Jamaican Chicken Patties

One of my favourite treats in the world has to be Jamaican Chicken Patties. I could just as easily have this for breakfast as I could a midnight snack. Though not traditional, I prefer to make mine with puff pastry. The inside, however, is pure Caribbean sunshine. Spicy and delicious, I defy you not to love these!

Jamaican Chicken Patties (makes at least a dozen)

Ingredients:

3 chicken breasts

2 tbsp olive oil

1 large onion, finely chopped

1 red pepper, finely chopped

1 or 2 Scotch Bonnet peppers (depending on how how hot you like it)

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 1/4 cups of chicken stock

1 1/2 tbsp Pickapeppa sauce

1 1/2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

1/2 tsp cayenne pepper

1 tsp onion powder

1 1/2 tbsp Jamaican curry powder

1/2 tsp allspice

2 bay leaves

1 tsp salt

1 tsp thyme

1/2 cup breadcrumbs

A few rolls of ready rolled puff pastry

1 large egg, beaten

Instructions:

1. Cook the chicken breasts in the oven for 20 mins at 180 degrees celsius.
2. Remove the chicken from the oven, chop finely and set aside.
3. Heat the oil in a large pan over medium heat.
4. Add the onion, garlic, red pepper and Scotch Bonnets to the pan and cook until softened for roughly 5 minutes.
5. Add the chopped chicken, stock, Pickapeppa sauce, Worcestershire sauce, cayenne pepper, onion powder, curry, allspice, bay leaves, salt and thyme and stir in together.
6. Reduce heat to low and simmer until most of the liquid has evaporated (roughly 20 mins).
7. Discard the bay leaves and adjust seasonings to taste.
8. Add the breadcrumbs and stir in thoroughly to combine.
9. Roll out your puff pastry and use a bowl as a template for cutting the circles into your pastry.
10. Spoon a large tablespoon of the chicken mix onto half of the pastry circles and fold over, sealing the edges by pressing down with the end of a fork.
11. Repeat until you have finished all the mix.
12. Lay the patties on baking paper in a baking dish and preheat the oven to 190 degrees celsius.
13. Brush the patties with the egg wash and prick each of them three times with a toothpick.
14. Put them in the oven for 22 mins.
15. Serve hot and enjoy!

Hope that you enjoy this dish. Please feel free to leave any questions or comments.