Haitian Patties (Pâté) Recipe
In Haiti, a country where both French and Creole are spoken, the term "Haitian Patty" is derived from the French word pâté. This term describes a savory filling encased in dough, capturing the essence of this tasty hand pie. The method for making pâté likely arrived in Haiti during the 17th and 18th centuries, before the country gained independence, when French culinary traditions heavily influenced local ingredients and cooking techniques. Haitian patties reflect this history with European influences, while showcasing how the island nation developed its own unique spice blends and culinary identity. Known as pâté in Haiti, these patties feature a spiced meat and vegetable filling wrapped in flaky puff pastry dough.
Ingredients
- Ground beef, 75-80% lean – 1/2 lb.
- Vegetable oil – 1 tbsp
- Puff pastry – 2 sheets
- Haitian Seasoning – 2 tsp
- Garlic, minced – 4 cloves
- Beef bouillon – 1 ½ tsp
- Green onion, sliced – 1
- Bell peppers, finely diced – 2 tbsp
- Onion, finely diced – 2 tbsp
- Egg – 1
- Salt and pepper – to taste
- Parsley, chopped – about 2 tbsp
- Lemon juice – 1 lemon
For the Haitian Seasoning:
- Olive oil – 1 cup
- Apple cider vinegar – ⅓ cup
- Bouillon paste – ⅓ cup
- Parsley, chopped – ½ cup
- Clove – 1 tbsp.
- Thyme – 8 sprigs
- Garlic – 10 cloves
- Bell peppers – ½ cup
- Onions – ½ cup
- Basil – 2 tbsp
- Green onion – ⅔ cup
- Cayenne Pepper – 2 tsp
- Salt – 1 tsp
- Pepper – 1 tsp
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Immediately prepare your egg wash and set aside.
- In a large skillet, heat oil on medium-low. While the oil is heating, mix together the raw beef with the Haitian seasoning, diced onions and peppers, and salt and pepper. Place the seasoned meat into the skillet and brown for 3-4 minutes.
- Remove meat mixture from heat and transfer into a bowl before setting aside.
- Assemble your pastries. Cut the pastry into even pieces. In the center of the pastry, add a heaping tablespoon of the cooked meat mixture.
- Seal the edges using your egg wash from early, securing the sides using a fork.
- Once all patties have been assembled, put them on a baking sheet and bake at 400 degrees for 23-25 minutes. The final project should be a golden-brown hand pie with crisp and flaky layers. Enjoy!
Notes
To prepare the Haitian Seasoning:
- Using a food processor, blend ingredients until similar to a pesto consistency.
- Pour into a 16 oz. jar and refrigerate.
Nutrition
Calories: 429kcalCarbohydrates: 30gProtein: 17gFat: 28gSaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 89mgSodium: 299mgFiber: 4gSugar: 4g
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