
Guyanese beef patties are a popular snack food originating in Guyana, a country on the northern coast of South America. These savory pastries are made with flaky dough and flavorful ground beef filling.
Beef patties are like hand pies with juicy and tender minced beef inside and a flaky pastry on the outside. This recipe has a perfect ratio of crust and filling. These are so delicious and satisfying that you cannot get over them. It surely is picnic food.
To make Guyanese beef patties, cook the veggies, meat, herbs, and spices. Add water, and as it becomes tender, add scallions. Make a soft dough with flour, butter, shortening, and ice-cold water for the pastry.
Make a disc of it and wrap it in the fridge. Roll out the dough to make a 4-inch circle, stuff each circle and baste edges with egg wash. Bake the patties until brown and crispy.
You can use different types of ground meat for the filling, such as chicken, turkey, or lamb. Vegetarian or vegan versions can also be made using plant-based ground meat or vegetables.
You will get a more detailed version of the recipe below. Let’s see how to prepare these patties in your kitchen. Also, there are other recipes that you can have as starters. Let’s check them out.
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What Equipment Will You Need To Make Guyanese Beef Patties?
- Oven – Bake the patties in the oven until they get golden brown.
- Baking Sheet – Guyanese beef patties are baked in the oven on a baking sheet.
- Pot – A pot is used for cooking the beef patty filling, typically including ground beef, onions, garlic, thyme, scallions, pepper, salt, and hot pepper.
- Mixing Bowl – A large mixing bowl is used to mix the dough ingredients, including flour, water, butter, and shortening.
- Rolling Pin – A rolling pin is used to roll out the dough into thin, flat circles that can be filled with the beef patty filling.
- Pastry Cutter – A pastry cutter cuts the rolled-out dough into circles of the desired size.
- Spoon – A spoon is used to add the beef patty filling to the dough circles before folding and sealing the edges.
- Fork – A fork is used to crimp the edges of the dough circles and seal the beef patty filling inside.
- Brush – A brush is used to apply an egg wash to the outside of the beef patties before baking, which helps to create a shiny, golden brown crust.
- Cling Wrap – Cover the dough with cling wrap and refrigerate it.
- Knife – Cut the veggies with a knife for the recipe.
How Much Time Will You Need To Make Guyanese Beef Patties?
Preparation Time | Cooking Time | Total Time |
---|---|---|
40 Minutes | 20 Minutes | 1 Hour |
What Ingredients Will You Need To Make Guyanese Beef Patties?
- Ground Beef – Ground beef is easy to work with when filling patties. It can be seasoned and cooked quickly and easily portioned and shaped to fit inside the dough.
- Shortening – Shortening is used to give the dough a flaky texture. In Guyana, the most commonly used shortening is margarine.
- Egg Yolk – An egg wash made from beaten eggs and water gives the beef patties a shiny, golden brown appearance after they are baked.
- Cold Butter – Butter is also used to make pastry dough as it has a stronger flavor, which is desirable in a savory pastry like Guyanese beef patties.
- Water – An egg wash is made from beaten eggs and water to give the beef patties a shiny, golden-brown appearance after they are baked. Water is also used to make a soft dough.
- Canola Oil – Canola oil cooks veggies until the beef is tender.
- Scallion – Scallions provide a sweet, slightly sharp flavor to the filling.
- Onion – Onions, in particular, are a common ingredient in many savory dishes because they add a depth of flavor and aroma.
- All Purpose Flour – Flour is a key ingredient in making the pastry dough for Guyanese beef patties. It provides the structure and texture needed to hold the filling and create the flaky layers of the pastry.
- Hot Pepper – Hot pepper is used to add heat to the filling, which is a characteristic flavor of Guyanese cuisine.
- Garlic Cloves – Garlic adds a spicy, savory flavor to the filling.
- Thyme – Thyme is a herb often used in the Caribbean and Guyanese cuisine to add a slightly sweet and floral flavor to dishes. Thyme also has a slightly earthy taste that pairs well with the other ingredients in the filling.
- Black Pepper – Black pepper is used to add heat to the filling.
- Salt – Salt will tenderize the meat and enhance the ingredients’ flavors.

Steps To Make Guyanese Beef Patties
1. The Filling
Take a pot and heat two teaspoons of canola oil over medium flame. Saute onions and garlic in them till they get tender. Add meat, diced pepper, black pepper, salt, and thyme.
Cook for five minutes with constant stirring so the meat does not clump. Pour ¼ cup water into this and cook for 20 minutes till the meat becomes tender.
Add scallions and cook them for 2 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat and let it cool.
2. For Making Pastry
Add flour, butter, and shortening in a large bowl. Rub the butter and shortening in the flour so that it looks like coarse crumbs.
