The Jamaican pastry traditionally filled with seasoned ground beef and baked inside a golden crust is the Jamaican patty.
A classic Jamaican beef patty has a flaky pastry shell colored yellow by turmeric or another seasoning. The filling is usually ground beef cooked with aromatic vegetables and spices, including thyme and Scotch bonnet pepper. Vegetarian, chicken, and cheese versions are also widely sold, but “Jamaican patty” most commonly brings the beef version to mind.
The patty developed within Jamaica’s multicultural food history. Its pastry style reflects British influence, while its seasoning and spicy filling draw on African, Indian, and local Caribbean traditions. It became an especially popular inexpensive lunch and snack in Jamaica and throughout the Jamaican diaspora.
Jamaican patties are sometimes compared with British pasties or Latin American empanadas. Those foods are related as filled pastries, but their doughs, fillings, and seasoning profiles differ. The Jamaican patty’s bright crust and strongly seasoned filling are its most recognizable features.