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Trinidad Pastelle

Trinidadian Beef/Chicken Pastelles

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Servings: 12
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Cornmeal Dough
  • 2 cups yellow cornmeal
  • 3 cups hot water
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1 1/4 tsp salt
Beef/Chicken Filling
  • 1 lb chopped beef and chicken chicken only, or beef only
  • 2 onions finely chopped
  • 2 tbs olive oil
  • 1 cup chopped chives
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh thyme
  • 2 pimento peppers chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic chopped
  • 1 tbs chopped celery
  • 1/2 Congo pepper seeded and chopped (optional)
  • 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/4 cup tomato sauce
  • 4 tbs capers
  • 3 tbs stuffed olives sliced
  • 1/4 cup raisins
  • 2 tbs fresh thyme

Method
 

Cornmeal dough
  1. In a food processor or by hand, combine cornmeal with butter and salt.
  2. Add water and process to make a soft, pliable dough.
  3. Divide the dough into 12 balls. Cover with a damp cloth to prevent drying.
  4. Place one piece of dough on a greased fig leaf and press into an eight-inch square.
  5. Spoon two tablespoons of filling onto the middle of the dough and fold and seal pastelles.
  6. Wrap in fig leaf and tie into a neat package. (you can also use foil)
  7. Steam pastelles for 45 minutes until cooked.
Chicken and Beef pastelle filling
  1. Combine beef with chicken. Add salt and black pepper.
  2. Add a quarter-cup chopped chives and one tablespoon thyme.
  3. In a large saute pan heat olive oil.
  4. Add onion and garlic. Saute until fragrant.
  5. Add pimento peppers, remaining chive, pepper and thyme.
  6. Add meat and cook until brown
  7. Add tomato sauce, cover and simmer for about 15 minutes.
  8. Add raisins, capers and olives and stir to combine.
  9. Cook for about five minutes more. Taste and adjust seasoning
  10. Add two tablespoons fresh thyme and stir to combine.
  11. Remove from heat and cool.
  12. Prepare dough as in recipe above and fill and fold pastelles as indicated.

Notes

To prepare fig leaves, steam them in a large pot of boiling water for ten minutes until they become pliable and soft. They may also be softened by waving them over an open flame. You can also use sheets of tin foil.