working surface and the dough, roll out the dough to 1/8" inch thick. Fold the right and left part of the dough to the center, then fold the top part and the bottom part to the center, you should have a square dough.
- Roll out the dough again to 1/8" inch thick and trim the edges. Keep the trimmed edges.
- Cut the rectangle into six smaller ones. Form a seventh patty from the previously trimmed edges.
- Fill each rectangle with the beef filing. Fill half the rectangle and keep the filling one inch away from the edge as shown in the video.
- Fold the crust in half. Using the tines of a fork, crimp the edges firmly to seal the patties.
- Place the patties on baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Brush the patties with an egg wash.
- Bake the patties for 25 to 30 minutes in a preheated oven of 350F/180C.
Video
Notes
- For less heat, deseed the peppers.
- Egg wash is made of one beaten egg mixed with one to two tablespoons of water.
- Do not knead the dough, if you knead, it will not come out flaky.
I really like Jamaican Patties!
It was a staple food when I lived in Toronto.
I look forward to making this recipe.
Thank you!
I’m sure you will enjoy them, please let me know when you make them 😊
This was easy and very good.