Jamaican Beef Patty

 A Jamaican patty is eaten in Jamaica the way most Americans eats hamburgers.  You can find patty shops all over the island of Jamaica as well as in the airport. In most areas you can find patty shops across the street from each other.  When I go back home to visit the first thing I buy when I arrive is a patty.  The traditional Jamaican Patty is made with beef; however, you can find Chicken Patty, Veggie Patty, Shrimp Patty, Callaloo Patties and even Curry Chicken Patties in most patty shops.   My favorite patty is Beef Patty and since I have a hard time finding my favorite patties, I find myself having to make it.

Patty Pastry
INGREDIENTS
2 cups flour
¼ teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon turmeric
½ teaspoon salt
½ cup room temperature vegetable shortening or suet (beef fat)
½ cup ice cold water

 DIRECTIONS

1. Add flour, baking powder, turmeric, salt and shortening to a mixing bowl. Use your fingers, two knives, or a hand mixture and mix dough gently until dough has the fine breadcrumb/cornmeal consistency.
2. Slowly add in the ice-cold water and mix the dough until holds together.  Do not overwork the dough.  Remove the dough from the bowl and wrap in plastic, and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes or overnight. If you leave dough overnight, remember to allow the dough to come to room temperature before using.
3. Prepare filling.

Beef Patty Filling

INGREDIENTS
1 pound lean ground beef
½ cup onion, finely chopped
3 scallions, finely chopped
1 tablespoon thyme
1 garlic clove, crushed
1 scotch bonnet or habanero pepper (hot pepper)
1 cup breadcrumbs
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon pepper
 ½ cup water
1/8 teaspoon allspice powder
1 tablespoon oil
  
DIRECTIONS

1. Place water, onion, scallion, pepper, garlic, and thyme in a blender and mix well.
2. Set stove to a medium high setting.  Place a skillet on the stove and heat oil, then add meat. Crumble meat into small pieces then add the wet mixture from the blender to the meat. 
3. Stir well and cook over medium heat until is lightly browned about 10-15 minutes.
4. Add breadcrumbs and reduce heat to low and stir to combine mixture, simmer for about 1-2 minutes. Make sure there is enough liquid to absorb the breadcrumbs.   The mixture should be thick and moist; not wet and runny or dry and crumbly.
5. Remove filling from the stove and allow to cool while you roll out the pastry.

 
Assemble Jamaica Beef Patty

1. Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees F.  
2. Divide dough into 12 equal pieces and roll into a ball.
3. On a lightly flour surface roll out each dough in a thin circle; the size of a saucer about 4 inches.
4. Once all your pastry disc is rolled out fill the center with about 2-3 tablespoons of filling on each pastry disc to cover half of the disc.
5. Fold pastry disc in half (overlap) the pastry dough so it resembles a half moon and crimp the edge with a folk.
6. Place the patties onto a lined baking tray and placed onto the middle rack and bake for 20-25 minutes. Serve hot!

Photo provide by Orange County Library System