How to Make Nigerian Meat Pie

I have had many pastries that resemble Jamaican beef patties, empanadas, pastelillos, or meat pies. My favorite of these crescent-shaped pastries remains the Nigerian Meat Pie!

Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy patties and empanadas every now and then, but I suppose I am biased since meat pies are closer to my roots and what I grew up eating.

What is Nigerian Meat Pie?

Meat Pie is a pastry made with flour, ground beef, diced potatoes, and carrots. The filling or stuffing is seasoned with different spices.

In Nigeria, many eateries have it on their menu as a snack or appetizer.

It is popular with children and students as a snack for lunch.

There’s also a variation called fish pie, which is made in a similar way and shape, but the stuffing is primarily fish instead of meat.

What Ingredients Do You Need to Make Meat Pie?

To get started, you’ll need a few basic ingredients: For the dough, you’ll need all-purpose flour, cold butter, baking powder, salt, and water.

The filling requires ground beef, potatoes, carrots, onions, vegetable oil, and seasoning such as thyme, curry powder, and black pepper.

To seal and glaze the pies, you’ll need an egg.

How Do You Make Nigerian Meat Pie?

The first thing I do is prepare the dough. I mix flour, baking powder, and salt, then rub in cold butter until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs.

Next, I add water gradually until the dough comes together, and then I let it chill in the fridge.

While the dough is resting, I prepare the filling. I sauté onions, brown the ground beef, and stir in diced potatoes and carrots.

After seasoning with thyme, curry, and pepper, I let everything cook until tender. To thicken the mixture, I add a bit of flour mixed with water.

Once the filling cools, I roll out the dough, cut it into circles, add the filling, and seal the edges. Then I glaze with beaten egg and bake until golden brown.

Is Meat Pie the Same as Beef Patties or Empanadas?

Meat Pie is not the same as Latin American empanadas or Jamaican beef patties.

Empanadas are usually fried and have a flakier crust, while Nigerian Meat Pie is baked and less oily. Jamaican beef patties have a softer crust and the meat inside is usually a softer and more runny texture.

Nigerian Meat Pie has a harder crust than patties but isn’t as hard as a scone. Definitely not as hard as a scone and so if you are baking your meat pie and it leans towards a scone, some errors have been made.

Can You Store Nigerian Meat Pie?

Yes, you can store it! Once you are done with your baking, allow the meat pies to cool down. You can then store them in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.

If you want to be able to eat them for a longer period of time, then you should freeze them for up to a month.

To reheat, pop them in the oven at 350°F until warmed through. You can also reheat them using your air fryer. That’s actually my preferred way of reheating my meat pies.

Can You Substitute the Meat for Vegetables?

Absolutely! You can substitute the meat for vegetables if you prefer a vegetarian version.

Sometimes, I make the stuffing entirely from potatoes, carrots, and other vegetables like spinach and arugula. The result is just as delicious!

How to Make Nigerian Meat Pie

Florence Akpotaire

Meat Pie is a pastry made with flour, ground beef, diced potatoes, and carrots. 

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Prep Time 30 minutes mins

Cook Time 40 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 10 minutes mins

Course Appetizer

Cuisine Nigerian

Servings 4 People

Ingredients

  

For the Dough:

• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cups cold unsalted butter or margarine (cut into small cubes)
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup cold water (add gradually)

For the Filling:

• 300 g ground beef
• 1 medium-sized potato (peeled and diced)
• 1 medium-sized carrot (peeled and diced)
• 1 small onion (chopped)
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 tsp thyme
• 1 tsp curry powder
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 tsp salt (or to taste)
• 1 tbsp all-purpose flour (to thicken the filling)
• 1/2 cup water

For Sealing and Glazing:

• 1 egg (lightly beaten)

Instructions

 

Prepare the Dough:

• In a large bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, and salt.
• Add the cold butter cubes and rub them into the flour until it resembles breadcrumbs.
• Gradually add the cold water and knead gently to form a smooth dough. Be careful not to overwork the dough.
• Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Make the Filling:

• Heat the vegetable oil in a pan over medium heat.
• Add the chopped onions and sauté until translucent.
• Add the ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it up as it cooks.
• Stir in the diced potatoes, carrots, thyme, curry powder, black pepper, and salt.
• Add the water and allow the vegetables to cook until tender (about 10 minutes).
• Mix the flour with a little water to form a paste, then stir it into the filling to thicken it. Cook for 2-3 minutes.
• Remove from heat and let the filling cool completely.

Assemble the Meat Pies:

• Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a baking tray with parchment paper.
• Roll out the dough on a floured surface to about 1/4-inch thickness.
• Cut out circles using a round cutter or the lid of a pot (about 5-6 inches in diameter).
• Place a spoonful of filling in the center of each circle, leaving room to seal.
• Fold the dough over the filling to form a half-moon shape and seal the edges by pressing with a fork.
• Arrange the pies on the baking tray and brush the tops with the beaten egg.

Bake:

• Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes or until the pies are golden brown.
• Remove from the oven and let them cool slightly before serving.

Notes

Tips:

• For extra flavor, add garlic or a pinch of nutmeg to the filling.
• If you want flakier dough, chill it again briefly after assembling the pies before baking.

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Have you tried Nigerian Meat Pie? Do you make it in your kitchen?