Bold, golden, and impossible to resist, these Jamaican Beef Patty Delights are flaky pastry pockets stuffed with aromatic, spiced beef. There’s a reason they fly out of any Caribbean bakery! Making them at home brings a taste of the islands right to your kitchen—and honestly, it’s easier than you might think.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Authentic Flavors: Packed to the brim with signature Jamaican spices, every bite is deliciously bold and aromatic.
- Flaky, Buttery Pastry: The homemade crust gets its golden hue and irresistible texture from turmeric, curry, and real butter.
- Ultimate Make-Ahead Snack: Jamaican Beef Patty Delights freeze beautifully, so you can enjoy a taste of the islands anytime a craving strikes.
- Customizable Heat: Scotch bonnet peppers bring the fire, but you can easily dial it up or down to suit your spice tolerance.
Ingredients You’ll Need
One of the best parts about Jamaican Beef Patty Delights is that they call for a handful of accessible ingredients—each one essential for capturing that signature flavor, vibrant color, or flaky texture. Let’s break down what makes these patties truly irresistible:
- All-purpose flour: The sturdy foundation for a crust that’s both flaky and tender.
- Unsalted butter: Grating your butter ensures even distribution for the loveliest, melt-in-your-mouth pastry layers.
- Jamaican curry powder & turmeric: These spices give the dough its signature sunshine-yellow color and hint of earthy, savory depth.
- Kosher salt & sugar: Salt balances and sugar just slightly sweetens the crust—trust, it’s not dessert, but it makes all the difference.
- Ice cold water: Chilled water is crucial for tender pastry; it keeps the butter from melting too soon.
- Ground beef: Opt for grass-fed if you can for beefy flavor and juiciness in every bite.
- Yellow onion, garlic, ginger: The aromatic backbone of the filling for richness and warmth.
- Scotch bonnet pepper: The iconic Jamaican chili for fruity, fiery heat—use gloves and go as mild or wild as you dare!
- Fresh or dried thyme & allspice: These bring a distinctly Caribbean, herbaceous warmth to the party.
- Scallions (green onions): A mild oniony pop that brightens every bite of the filling.
- Chicken stock or broth: Keeps the beef mixture juicy while marrying all the flavors.
- Plain breadcrumbs: They soak up delicious juices and help everything cling together inside the pastry.
- Additional butter (filling): A final touch for luxurious, glistening beef—don’t skip it!
- Olive oil, salt, and black pepper: Basics that round out all the other bold flavors in the recipe.
Variations
The beauty of Jamaican Beef Patty Delights is just how easy they are to make your own. Whether you’re cooking for spice-shy kids, vegetarians, or want to amp up the savoriness, there’s a twist for every craving!
- Spice Swap: Tone down the scotch bonnet or skip it altogether and use a milder pepper—or dial up the heat for a serious kick!
- Vegetarian Version: Swap the ground beef for lentils or hearty mushrooms for an equally delicious, plant-based patty.
- Cheesy Beef Patties: Add a sprinkle of sharp cheddar with the beef filling for a gooey, melty center.
- Little Patty Bites: Make mini patties for appetizers or party snacks—just adjust the baking time as needed.
How to Make Jamaican Beef Patty Delights
Step 1: Prepare the Vibrant Dough
In a large bowl, whisk together flour, salt, sugar, Jamaican curry powder, and turmeric until blended. Then grate in cold butter and gently work it through with your fingertips until the mixture looks pebbly—you want little bits of butter visible throughout, which means flaky pastry ahead! Make a well, pour in ice water, and use your hands to gently bring it all into a rough dough. Turn it out, knead just until it comes together, form a ball, wrap, and chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.
Step 2: Craft the Spiced Beef Filling
Heat olive oil in a skillet and brown the ground beef, breaking it up as you go. Stir in chopped onions, cooking until soft. Add garlic, ginger, thyme, allspice, curry powder, scotch bonnet, and scallions, letting everything mingle for another few minutes. Pour in chicken stock, then breadcrumbs, stirring until the mixture is juicy but not soupy. Melt in the butter cubes for that silky finish. Let it cool—you don’t want a hot filling melting your dough!
Step 3: Assemble the Beef Patty Delights
Roll the chilled dough into balls, then flatten each into a 6-7 inch round, about 3mm thick. Spoon the cooled beef mixture onto one half of each pastry, fold the other side over for a classic half-moon shape, then seal and crimp the edges with a fork. Place on a lined baking sheet, making sure they’re spaced so those flaky edges don’t stick together while baking.
Step 4: Bake to Golden Perfection
Pop your assembled patties into a preheated 350°F oven. Let them bake for 25–30 minutes until they’re lightly golden and your kitchen smells like a Caribbean bakery. Allow them to cool for a few minutes so the filling isn’t lava-hot, then dive in and enjoy your homemade Jamaican Beef Patty Delights!
Pro Tips for Making Jamaican Beef Patty Delights
- Keep It Chill: For the flakiest pastry, make sure your butter and water are ice cold, and always chill the dough before rolling it out.
- Customize the Heat: Always taste your filling before assembling—add more scotch bonnet if you want it fiery, or reduce for a milder bite.
