How To Make
Jamaican Lentil Patties?

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Jamaican Lentil Patties Recipe

INGREDIENTS

For Lentil Filling

• 1-2 tablespoons oil
• 1 medium onion (chopped)
• 1/2 medium red bell pepper (chopped)
• 3 cloves garlic (minced)
• 1 teaspoon ginger (grated)
• 2 sprigs of thyme
• 2 tablespoons curry powder
• 1/4 teaspoon pimento seeds
• 2 vegetable bouillon
• 1 cup dried lentils (washed)
• 8 oz coconut milk
• 5 cups water
• 1 Scotch Bonnet pepper

PROCEDURE

Making Curry Lentil Filling

1. Add lentils to a boiling pot of water and cook for 45 minutes or until tender, then drain.
2. Add oil to a skillet and allow to heat up, then add your chopped onion, scotch bonnet pepper, bell pepper, ginger and garlic. Stir for a minute or two to release flavour, but do not allow it to burn.
3. Add the curry powder to the seasonings and allow it to burn, changing to a dark orange colour.
4. Add the cooked lentils and stir thoroughly, ensuring that the seasoning and curry powder is well distributed.
5. Slowly add the coconut milk to the mixture. You may not need the entire 8oz, try not to make it too runny.
6. Add the remaining ingredients, pimento seeds, vegetable bouillon and thyme to the pot and allow to cook for an additional 15 minutes.
   
   Set aside and allow to cool.

Ingredients for the dough

• 3½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1½ tsp salt
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 4 tsp Jamaican curry powder
• 1 cup flavoured shortening
• ¼ cup vegan butter or margarine
• ¾ cup ice-cold water

PROCEDURE

1. Sift the flour and salt together in a large mixing bowl, and then add the brown sugar and curry powder.
2. Butter and shortening should be frozen in cube form.
3. Add the cubed shortening and margarine to the flour to coat. Use your fingers to flatten and squeeze the cubes.
4. Until a dough develops, add the water gradually while mixing after each addition.
5. Onto a sizable piece of parchment paper that has been lightly dusted with flour, spread the dough out. The dough should be lightly kneaded and pressed into a ball.
6. Add extra flour and place a second sheet of parchment paper on top of the dough. The dough is rolled out into a rectangle.
7. The dough should be folded in half so that the two ends meet in the middle. and fold once more.
8. Roll and fold the dough one more after giving it a quarter turn.
9. For at least an hour, wrap the dough in cling film and put it in the refrigerator (not the freezer) to chill and relax.

Making the Patties

1. Set the oven's temperature to 400 °F (200 °C).
2. On parchment paper, divide the dough into 6 equal pieces.
3. Each portion should be rolled to a thickness of about 1/8 inch between the second layer of paper.
4. Spoon the lentil filling into the centre of each part of the dough after evenly dividing it. Fold the dough over, use a fork to bind the edges, and then trim off any extra dough.
5. The patties should be baked for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the edges are browned, on two baking pans coated with parchment paper.

While it's still warm, serve.

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