# Jamaican beef patties **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** food-cooking\ **Created:** [January 8, 2023, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jamaican-beef-patties/977889 "2023-01-08T19:49:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2023, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jamaican-beef-patties/977889/1 "2023-01-08T19:49:59Z")
I have heard of them before but recently found some frozen ones at Walmart. Not too bad although I suspect the real versions have a more assertive flavor. I searched for suitable condiments and Thai sweet chili sauce got mentioned often. I would not have thought of that but it does go quite well with the patties. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2023, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jamaican-beef-patties/977889/2 "2023-01-08T20:01:42Z")
Around here (Ontario) they generally come in mild, spicy and vegetarian varieties. Do you know if you got mild or spicy ones? Are you cooking them in a microwave or toaster oven? ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2023, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jamaican-beef-patties/977889/3 "2023-01-08T22:56:08Z")
Never heard of them so had to look them up and they look delicious! Thanks! [AllRecipes](https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/48540/jamaican-beef-patties/) ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2023, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jamaican-beef-patties/977889/4 "2023-01-08T23:02:09Z")
Yes, they’re delicious. They’re basically small, spicy meat pies in a soft pastry that can be eaten as finger food, or on a plate with knife and fork if you prefer. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2023, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jamaican-beef-patties/977889/5 "2023-01-08T23:06:40Z")
Yeah kind of like an empanada or pasty. Great stuff. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2023, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jamaican-beef-patties/977889/6 "2023-01-08T23:20:10Z")
Yeah they are really really good. Definitely the gateway drug to Jamaican cuisine. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2023, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jamaican-beef-patties/977889/7 "2023-01-09T14:30:00Z")
Here is an interesting short doc on patties in Canada: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/-PxtCIMeRMY/maxresdefault.jpg "Waging war on the Jamaican patty: Canada’s bizarre beef with the delicious snack | Patty vs Patty") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PxtCIMeRMY) ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2023, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jamaican-beef-patties/977889/8 "2023-01-09T14:56:41Z")
> [@Projammer](#): > > Never heard of them so had to look them up and they look delicious! Thanks! > > [AllRecipes](https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/48540/jamaican-beef-patties/) They do look and sound delicious! I’ve heard of them but have never had one. Now I have to make them. [Either](https://www.africanbites.com/jamaican-meat-piejamaican-meat-patty/) of [these recipes](https://www.butterbeready.com/jamaican-beef-patties/) sound a little better than that Allrecipes one, which seems a little simplistic. Also, that Allrecipes link just said to use ‘curry powder’, not _ **Jamaican** _ curry powder, which I’m sure makes a difference. I found [this recipe](https://www.chilipeppermadness.com/recipes/jamaican-curry-powder/) and [this recipe](https://www.africanbites.com/jamaican-curry-powder/) for making Jamaican curry powder. Can anybody confirm or share an authentic Jamaican curry powder recipe? They seem all over the place. Another recipe I looked at last night but didn’t link here called for a lot of anise seed. One of these I linked calls for star anise as an optional ingredient. Anise seems like a flavor that would make a distinct difference. How important is it in this curry powder? ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2023, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jamaican-beef-patties/977889/9 "2023-01-09T15:08:29Z")
You can find Jamaican curry powder at some grocery stores. I find it near the Walkerswood jerk pastes at mine. The main defining characteristic, by my observation, seems to be allspice, just like in jerk. ETA: I scoured the cupboard, knowing I have some Jamaican curry powder, and the brand I have is Ocho Rios. The ingredients are: turmeric, allspice, pepper, coriander, fenugreek, salt, cumin, garlic, onion, nutmeg, cinnamon, thyme and “spices.” It has reasonable heat to it (rated 4/4 on the label), so I wonder if that “pepper” refers to red pepper or if there’s Scotch bonnet pepper in the “spices” part of the ingredients. The main initial flavor, dipping my finger in it, is definitely turmeric, with allspice following (though not as aggressive as you might think), and then the heat kicks in. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2023, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jamaican-beef-patties/977889/10 "2023-01-09T15:12:47Z")
Tasty. I’ll bet they are great fresh, but the spicy frozen ones are pleasant. I’ve heard in New York some pizza places make them, which would be amazing, but cannot confirm. ---