- Juicy, Not Watery: The beef filling should be moist enough to cling together, but not soupy. If it’s too dry, add an extra splash of stock before filling your patties.
- Seal the Deal: Rolling and crimping the pastry edge not only looks neat, but keeps every bit of that savory beef tucked safely inside.
How to Serve Jamaican Beef Patty Delights
Garnishes
For that final flourish, sprinkle your Jamaican Beef Patty Delights with a little chopped parsley or extra sliced scallions right before serving. The pop of green contrasts beautifully with that golden pastry—and if you want a little more heat, a few thin slices of fresh chili look gorgeous and taste incredible.
Side Dishes
Pair your patties with classic Jamaican coco bread for an authentic bakery experience, or serve them alongside a crisp green salad, creamy coleslaw, or fried plantains. For a heartier meal, try a scoop of rice and peas—utter comfort on a plate!
Creative Ways to Present
Jamaican Beef Patty Delights shine at parties! Arrange mini patties on a serving platter with a tangy, homemade dipping sauce or nestle full-size patties into paper sleeves for easy grab-and-go snacking. I also love packing them for picnics—they’re just as delicious at room temp.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
If you’re lucky enough to have leftovers, let your beef patties cool completely, then transfer them to an airtight container. They’ll stay fresh in the fridge for up to four days—hello, easy lunches and snacking!
Freezing
To freeze, let baked patties cool, then layer them between sheets of parchment in a freezer-safe container or bag. Jamaican Beef Patty Delights freeze excellently for up to three months, so make a big batch for future cravings.
Reheating
For best results, reheat your patties in a 350°F oven until warmed through and the pastry is crisp again—usually about 10–12 minutes from the fridge, or 15–18 if frozen (no need to thaw!). A quick zap in the microwave works in a pinch, but the crust stays flakiest in the oven.
FAQs
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Can I make Jamaican Beef Patty Delights ahead of time?
Absolutely! Both the dough and beef filling can be made a day ahead and assembled when you’re ready. The assembled (but unbaked) patties can also be frozen for baking directly from frozen—so handy for quick snacks or gatherings.
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How spicy are Jamaican Beef Patty Delights?
It all depends on your scotch bonnet usage! Using one de-seeded pepper gives modest heat, while two or more (with seeds) can make them fiery. Feel free to substitute with milder chilis or leave them out for a gentle version that’s still packed with flavor.
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Can I use store-bought pastry to save time?
Yes—you can use pre-made pastry dough for a shortcut, but homemade captures that signature flaky, curry-hued crust of true Jamaican Beef Patty Delights. If you do use store-bought, brush a little curry and turmeric mixed with egg wash on top before baking for that iconic color.
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What’s the best way to avoid soggy bottoms?
Let your filling cool completely before assembling the patties, and make sure the mixture is juicy but not watery. Baking on parchment or a silicone mat helps maintain crisp bottoms—no one wants a soggy patty!
Final Thoughts
If you’re craving a little sunshine on your plate, you can’t go wrong with these Jamaican Beef Patty Delights. They’re joyful to make, even better to eat, and sure to win over anyone who tries them—so preheat that oven, gather your spices, and get ready to bake up something truly special. Enjoy every golden, flavor-packed bite!
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Savory Jamaican Beef Patties Recipe
- Prep Time: 1 hour
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Yield: 8 1x
- Category: Appetizer, Snack
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Jamaican
- Diet: Halal
Description
Delicious Jamaican beef patties with a flaky, turmeric-infused crust and a flavorful ground beef filling. These handheld treats are a perfect blend of savory spices and buttery pastry, making them a delightful snack or meal.
Ingredients
For the dough:
- 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon Jamaican curry powder
- 2 tablespoons turmeric powder
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, grated
- 1 cup ice cold water
For the beef filling mixture:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 lb ground beef (grass-fed)
- 1 large yellow onion, finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon garlic paste or minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon ginger paste or freshly grated ginger
- kosher salt & freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 teaspoon fresh or dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon ground Jamaican allspice
- 1/2 teaspoon Jamaican curry powder
- 1–2 scotch bonnet peppers, deseeded & finely chopped
- 4 scallions (green onion), chopped
- 1/2 cup chicken stock or broth
- 1/2 cup plain breadcrumbs
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, cubed
Instructions
- For the dough: In a large bowl, combine flour, salt, sugar, curry powder, and turmeric. Add grated butter and mix until pea-sized bits form. Make a well, add ice water, and knead into a cohesive dough. Chill for 30 minutes.
- For the beef filling mixture: Cook ground beef in olive oil until browned. Add onion, garlic, ginger, thyme, allspice, curry powder, scotch bonnet, and scallions. Stir in stock, breadcrumbs, and butter. Cool mixture before assembling patties.
- Beef patty assembly & cooking: Preheat oven to 350°F. Divide dough into equal pieces, flatten into rounds, fill with beef mixture, fold, crimp edges, and bake for 25-30 minutes until golden brown. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- For a spicier kick, increase the amount of scotch bonnet peppers in the filling.
- These patties freeze well before baking; simply store them in an airtight container for future enjoyment.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 patty
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 520mg
- Fat: 21g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 17g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
