Jamaican Patties would be considered the Jamaican fast food. In this version, I used lentils instead of ground meat and placed in a gluten-free and vegan crust. The taste is right on and very flavorful. I added curry powder to the crust for that signature golden color.
Note updated Nov. 15, 2017 : I have worked long on hard on this recipe, originally I wanted to use only ingredients that can be found worldwide but this is the best version so far with a gluten-free crust from scratch that comes together, just last night I had a close friend who is also Jamaican try it and she was blown away by the results and wanted the recipe. I used Earth Balance Vegan Buttery Spread that gave the dough a buttery flavor.
By all means, use your favorite crust with this recipe, the filling is the best vegan filling you will ever find!!! I have also seen amazing photos and reviews of this recipe using regular all-purpose flour in Facebook Groups and on Pinterest.
Don’t expect this gluten-free crust to be super flaky like traditional all-purpose flour crust, gluten-free dough lacks gluten, the elasticity that makes dough stretchy. So scientifically speaking it is impossible to be as flaky.
Check out more about the history of Jamaican patties here
How To Make Jamaican Patties With Lentils
I have been meaning to do a step-by-step recipe on how I make my vegan and gluten-free version of my Jamaican Lentil Patties. Working with gluten-free dough is pretty tricky because you are working with a dough that has less elasticity than regular wheat flour dough.
Making gluten-free dough is not the same as using regular flour, but it can be pretty close! I don’t add xanthan gum to my dough but you can add 1 teaspoon to the recipe.
I roll the dough in a circle in between parchment papers, then I added the seasoned lentils Fold the dough in half over the lentil filling with the parchment paper.
It is so much easier to work with the dough when it is placed between sheets of parchment paper and rolled using a rolling pin. Remove the top sheet, add the filling and fold the bottom sheet over, as shown above, Seal edges and crimp with a fork as shown below.
I love to use ground flax-seeds as the egg substitute and oat flour as gluten-free flour. You can substitute with brown rice flour, sorghum or millet flour. I also added tapioca starch and potato starch as a binder. Obviously, these patties are not the same as traditional beef patties but they are the best and most flavorful you will find that are gluten-free and vegan.
I know I’m repeating myself, if you aren’t on a gluten-free diet, just substitute the crust with your favorite crust, puff pastry or even pie crust. If you don’t have potato starch, you can blend the liquid in the recipe with potato. The filling is so flavorful it is truly worth it.
If you are on a gluten-free and vegan diet, I know you can relate to me because there are so many of your favorite recipes that you have to give up due to agonizing reactions to gluten. So I’m excited to experiment with recipes that you can still enjoy. For the people who have reactions to even gluten-free oat, use a combination of brown rice flour, sorghum flour, tapioca starch, potato starch as a substitute.
Updated: February 2019: I have since experimented and found this crust in my Jamaican Callaloo Patties to be flakier and more like traditional Jamaican patty crust, however, it has a higher fat content so it is not for anyone who is on any dietary restrictions.
I have lots of fun “vegan-izing” traditional Jamaican dishes, you can check out some of my favorites:
- Jamaican Stewed Peas With Dumplings
- Jamaican Spicy Potato Curry
- Jamaican Lentil Patties
- Jamaican Pumpkin Soup (Pureed)
- Jamaican Banana Fritters
- Jamaican Sweet Potato Pudding
- Jamaican Gungo Peas Soup
- Jamaican Vegan Rundown Recipe
- Jamaican Cornmeal Porridge Bowl
- Vegan Ackee
If you make this recipe, snap a photo and hashtag #healthiersteps — we love to see your recipes on Instagram, Facebook & Twitter!
Get discounted copies of my cookbook Here
Also please leave a star rating ;-)
Need some encouragement on your Healthier Steps journey?
Join our Facebook groups, sharing lots of delicious vegan and gluten-free recipes, health tips, etc., from our members. Please join us and invite your friends Gluten-Free and Vegan For Beginners and Vegan Recipes
Nutrition
(Per portion)- Energy: 422 kcal / 1764 kJ
- Fat: 16 g
- Protein: 13 g
- Carbs: 58 g
Cook Time
- Preparation: 45 min
- Cooking: 1 h 1 min
- Ready in: 1 h 46 min
- For: 8 Patties
Ingredients
For The Filling
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
- 1/2 cup onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 spring onion
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/4 teaspoon turmeric
- 1/4 teaspoon cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon ground paprika
- Pinch allspice
- 1/2 cup brown lentils
- 2 cups vegetable broth, or water
- 1 tablespoon Bragg liquid aminos, or Tamari sauce or coconut aminos
- 1/4 teaspoon Cayenne pepper, (optional)
- Salt to taste
For The Crust
- 2 cups oat flour
- 1/4 cup tapioca flour
- 1/4 cup potato starch
- 1 tablespoon ground flax seeds
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons curry powder
- 1/2 cup almond milk
- 1/2 cup Vegan Butter, (I used Earth Balance)
Instructions
- Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion, spring onion, and garlic and saute stirring constantly until onion is soft. About 3 minutes.
- Add thyme, turmeric, paprika, cumin, allspice, lentil and stir to coat.
- Add water or broth and bring to boil. Cover saucepan and reduce heat to simmer for 30 minutes until most of the liquid has evaporated and lentils are tender.
- Stir in liquid aminos, cayenne pepper and salt to taste. Remove from heat and allow to cool while preparing the crust.
- Preheat oven 400°F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine oat flour. flax seed meal, tapioca starch, potato starch, baking powder, sea salt, and curry powder
- Stir in vegan butter until the dough resembles crumbs. Stir in almond milk and use hand to form a dough ball.
- Further divide ball into 8 smaller balls. Roll out each ball in between 2 parchment paper sheets using a rolling pin, about a 4-inch circle.
- Remove top layer sheet, add 1 tablespoon of lentil filling on one half of circle, making sure to leave edges clear. Fold over the other half, by folding parchment paper and seal crimping edges with a fork.
- Transfer to baking sheet. Repeat with remaining dough. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.
Notes
I am so excited to find these! I have celiac, and haven’t had Jamaican patties since I was a child before I was diagnosed. I am so looking forward to trying it out! Thank you!
Jess I’m so happy you found my recipe, I hope you enjoy it. Welcome to my website.
These are so delicious Michelle. I’m gluten free and my daughter is vegan. I made the Jamaican Callilou crust as you suggested. Yum!! We loved them and look forward to trying your other recipes! Thank you!
Wow Cindy, I’m so happy you enjoyed it. Thank you very much for sharing your feedback.
Hi Michelle, I’m trying to sign up for your emails, but I’m asked to prove I am human with nothing to click on to prove that is so.
Love your recipes
This was delicious and tasted so close to the real thing! Thank you!
This recipe is very good.