Jamaican Beef Patties

Ingredients

• 500 gall-purpose flour, approx 4 cups
• 1 tspsalt (for dough)
• 1 tspcurry powder (for pastry colour), instructions reference turmeric; either produces the characteristic yellow crust
• 250 gbutter (cold), traditional recipe uses shortening; butter works well
• 240 mlice water (for dough), approx 1 cup; add gradually
• 900 gground beef
• 1 tspallspice
• black pepper, approx 1/2 tsp
• 2 tbspvegetable oil
• onion (chopped), approx 1 cup chopped
• scotch bonnet or cayenne pepper, ground red pepper to taste
• 2 tspgarlic (ground or minced)
• 1 tbspdried thyme
• salt (for filling), approx 1/4 tsp
• 2 tbsptomato ketchup
• 480 mlwater (for filling), approx 2 cups; simmered until mostly evaporated
• spring onions (scallions), approx 1/2 cup; folded in at the end of cooking
• 1egg (for egg wash), beaten with 1 tbsp water

Method

1. 1

   Make the dough: whisk together the flour, 1 tsp salt and curry powder in a large bowl. Rub in the cold butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with pea-sized pieces. Add ice water a little at a time, mixing with your hands until the dough just holds together. Divide into 10–12 pieces, place on a tray, cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

2. 2

   Make the filling: heat the oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Sauté the chopped onion until translucent. Add the hot pepper, garlic and thyme; cook for 1 minute. Season with the filling salt.

3. 3

   Mix the ground beef with the allspice and black pepper, then add to the pan. Cook, breaking up any clumps, until no longer pink.

4. 4

   Add the ketchup and 2 cups water. Bring to a boil, then simmer until almost all liquid has evaporated and the mixture is thick. Fold in the spring onions. Remove from heat and cool completely.

5. 5

   Preheat the oven to 175°C / 350°F. Beat the egg with 1 tbsp water for the egg wash. On a floured surface, roll each dough piece into a circle about 12–13cm across.

6. 6

   Place 3 heaped tablespoons of filling on one half of each circle. Moisten the edges with water, fold the other half over and press firmly to seal. Crimp edges with a fork. Place on a parchment-lined baking tray.

7. 7

   Brush all patties with egg wash. Bake for 30 minutes until deep golden. Cool on a wire rack and serve warm.