Jamaican Patties (Flaky, Spicy, Golden Packets of Joy)

Jamaican patties are the reason golden pastry exists.

Flaky, buttery, turmeric-bright dough wrapped around deeply seasoned ground beef. A little spicy. A lot addictive. Eat one with coco bread or just alone. Just make extra—they disappear fast.

Ingredients

Makes 8 patties.

For the Dough:

• 2 cups (250g) all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon turmeric
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup (115g) cold butter, cubed
• ½ cup (120ml) ice water

For the Filling:

• 1 lb (450g) ground beef
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon thyme
• 1 teaspoon curry powder
• ½ teaspoon allspice
• 1 Scotch bonnet pepper (whole, or ½ tsp dried)
• ¼ cup beef broth
• 1 egg (for egg wash)

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Make Dough

1. Mix flour, turmeric, and salt. Cut in butter until crumbly.
2. Add ice water gradually until dough forms. Wrap and chill 30 minutes.

Step 2: Cook Filling

1. Brown ground beef with onion and garlic. Drain fat.
2. Add thyme, curry, allspice, and Scotch bonnet. Cook 1 minute.
3. Add broth. Simmer until liquid evaporates. Remove whole pepper if used. Cool.

Step 3: Assemble

1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Roll dough to ⅛-inch thick.
2. Cut into 6-inch circles. Place filling on one half. Fold over. Crimp with a fork.

Step 4: Bake

1. Brush with beaten egg. Bake 25-30 minutes until golden brown.

Step 5: Serve

1. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Summary

Prep Time: 30 minutes | Chill Time: 30 minutes | Cook Time: 30 minutes | Total Time: ~1.5 hours

Yield: 8 patties

Difficulty: Medium

Storage Notes

Refrigerate Baked:

Store in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Reheat at 350°F for 10 minutes.

Freeze Unbaked:

Assemble patties, freeze on a tray, then transfer to a bag. Bake from frozen at 375°F for 30-35 minutes.

Make It Milder:

Remove Scotch bonnet seeds or substitute with ½ teaspoon paprika + cayenne to taste.

Fillings to Try:

Chicken, veggies, saltfish, or cheese + callaloo.