History

The Jamaican patty arrived in Toronto with Caribbean migration through the 1970s and 1980s. Patty King opened in 1981 in Kensington Market, supplying convenience stores citywide; Caribbean Queen of Patties followed in 1995. The patty-in-coco-bread sandwich, a soft white roll wrapping a hot patty, is Toronto's distinct contribution to the dish and the most-eaten street food after the peameal bacon sandwich.

Common allergens: Gluten

Make it at home

Yield Makes 12 pattiesHands-on 45 minTotal 2 hrDifficulty Intermediate

Ingredients

  • 400g all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon turmeric powder
  • 1 teaspoon curry powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 200g cold butter, cubed
  • 120ml cold water
  • 500g ground beef
  • 1 onion, finely diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 Scotch bonnet pepper, finely chopped
  • 2 teaspoons curry powder
  • 1 teaspoon thyme
  • 1 teaspoon allspice
  • 120ml beef stock
  • 1 egg, beaten, for wash

Method

  1. Whisk flour, turmeric, curry powder and salt in a bowl. Cut in cold butter until pea-sized. Add cold water and bring together into a dough. Wrap and chill 30 minutes.
  2. Brown ground beef in a heavy skillet, breaking up clumps. Add onion, garlic and Scotch bonnet. Cook 5 minutes until softened.
  3. Stir in curry powder, thyme and allspice. Pour in beef stock, simmer 10 minutes until thickened. Cool completely.
  4. Roll dough on a floured surface to 3mm thickness. Cut 15cm circles.
  5. Place 2 tablespoons of filling on each circle. Fold over, crimp the edges with a fork. Brush with egg wash.
  6. Bake at 200C for 25 minutes until the pastry is golden and the crust crackles.

Tip from the editors. Toronto patties have a flakier, butterier crust than Jamaican originals. Use cold butter, don't overwork the dough, and generous turmeric for the yellow.

Where to eat jamaican beef patty

Jamaican beef patty in Toronto

Patty King Bakery ★ 4.5

Caribbean$kensington-marketMon-Sat 09:00-19:00

Patty King on Baldwin in Kensington Market runs Jamaican beef and chicken patties for $4 since 1981, the family-owned bakery supplying Toronto convenience.

Try: Jamaican beef patty, $4

Order: A spicy beef patty in coco bread, plus a Ting from the cooler.

Tip: Patties $2.50 each, six for $13; the cocoa bread and bun-and-cheese combo doubles as breakfast on the College streetcar.

187 Baldwin Street, Toronto, ON M5T 1L8

Caribbean Queen of Patties ★ 4.4

Caribbean$the-junctionMon-Sat 11:00-20:00

Caribbean Queen of Patties on Bloor West in Bloordale runs Jamaican beef and chicken patties for $5, owner Georgie's reference Caribbean takeout counter.

Try: Beef patty in coco bread, $5

Order: A beef patty in coco bread and a chicken patty plain.

Tip: Spicy beef patty plus the bun-and-patty combo $5; cash preferred, the takeout queue moves fast at lunch.

1294 Bloor Street W, Toronto, ON M6H 1N9

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