Jamaican Beef Patties

Yied: 4 to 6 servings

Ingredients

Filling

• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 fresh hot chile pepper, seeded and minced
• 3 scallions (include some of the green), minced
• 1 tablespoon curry powder
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 tablespoon dried thyme
• Salt and freshly-ground pepper
• 1/2 cup coarse, dry bread crumbs
• 1/2 cup fresh or canned beef or chicken stock

Pastry

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon curry powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 10 tablespoons (1 1/4 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into bits
• 1/4 cup ice water

Instructions

Filling

1. In a medium skillet, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the beef, onion, garlic, chili pepper and scallions; sauté , stirring constantly until the mixture gives off its moisture, about 8 minutes.
2. Add the remaining filling ingredients and simmer, stirring often, for 20 minutes. The filling should be moist but not wet. Set aside to cool.

Pastry

1. Sift the flour, curry powder and salt into a large mixing bowl. Mix in the butter and rub with your fingers until it is the consistency of cornmeal. Add the ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the dough just holds together.
2. Cover, refrigerate for 1 hour. Heat the oven to 400 degrees F.
3. On a lightly floured board, roll out the pastry about 1/8 inch thick. Using a 4-inch round cookie cutter, cut the pastry into disks. Place 1 tablespoon of the filling slightly below the center of each round. Fold over the pastry to form a half moon and seal the edges with the tines of a fork. Place the patties on a lightly greased baking sheet.
4. Bake for 30 minutes, or until golden brown.