Jamaican patty

Jamaican patties and a Red Stripe beer

Coco bread stuffed with a beef patty

A Jamaican patty is a pastry that contains various fillings and spices baked inside a flaky shell, often tinted golden yellow with an egg yolk mixture or turmeric. It is made like a turnover but is more savory. As its name suggests, it is commonly found in Jamaica, and is also eaten in other areas of the Caribbean, such as Costa Rica's Caribbean coast. In Haiti, the pastry is thick and crisp, making it essentially a turnover. It is traditionally filled with seasoned ground beef, but fillings can include chicken, vegetables, shrimp, lobster, fish, soy, ackee, mixed vegetables or cheese. In Jamaica, the patty is often eaten as a full meal, especially when paired with coco bread. It can also be made as bite-sized portions called cocktail patties. Among the Jamaican diaspora in the UK, the pastry is more like that of a suet crust, and often made with the fat from Curry Goat which provides the yellow color.

History

The beef patty is a product of colonialism and migration developed after the introduction of the English turnover in the Caribbean, mixed with cumin and curry seasonings of Indian indentured servants in Jamaica and cayenne pepper from African slaves. "The firecracker taste of the Scotch bonnet, a hot pepper indigenous to Jamaica, sealed the flavour."

Jamaicans brought recipes for the patties northward in the 1960s and 1970s when many came to the United States as hospital orderlies, home health aides and nurses. In areas of the New York Metropolitan Area with high West Indian populations restaurants that carry patties can be found. Patties are equally popular in UK cities with large West Indian populations such as Birmingham and London. With increased interest in other Caribbean food, such as Reggae Reggae Sauce their popularity is spreading in the UK and they are becoming available in many mainstream outlets.

In the Toronto area in the past, most Caribbean grocery stores sold hot patties. Besides being a staple in many Caribbean restaurants or take outs, the patty has become a regular snack in the Greater Toronto Area, and can be found in many grocery store take out or deli area, cafeterias, and corner stores, including 7-11 convenience stores.

In recent years, the Jamaican meat patty is found pre-made and frozen in Britain, Canada (primarily Toronto), and the United States (primarily New York City and South Florida). The patty can often get its bright yellow color from turmeric.

See also

• Chicken patty
• Empanada
• Turnover
• Pasty
• Patty