Flaky Jamaican Beef Patties with Video

Hello There!

As the year draws to a close, it’s time for the very last recipe of 2023: Jamaican Beef Patties!

A Caribbean staple, patties are a must try if you have never tried Caribbean food, they can be found in any Jamaican takeaway. They can be eaten as a snack or as an appetizer (I eat them for breakfast as well, don’t judge me).

Variations of patties can be found in different cultures around the world; “empanadas” in Central and Latin America, “pastels” in West Africa and so on.

What makes Jamaican beef patties different is the mixture of spices in the filling and the ingredients in the crust, which gives them their characteristic yellow color.

The pastry

Flakiness! Jamaican beef patties are made with a short crust that should be both flaky and slightly greasy (from the butter). This texture allows the patties to be refrigerated or frozen and later reheated without compromising the experience of a fresh, hot Jamaican beef patty.

Jamaican beef patties are yellow: the yellow comes from the turmeric and curry powder. You can use either, but I prefer to use both.

The Filling

This is a recipe for Jamaican beef patties, so obviously, I will be using minced beef, but you can use other meats or even fish. Popular flavors are: chicken, goat (my favorite after the beef) and saltfish.

I use the browning sauce to give the filling a darker color as well as a mildly sweet taste, with the ketchup lightly offsetting the sweetness.

Vegan patties

I mentioned meat and fish, but patties can be vegan too. You can use beans, tofu or lentils for the filling. I have a recipe for vegan patties here on the blog.

This recipe should make 12-15 patties depending on size. They will keep in the fridge for up to four days. They can also be frozen for up to a month: to be honest, they have never lasted more than 2 weeks in my freezer as I always end up eating them all. 

They can be heated in the microwave or, for better results, in an air fryer or traditional oven.

For more Caribbean-inspired recipes, click the following links:

• Caribbean Curry Goat Stew
• Jamaican Oxtail and Peas 
• Jamaican Brown Stew Chicken
• Caribbean Dumpling Soup (Bouyon Boy)
• Plantain and Mushrooms Gratin
• Honey Lime Shrimp and Coconut Rice

Without further ado, here is the recipe. Scroll down for video instructions.