Baked Jamaican Beef Patty Recipe

Beef patties are one of the best-loved Jamaican dishes, although their history, as with many traditional foods, is somewhat shrouded in the mists of time. They are thought to be a product of all of the many disparate cultures that have come together to create Jamaica's unique character, but the prototype could well have been the meat pasties brought by Cornish sailors who first visited the island in the 17^th century. In time, however, the recipe has evolved to include Scotch bonnet peppers, allspice, and other flavorings more typical of the Caribbean than the British Isles.

This recipe's particular patties may not be a traditional version of the dish, but recipe developer Leah Maroney touts the fact that their texture is "unlike other meat-filled pastries due to the addition of cracker crumbs." She does say that "the flaky and buttery pastry makes the Jamaican beef patties absolutely irresistible." Interestingly enough, she also notes that some people like to add some extra carbs to the finished product. As Maroney asserts, these patties may be "considered a complete meal when they're served inside coco bread."

The outer crust of the patties is made from flour mixed with a combination of butter and shortening while being seasoned with turmeric and salt. The filling is comprised of ground beef flavored with onion, garlic, Scotch bonnet pepper, thyme, allspice, smoked paprika, beef bouillon, seasoned salt, black pepper, and ketchup, and then bulked up with crackers. While Maroney feels that "Ritz or another buttery cracker work best for the filling," she does say that "any cracker will do." She also says that ⅓ cup of breadcrumbs can be substituted for the crackers.

Mix the flour with the butter, shortening, turmeric, and salt (Maroney uses a food processor for this step) until it has a fine crumb-like consistency. Blend in ice water a tablespoon at a time until a dough forms. You may need to add ½ cup (8 tablespoons) of water in all, but the dough might take a bit less. To test whether the dough is ready, press it with your hands. If it holds together, wrap it in plastic wrap and refrigerate it for an hour or more.

Fry the beef until it's brown. Peel and roughly chop the onions and garlic, then chop (but do not peel) the pepper. You should probably wear gloves for this step. Otherwise, the pepper juices could burn your hands. Season the browned beef with the thyme, allspice, smoked paprika, beef bouillon, seasoned salt, black pepper, and ketchup, then stir in the onions, garlic, and pepper. Continue cooking the filling until the onions soften.

Blend the beef filling with the crackers (Maroney advises using a blender or food processor), grinding until both the onions and crackers are incorporated. Maroney does caution, though to "not over-blend," as you don't want the meat to turn into a paste.

Once you're ready to make the patties, preheat the oven to 400 F. Divide the dough in half, then roll one piece out into a rectangle measuring about 12 by 18 inches and about ⅛ inch thick. Slice this rectangle into strips each measuring about 5 by 3 inches.

Using ¼ cup of the beef for each piece of dough, put the filling in the middle. Fold the dough over, then form the edges into what Leah Maroney calls "a slightly rounded square." Use a fork to crimp the edges. If the dough doesn't form a good seal, you can use a little water to help it stick. Repeat this process until you've filled all of the dough strips, then roll out and cut the rest of the dough and continue filling patties until both the filling and dough are used up.

Bake all of the patties on a parchment-lined baking sheet for 10 to 12 minutes. Once they are done, they should have the golden-brown tinge typical of baked dough. If you'd like the patties to be even more yellowish in color, Maroney notes that you can brush them with an egg wash before you stick them in the oven. Let the patties cool off a bit before you bite into the first one.

These beef patties can be kept in the fridge for 3 days, but if you won't finish them in time, they can be frozen. "The patties can be assembled ahead of time and frozen until you are ready to bake," says Maroney. As for reheating, 2 or 3 minutes in the microwave will do for refrigerated patties, although frozen ones may take a bit longer. You can reheat them in an oven or air fryer, too, or just eat them cold, although eating patties straight out of the freezer isn't recommended.