Jamaican Patties

Total Time: 1 hr 15 mins Preparation Time: 45 mins Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• 2 cups flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup solid shortening
• 1/4 cup margarine
• 1/3 cup cold water
• 2 tablespoons margarine
• 1 small onion
• 1/4 teaspoon chopped scotch bonnet pepper, finely chopped
• 1/2 lb lean ground beef
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon curry powder
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/4 cup breadcrumbs
• 1/4 cup beef stock or 1/4 cup chicken stock
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1/4 cup water

Recipe

• 1 sift the flour and salt into a large bowl. cut in the shortening and margarine until crumbly.
• 2 add the cold water to make a stiff dough. lightly flour a wooden cutting board and roll out the dough until about 1/8 inch thick. cut out 8 inch circles.
• 3 cover with wax paper or damp cloth until ready to use.
• 4 in a heavy skillet, melt the margarine and sauté the onion and scotch bonnet pepper until they become limp.
• 5 add the ground beef, salt, pepper, curry powder and thyme and mix well.
• 6 brown the meat for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• 7 add the breadcrumbs and stock and combine all the ingredients well.
• 8 cover the skillet and simmer for about 10 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. when all the liquids have been absorbed, the filling is ready.
• 9 it should be moist but not watery.
• 10 remove the skillet from the stove and preheat oven to 400 degrees f.
• 11 uncover the dough circles and place 2 to 3 tablespoons of filling on half of each. moisten the edges of the dough with water and fold the dough circle over the meat filling. pinch the edges closed with a fork.
• 12 lightly brush the pastry with a mixture of the egg and water.
• 13 bake on a lightly greased baking sheet for 30 to 40 minutes or until the pastry is golden brown.
• 14 yield: 10 patties.