Pour ice-cold water and make a soft dough from this mixture. Make a disc of this dough and wrap it in a cling wrap. Place this in the fridge for 30 minutes.
Roll the dough on a floured surface and cut it into 4-inch circles to make patties. Place the circle in a baking pan so the dough comes up from the sides. Fill it with a beef mixture but do not over stuff.
3. Bake And Serve
Whisk egg yolk and water in a small bowl. Brush the pastry’s edges with this mixture, cover it with another 4-inch circle, and press the edges with a fork.
Brush the top with the egg wash and prick it with a fork. Bake it at 375 degrees for 20 minutes or until golden brown.
Cool it briefly before removing it from the pan and serve.
Nutritional Information
Calories | 400 kcal |
Protein | 12.1 g |
Carbohydrates | 48 g |
Fat | 18 g |
Cholesterol | 15 mg |
Sodium | 650 mg |
How Will Guyanese Beef Patties Look And Taste Like?
Guyanese beef patties are a popular South American snack known for their savory filling and flaky pastry crust. When you bake it properly, it will have a golden-brown color and a crisp, flaky texture, with a rich, flavorful filling on the inside.
The pastry crust of Guyanese beef patties is made from a mixture of flour, water, salt, turmeric powder, baking powder, and shortening, which is rolled out into thin circles and then filled with the beef patty filling.
When the beef patty is cooked, the pastry crust becomes flaky and crisp, contrasting nicely with the rich, savory filling.
Overall, Guyanese beef patties are a delicious and satisfying snack full of flavor and texture. They are commonly enjoyed as a midday or evening snack in Guyana and other South American countries and are also popular in Caribbean cuisine.
Recipe Card
Guyanese Beef Patties Recipe
Equipment
- Oven
- Baking Sheet
- Pot
- Mixing Bowl
- Rolling Pin
- Pastry Cutter
- Spoon
- Fork
- Brush
- Cling Wrap
- Knife
Ingredients
- 1 lb Ground Beef
- ⅔ cup Shortening
- 1 Egg Yolk
- ⅔ cup Cold Butter (cut into pieces)
- 3 teaspoons Water
- 2 teaspoon Canola Oil
- 3 Scallion (chopped)
- 1 small Onion (chopped)
- 2 Garlic Cloves (finely chopped)
- 1 tablespoon Thyme (chopped)
- 1 tablespoon Hot Pepper (finely chopped)
- 4 cups All Purpose Flour
- 1 teaspoon Black Pepper
- 1 teaspoon Salt
Instructions
- Take a pot and heat two teaspoons of canola oil over medium flame.
- Saute onions and garlic in them till they get tender.
- Add meat, diced pepper, black pepper, salt, and thyme.
- Cook for five minutes with constant stirring so the meat does not clump.
- Pour ¼ cup water into this and cook for 20 minutes till the meat becomes tender.
- Add scallions and cook them for 2 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat and let it cool.
- Add flour, butter, and shortening in a large bowl.
- Rub the butter and shortening in the flour so that it looks like coarse crumbs.
- Pour ice-cold water and make a soft dough from this mixture.
- Make a disc of this dough and wrap it in a cling wrap.
- Place this in the fridge for 30 minutes.
- Roll the dough on a floured surface and cut it into 4-inch circles to make patties.
- Place the circle in a baking pan so the dough comes up from the sides.
- Fill it with a beef mixture but do not over stuff.
- Whisk egg yolk and water in a small bowl.
- Brush the pastry’s edges with this mixture, cover it with another 4-inch circle, and press the edges with a fork.
- Brush the top with the egg wash and prick it with a fork.
- Bake it at 375 degrees for 20 minutes or until golden brown.
- Cool it briefly before removing it from the pan and serve.
Video
Nutrition
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the origin of Guyanese beef patties?
Guyanese beef patties originated in Guyana, a country on the northern coast of South America. They are a popular snack food in Guyana and are enjoyed in other Caribbean and South American countries.
Are Guyanese beef patties spicy?
Yes, Guyanese beef patties are typically spicy due to adding hot pepper sauce and sometimes hot peppers. However, you can adjust the spice level to your preference.
Can I make the pastry dough ahead of time?
Yes, you can make the pastry dough ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours or freeze it for up to 3 months. Thaw the dough in the refrigerator before using.
How do I store and reheat leftover Guyanese beef patties?
Leftover beef patties can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 3 months. To reheat, bake in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 10-15 minutes or until heated.
Conclusion
Your suggestions and questions regarding the recipe are what I will be looking forward to always. So without any hesitation, you can ask me in the comment section regarding the same. For now, sit back and enjoy your food. Bon Appetite!