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West African Meat Pastry Bites

Serves 4 to 6 Appetizer meat, Appetizers

West African Meat Pastry Bites

West African Meat Pastry Bites are a beloved staple across home tables in West Africa, where they are prepared with a confident hand and generous spirit. This dish is the ultimate expression of home cooking, where the measurements are instinctive, and the seasoning is guided by taste and tradition. Often brought out for casual family meals or shared among friends, these bites encapsulate the warmth of West African hospitality.

Each pastry bite delivers a satisfying crunch, giving way to a savory, aromatic filling of seasoned ground beef and onions. The delicate balance of fine sea salt and black pepper elevates the dish, allowing the simplicity of its ingredients to shine. Perfectly crispy on the outside, these meat-filled delights invite you to savor each flavorful morsel, encouraging a leisurely, communal dining experience.

Ingredients

  • 300 gground beef
  • 1onion
  • 12pastry wrappers
  • for fryingoil
  • to tastefine sea salt and black pepper

Method

  1. Begin by finely chopping the onion. This will ensure that it cooks evenly and blends well with the ground beef, providing a consistent flavor throughout the filling. Set the chopped onion aside.
  2. In a large skillet, heat a generous amount of oil over medium-high heat. Once the oil shimmers, add the chopped onion. Sauté the onion until it becomes translucent and starts to turn golden, releasing a sweet aroma, which indicates that it's ready for the next step.
  3. Add the 300 g of ground beef to the skillet with the onions. Use a wooden spoon to break up the meat, mixing it thoroughly with the onions. Cook until the beef is browned all over, with no pink remaining, and the mixture is fragrant.
  4. Season the beef and onion mixture with fine sea salt and black pepper to taste. Stir well to ensure the seasoning is evenly distributed. Taste and adjust the seasoning if needed, remembering that the filling should be flavorful enough to stand out in the pastry.
  5. Lay out the 12 pastry wrappers on a clean surface. Place a spoonful of the beef mixture in the center of each wrapper. Fold the wrappers over the filling, sealing the edges by pressing them together firmly. You can use a fork to crimp the edges for a decorative touch and to ensure they are well-sealed.
  6. In a deep frying pan, heat enough oil to submerge the pastries over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, carefully add the pastries in batches, avoiding overcrowding. Fry them until they are golden brown and crispy on all sides, turning occasionally for even cooking.
  7. Once the pastries are fried to a golden brown, remove them from the oil using a slotted spoon and place them on a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil. This will help keep them crisp.
  8. Finish the pastries with a light sprinkle of fine sea salt while they are still warm to enhance their flavor. Serve the West African Meat Pastry Bites immediately, encouraging everyone to share and enjoy the communal experience.
Cover of Authentic West African Cuisine
From the cookbook

Authentic West African Cuisine

This recipe is from Authentic West African Cuisine by Yassine Sbiti — the West African volume in the ComidaTime International Cuisines series.

Available soon on Amazon…

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