Has Anyone Tried Making Caribbean Meat-Filled Pastries?

[scottcooks]

Anyone experimented with this recipe yet?

I'll report back tonight - we are having a Bon Voyage party for our director, everyone is making a new recipe.

So far - it was kind of spendy, $25.36 for ingredients. But - many of those you'll use 2-3-4 times. Olives - needing 1/4 cup; Chutney - needing 2 tablespoons.

I had a hard time finding Masa de Harina - it is the flour used to make tortillas with. Finally found it in Albertson's - our Northwest chain. Quaker had a big 10 lb. bag for $3.75, I got a 5 lb. bag for $3.23 thinking I won't be using all that much.

I'll let you know how they taste. Lots of flavorful ingredients! I'm thinking it could show a TON of tools and cookware.

 

[rennea]

I have made this recipe but I used the premade pastry to save on time. They were good, we enjoyed them. Wouldn't make them all the time in our house but good.

 

[chefann]

I haven't tried these yet, but reading through the recipe, it seems like something that would be good for a "been there, done that" crowd, and would be better with a LOT of prep done ahead.

 

[scottcooks]

Yes - was a LOT of prep. You're basically making a pie crust dough from scratch, then a meat filling, then artfully shaping them into the dough.

Take their suggestion on using biscuit dough, or even try pie crust dough. Was VERY tasty, but would require a lot of prep ahead of time to be short enough for a demo. I spent 35 minutes making filling, making pastry, rolling dough, cutting dough, stuffing pastries, and only made HALF. It made a lot more than 9 - that was a bonus.

Prep ahead:
-make your pastry and maybe even have it rolled-out on baking parchment
-brown your sausage
-cook your onion and pepper mix - though that is a wonderful aroma for a show.
-perhaps even assemble MOST of the pastries, just do the last 1 or 2 at the show.

 

[smarteez2]

So did they taste yummy though?That is what I want to know!! LOL

 

[dollfangs]

where have you found the chutney? I am having a hard time finding it here.

 

[PamperChefCarol]

We, we actually I, made these at our training this month. Very, very labor intensive. They came out very pretty, and everyone said they were great. I didn't try them because I don't eat sausage. I started them a little after 7 and finally got them in the oven at 8:30.

This could be a pricy recipe. If you aren't a regular use of Masa de H, chutney, etc, that will add up. I could only find a good size bag of the Masa and that was $5, the chutney was close to $5, and then all the other stuff.

But then again, everyone said they were tasty.

 

[CatherinesKitchen]

Someone made these for our cluster meeting & she used refrigerated biscuits (or as I call them, the "whack 'em biscuits" b/c you whack them on the counter to open the can).

 

[scottcooks]

It is fantastic, delicious, just a lot of work. I'd seriously consider using the grands biscuit shortcut they suggest, just to save time.

 

[partygirl43]

where have you found the chutney? I am having a hard time finding it here.

I found the chutney in the ethic food section with the British foods, you might also find it with the indian foods.

 

[PampMomof3]

Great! I'm making these for a show tonight and this thread has me scared!!!

*Very, very labor intensive*

Any other tips for me?

 

[Joelen]

Ethnic stores are great places (if available in your area) for the ingredients and far less costly too.

 

[chefmelody]

On this same subject, does anyone have any other recipes using Masa Harina? I've got a huge 5lb. bag now that I'm afraid will mostly go to waste.

 

[Chef Kearns]

I never attempted to make the pastry. I did the cheater version with the refrigerated biscuits. They are mighty tasty!! I've done them for an open house and as a demo.

 

[mpkegley]

I made these using the biscuits and it was still kind of time consuming. I didn't try them because I do not like pineapple, but everyone at the show loved them.

 

[PampMomof3]

I made them and I thought they were okay. They do take a lot of time (well, most recipes I do for the first time take forever) but the guests were thinking about everything that could go inside of them.