Thursday, September 6, 2012

Jamaican Beef Patties


Jamaican beef patties are turnovers with a savory meat filling. Traditionally, these patties are found in Jamaica and throughout the Caribbean. The pastry has a yellow tint to it thanks to the turmeric it has in it. These are great for dinner or can be made in smaller versions for parties.

How to Make Jamaican Beef Patties

To make these beef patties you must first know how to make the pastry the meat mixture is enclosed in, for this, you can use your favorite pie crust recipe with the addition of 1 teaspoon of turmeric. This will make the pie crust yellow. This is the traditional color for these patties. Just make enough crust to cover how many pies you need to make for your family or party. These can be made the typical size either of a turnover or smaller for appetizers.

You then need to sweat some onions and Scotch Bonnet peppers that have been finely chopped. Next, you brown 1 or 2 pounds of ground beef (can be more, depending how many patties are needed). Throw in some Jamaican spices such as cumin, cardamom, garlic, allspice and so on to make the meat mixture savory and Caribbean in theme. Some people add scallions, while others do not add them. Beef broth and breadcrumbs are typically added for more flavor and texture.

Variations

 You could use ground chicken or ground turkey in place of the ground round, when using these meats use chicken broth in place of the beef broth.
Also, you can change the amount of seasonings to suit your palette. If you like less or more of any of the ingredients in the filling, feel free to adjust. Just make sure to keep to the Caribbean feel with the taste to have authentic Jamaican beef patties.

Tips


To make sure your patties come out right make sure not to overwork the piecrust dough. This makes the crust tough instead of nice and flakey.
For the filling, use the freshest of ingredients with the spices as well as the ground beef. Ground chuck, round or sirloin are all better meat than just grabbing something in the store that says ground beef. The round and sirloin is leaner and may need some olive oil to brown them. Ground chuck has plenty of natural fat in it that no oil is typically needed. Line your baking dishes with parchment paper to help make cleanup a snap. Also, the patties will not stick to parchment paper.

Side Dishes


Jamaican cabbage salad is an excellent side dish to accent the flavors of the beef patties. With the carrots, cabbage, cucumber and celery you get an assortment of vegetables along with a sweet sour flavor thanks to the sugar and vinegar added to it. Peas and rice can also be served with the patties. This dish can contain many of the same spices as the patties, along with coconut milk. Another side dish that would go well with these patties is boiled green bananas. These are used similar to how Americans use potatoes. Green bananas have more starch and are not as sweet as the ripe bananas. Truly, a unique side dish.

Don't these Jamaican beef patties sound delicious? These take less than an hour to get ready to bake and these bake up in only 25 to 30 minutes. Now, suppers that take this little of time to prepare are convenient to make any day of the week. Why not make some today!

Monday, July 30, 2012

Jamaican Patties


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Jamaican patties are a type of pastry that consists of various spices and fillings sealed and baked inside a flaky shell. Frequently, they are a golden yellow, caused by turmeric or an egg yolk mixture that is used to coat the pastry. The perfect snack for busy people, Jamaican patties can be grabbed and eaten on the go.

Jamaican beef patties take their name from the beef patties created during the British colonial period in Jamaica and other Caribbean islands. The spices used in Jamaican patties consisted of the cumin and curry brought to Jamaica by indentured servants arriving from India, cayenne pepper brought to the island by slaves from Africa, and the Scotch bonnet pepper and its spicy firecracker flavor that was native to Jamaica. They were called Jamaican patties because of their unique island flavor.

During the 1960s and 1970s, many Jamaicans immigrated to the United States, bringing the recipes for Jamaican beef patties with them. Soon after, Jamaican beef patties began appearing in New York City restaurants. They also became very popular in Britain and Canada, especially in areas with a high Caribbean population.

All varieties of Jamaican patties are delicious and feature an authentic Jamaican flavor, but Jamaican beef patties are the most popular Jamaican patties recipe. There is also a Jamaican patties recipe for jerk, chicken and curry, and vegetarian varieties. So whether you’re a meat lover or a vegetarian, there’s a Jamaican patties recipe you won’t be able to turn down.

Although most Jamaican patties weigh 8 or 9 ounces, Jamaican cocktail patties typically weigh about 1 ½ ounces and are often served at events such as graduation parties, wedding receptions, country club events, birthday parties and cocktail parties. Some retail outlets sell them already baked, while others sell them unbaked. Some Jamaican cocktail patties come 12 per package, while others are sold in bulk, with 200 patties per case. No matter how you buy them, you can serve delicious spicy beef, beef, jerk chicken, chicken or vegetable Jamaican cocktail patties as a unique appetizer at your event.

No matter what flavor you’re craving, there’s a Jamaican patties recipe that will satisfy your taste buds and have you begging for more. Some examples for a Jamaican patties recipe you might want to try include the golden crust patty, the smart patty (a healthier product), and the Royal Caribbean patty. There are plenty of varieties, allowing you to grab one or two for your next lunch break or snack!

These delicious pastries – especially Jamaican beef patties – have become extremely popular recently. They are often seen in the United States (predominantly in south Florida and the New York City metropolitan area), the United Kingdom and Canada (mostly in the Greater Toronto area). They can be purchased at a number of outlets, including takeout restaurants, grocery stores, delis, cafeterias, bodegas and other neighborhood stores, convenience stores and online.  Prices for one Jamaican patty start at $1.65 and go up to $1.75. Jamaican cocktail patties cost $8.00 per dozen (12) with a minimum order of 12. You can order your Jamaican patties either baked or unbaked. for purchases of some of the best Jamaican Patties:        

Jamaican patties take their bright yellow color from turmeric – a member of the ginger family that different cultures have used for thousands of years for medicinal purposes and to add flavor to dishes. This spice has been called one of nature’s most powerful healers. Among its many health benefits, there are reports that turmeric shows promise in treating psoriasis, obesity, Alzheimer’s disease, cancer and arthritis. People of all ages-Kids and adults alike - are crazy about Jamaican Patties. they're microwaveable and they're a smart choice.