A half-moon of flaky, turmeric-yellow pastry filled with spiced, peppery minced beef.
What makes it jamaican beef patty
Short, flaky pastry coloured with turmeric or curry powder.
Minced beef with scotch bonnet, thyme and breadcrumbs.
Crimped into a half-moon.
Where it comes from
It's usually described as a Cornish pasty remade in Jamaica: British pastry, turmeric and curry spice from India, scotch bonnet heat and thyme from the Caribbean kitchen.
Patty shops and bakeries sell them hot all day, often tucked inside a soft coco bread. Jamaicans who emigrated took them to London, Toronto and New York, where they're now a street food of their own.
How it varies
Chicken or vegetable patty
The same pastry, other fillings.
Patty in coco bread
Sandwiched in a sweet, soft bun — lunch in one hand.