Jamaican Patties

Photo: flickr user stu_spivack

Ingredients

2 cups All-purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoons Baking powder

1 teaspoon Curry powder

1/2 teaspoon Tumeric

1/2 teaspoon Salt

2/3 cup Shortening

1/4 cup Butter or margarine

cup (approx) ice water

2 teaspoons Vegetable oil

1 small Onion, chopped

3 Green onions

2 Cloves, garlic, minced

1/4 teaspoon Cayenne pepper

1 pound Ground beef

1 tablespoon Curry powder

1 teaspoon Dried thyme

1/2 teaspoon Tumeric

1/4 teaspoon Salt

1/4 teaspoon Pepper

1 cup Water

1/2 cup Fresh bread crumbs

Preparation

DOUGH: In large bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, curry powder, tumeric, and salt. Cut in shortening and butter until crumbly. Drizzle in water, stirring with fork and adding up to 2 tb more water if necessary, to make a soft dough. Form into a ball and flatten to a disc. Wrap and chill for 1 hour.*(Can be refrigerated for up to 5 days or frozen for up to 3 weeks.)*

FILLING: In skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat; cook onion, green onions, garlic and cayenne pepper for 3 minutes or until softened. Remove with slotted spoon and set aside. Over high heat, saute beef for 5 minutes or until no longer pink; drain off fat. Return onion mixture to pan along with curry powder, thyme, tumeric, salt and pepper; cook for 3 minutes over medium heat. Pour in water; bring to a boil. Add crumbs; simmer for 3 minutes or until slightly thickened but still juicy. Let cool.*(Can be covered and refrigerated for up to 1 day.

Divide dough into 16 pieces. On floured pastry cloth and using stockinette-covered rolling pin, roll out each piece into 5-inch circle.

Brush edges of top half with water; place 2 heaping tbsp of filling in the centre. Fold in half, pressing edges togther with fork to seal. Prick twice; place on ungreased baking sheet.*(Patties can be covered and refrigerated for up to 1 day.)* Bake in 375 F oven for about 20 minutes or until crisp and golden.