The Easiest Way to Make Delicious Jamaican Beef Patties in Your Microwave

Jamaican beef patties are a tasty and convenient handheld meal that can be enjoyed any time of day. With their flaky golden crust and savory, spicy beef filling, these patties make for a satisfying snack or light lunch. While many recipes call for frying the patties, I’ve discovered a way to cook them quickly and easily in the microwave. In just 15 minutes, you can have hot, fresh Jamaican beef patties ready to eat!

In this article, I’ll walk you through my microwave method for making these patties step-by-step. I’ll also share tips for choosing the right beef, spice blend, and other fillings to customize your patties. Follow along, and you’ll soon be able to whip up a batch of patties for a weekday lunch or weekend snack without ever turning on the stove.

Benefits of Microwaved Jamaican Beef Patties

So why choose to make Jamaican beef patties in the microwave? Here are some of the benefits:

• It’s fast! You can have freshly baked patties in 15 minutes flat. No need to wait for oil to heat up or oven to preheat

• Less mess Since you aren’t frying, there’s minimal cleanup of greasy pans and splatters

• Even heating. The microwave distributes heat evenly, so your patties come out perfectly cooked through. No raw centers or burnt edges.

• Convenient. You can make a few patties at a time to satisfy a craving without leftovers. And reheating is a cinch.

• Healthier. Microwaving eliminates the need for frying in oil, cutting down on fat and calories.

So if you want to enjoy hot Jamaican beef patties fast with minimal fuss, the microwave method is for you! Now let’s get cooking.

Microwave Jamaican Beef Patty Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need to make 6-8 Jamaican beef patties in the microwave:

For the dough:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄2 teaspoon turmeric powder
• 1⁄2 cup cold unsalted butter, diced
• 1/3 cup cold water

For the filling:

• 1 tablespoon canola oil
• 1 small onion, diced
• 1 pound ground beef (80% lean)
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 Scotch bonnet or habanero pepper, seeded and minced
• 1 tablespoon Jamaican curry powder
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1⁄2 teaspoon allspice
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 2 tablespoons beef broth or water

You’ll also need:

• Parchment paper
• Microwave-safe plate

Let’s get started!

Step 1: Make the Dough

Jamaican beef patty dough is simple—just flour, salt, turmeric for color, butter, and water. Here’s how to mix it up:

1. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and turmeric powder.

2. Add the cold diced butter. Using your fingertips or a pastry blender, work the butter into the dry ingredients until mixture resembles coarse sand with some pea-sized chunks.

3. Drizzle the cold water over the flour mixture 1 tablespoon at a time. Use a fork to gently incorporate until a shaggy dough just comes together. Do not overmix.

4. Shape dough into a disk, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 30 minutes. This allows the gluten to relax for easy rolling.

And that’s it! Simple, right? Now onto the fun part.

Step 2: Make the Filling

While the dough chills, let’s put together our flavorful Jamaican-style beef filling.

1. In a skillet over medium heat, warm the oil. Add the onion and cook for 5 minutes until translucent.

2. Increase heat to medium-high. Crumble in the ground beef, breaking it up with a spoon. Cook for about 5 minutes until browned.

3. Add the garlic, Scotch bonnet, curry powder, thyme, allspice, and a pinch each of salt and pepper. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.

4. Pour in the beef broth and stir to combine. Reduce heat and simmer for 2-3 minutes until liquid absorbs.

5. Remove from heat and set filling aside to cool slightly while we roll out the patties.

You can customize your filling by adding grated carrot or potato, peas, or raisins. Just adjust cooking time as needed.

Step 3: Assemble the Patties

1. Line a microwave-safe plate with parchment paper. This prevents sticking.

2. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the chilled dough to 1/8 inch thickness.

3. Use a 3-inch round cutter to cut out circles. Reroll scraps as needed to get 6-8 patties.

4. Spoon 2-3 tablespoons of the filling onto the lower half of each dough circle.

5. Brush the edges with water and fold the dough over into a half moon. Crimp the edges with a fork to seal.

Almost ready for the microwave!

