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Trinidad beef pies photo

Trinidad Beef Pies (Fried)

  • Total Time: 1 hour
  • Yield: 10 pies 1x

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 tsp instant yeast
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp sugar
  • 1 cup lukewarm water (approx.)
  • 2lbs lean ground beef
  • 1/2 cup Trini green seasoning (culantro, cilantro, thyme, onion, parsley, garlic, fresh hot peppers pureed into a chunky paste)
  • 1/2 tbsp black pepper
  • 1 tbsp Knorr chicken bouillon seasoning
  • 1 tbsp tomato paste or ketchup
  • 2 tbsp browning (you can make your own)
  • 1/2 cup plain panko breadcrumbs
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth
  • salt to taste
  • Vegetable oil for frying

Instructions

  1. In a bowl, combine flour, salt, yeast, baking powder, and sugar. Gradually add enough water to form a smooth dough. The dough should not be sticky. If it’s sticky, add a small amount of flour and form into a ball. Cover with plastic wrap, and place a tea towel over the bowl. Set aside in a warm place and allow to rise until doubled. For best results, prepare the dough a few hours ahead or the night before.
  2. In a bowl, combine the beef, green seasoning, black pepper, and Knorr seasoning. Combine and set aside in the fridge to marinate. This is optional, but marinating really allows the flavors in the seasoning to shine.
  3. In a heavy pot, add the seasoned beef mixture and stir occasionally. Once the beef has turned brown in color, add the tomato paste, breadcrumbs, and chicken broth and combine. Add the browning, then add salt to your taste. Set the filling aside to cool.
  4. When you’re ready to make the pies, add about 3 cups of oil or more for deep frying to a heavy pot. Allow to heat up over medium heat.
  5. On a lightly floured surface, form the dough into 2-3 inch balls and roll out into a circular shape. Spoon some of the beef mixture onto the center, fold into a semi-circle shape, then press the edges together with your fingers to seal. Ensure the edges are fully sealed or the filling will come out in the oil. I’ll sometimes brush the edge of the dough with water before folding and sealing. 
  6. Fry in hot oil until golden brown on both sides. Remove from the oil and enjoy!
  7. These can be made in batches ahead of time, and frozen then reheated in an air fryer.

 

  • Author: Trini
  • Prep Time: 45 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Method: Fry
  • Cuisine: Caribbean