**Author:** ![Joeu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/joeu/32/2911_2.png) [@Joeu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joeu)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2023, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jamaican-beef-patties/977889/11 "2023-01-09T15:20:07Z")
Definitely available at many pizza places here in NYC, but they are almost always frozen. Hot dog carts used to have them, too, but I haven’t seen that in quite a while (halal carts are edging out hot dog carts, anyway). The frozen ones are pretty good. The fresh ones are even better, and you can get them at any Golden Krust in the city ([https://www.goldenkrust.com/](https://www.goldenkrust.com/)) or other small Jamaican bakeries. ---
**Author:** ![BrickBat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac91a4/32.png) [@BrickBat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrickBat)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2023, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jamaican-beef-patties/977889/12 "2023-01-09T16:39:26Z")
> [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > I’ve heard in New York some pizza places make them, which would be amazing, but cannot confirm. That’s interesting. One of the few places around here that make “real” pizza ( the people are ex-NY-ers ) offer Jamaican meat patties as well. I thought it curious that a place like that ( heck they even make Sicilian fried rice balls called Arancini ) would offer Caribbean fare, but then, whatever. They _are_ delicious BTW. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2023, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jamaican-beef-patties/977889/13 "2023-01-09T17:07:27Z")
I don’t get why a pizza place would sell frozen ones. I mean, I get it, but they have the equipment and 70% of the work already done. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2023, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jamaican-beef-patties/977889/14 "2023-01-09T17:13:50Z")
> [@mixdenny](#): > > I have heard of them before but recently found some frozen ones at Walmart. I’m going to a local Walmart to see if they have these. If so, I’m thinking about preparing some with rice&peas as a side dish. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2023, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jamaican-beef-patties/977889/15 "2023-01-09T17:14:57Z")
You had me at: > [@wolfpup](#): > > in a soft pastry… I need to look around for these. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2023, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jamaican-beef-patties/977889/16 "2023-01-09T17:19:45Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > You can find Jamaican curry powder at some grocery stores. There used to be a small family-owned chain of grocery stores (maybe 3 or 4) in my area called Hillers. They carried a nice selection of fairly hard to find ingredients, including those of various ethnic cuisines. But they closed down several years ago, and oh how I do miss them. Their stores were taken over with Krogers…which has an extremely poor selection of anything even slightly exotic. They don’t even sell whole allspice berries, just the powdered stuff. We do have some specialty ethnic groceries here and there- an Asian market, a couple Indian groceries that sell big bags of whole spices at ridiculously cheap prices. But I have to plan ahead for them. If I’m doing general general grocery shopping at Kroger and I think “some Thai-style stir fry might be good tonight- need some fish sauce though” I’m out of luck. So, long story short, I have all the ingredients to make Jamaican curry powder except I’m fresh out of allspice berries; I ordered a 1lb. bag on Amazon set to arrive tomorrow. So, Jamaican beef patties for dinner tomorrow at the earliest! ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2023, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jamaican-beef-patties/977889/17 "2023-01-09T17:20:01Z")
Stew peas are ideal. But get the spicy beef patties. Not mild, not chicken. In Canada these have become very popular and easy to find at most grocers (in South Ontario). Cheap too - often ten for ten dollars. One for snack, two for easy meal. But always the frozen ones. For awhile every convenience store had them and samosas at the counter, but this disappeared with Covid or before. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2023, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jamaican-beef-patties/977889/18 "2023-01-09T17:22:27Z")
> [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > spicy beef patties Mmmmmmm. ---
**Author:** ![FinsToTheLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finstotheleft/32/2930_2.png) [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2023, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jamaican-beef-patties/977889/19 "2023-01-09T17:35:39Z")
> [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > In Canada these have become very popular and easy to find at most grocers (in South Ontario). These were a staple of my junior high/high school cafeteria in the 80s. Add French fries with gravy, that’s a complete meal! ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2023, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jamaican-beef-patties/977889/20 "2023-01-09T17:37:03Z")
We didn’t get those (jealous grumble), just hamburgers of very questionable provenance. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jamaican-beef-patties/977889.md?page=2)