Step 4: Microwave the Patties

1. Arrange the assembled patties on the prepared plate, leaving about 1 inch between them.

2. Microwave for 5 minutes, flip, then microwave 3-4 more minutes until golden brown. Cook time may vary based on your microwave wattage.

3. Let cool briefly before serving warm. Enjoy right away or freeze cooled patties in a zip-top bag for quick reheats later!

And that’s it—delicious Jamaican beef patties straight from your microwave. Way easier than deep frying, don’t you think?

Microwaving Tips for Perfect Patties

With this easy microwave method, you’ll have tasty Jamaican beef patties on the table fast. But here are some troubleshooting tips:

• Getting soggy bottoms? Use a paper towel-lined plate instead of parchment to absorb moisture.

• Undercooked centers? Microwave patties in batches for more even heating. Add 30 seconds to cook time if needed.

• Tough dough? Be sure not to overmix the dough—overworking develops gluten. Chill it well before rolling too.

• Dry patties? Brush tops lightly with oil or water before microwaving to prevent drying out.

• Uneven cooking? Flip patties halfway through cook time and rearrange. Rotate the plate if your microwave has hotspots.

With practice, you’ll get the microwave timing down for picture-perfect patties every time. Now let’s talk fillings and serving suggestions.

Jamaican Beef Patty Filling Ideas

While classic Jamaican patties feature spicy beef, you can mix up the flavors by using different meats, vegetables, and seasonings. Here are some tasty filling ideas to try:

• Jerk chicken – Use shredded rotisserie chicken and add jerk seasoning and scallions.

• Curried lentils – Cook lentils with onion, curry powder and coconut milk for a vegetarian option.

• BBQ pulled pork – Shred cooked pork shoulder and flavor with barbecue sauce.

• Spicy shrimp – Sauté shrimp with Creole seasoning, tomatoes, and peppers.

• Pepper steak – Use flank steak, bell peppers, soy sauce, and ginger.

• Tandoori chicken – Mix chicken with yogurt, Indian spices like coriander and cumin.

Let your imagination run wild! Just be sure fillings are cooked and seasoned before assembling into the patties.

How to Serve Jamaican Beef Patties

Hot Jamaican beef patties are great on their own for a quick snack or meal. But here are some fun ways to serve them:

• Split a patty and stuff with pickled vegetables, hot sauce, or cheese for extra flavor.

• Top with traditional sides like mango chutney, sliced pineapple, or jerk mayo.

• Nestle over mixed greens for a light main dish salad.

• Pair with rice, beans, plantains, or fried bananas for a heartier Caribbean meal.

• Use as the protein in sandwiches on coco bread or rolls.

Reheated patties are also terrific chopped up in pasta, rice bowls, or omelets. However you choose to enjoy them, Jamaican beef patties always satisfy.

Tips for Freezing and Reheating Patties

Want to prep a big batch of Jamaican beef patties for quick meals later? Here’s how to freeze and reheat them perfectly:

• Let patties cool completely before freezing so the filling sets up.

• Place patties in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until hard, about 1-2 hours.

• Transfer frozen patties to zip-top freezer bags. Squeeze out air and seal.

• Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.

• Reheat thawed patties in the microwave or oven until hot, about 3-5 minutes.

• Steam for 10 minutes to refresh the crust of patties stored longer than 1 month.

Freeze unbaked patties with the filling separate if you want fresher dough. Assemble when ready to eat.

Satisfy Your Cravings with Microwave Jamaican Beef Patties

With this easy microwave method, you can now enjoy hot, homemade Jamaican beef patties whenever those cravings strike. In just 15 minutes, these flavorful handheld meals are ready to eat.

So next time you want a tasty Caribbean-inspired snack or lunch, bypass the fast food joint. Whip up a batch of patties filled with your favorite spicy beef or chicken. Your family and friends will think you slaved away when these patties come fresh from the microwave.

Want more quick and easy microwave recipes? Be sure to bookmark my blog and follow me on social media. Until next time, happy microwaving!