family recipes
lamb patés
Food writer and podcast host Korsha Wilson makes these crispy, comforting handheld snacks when she needs a reminder of family and a taste of the Caribbean. The word patŽ (pah-tay) is pronounced the same as the French spread (pâté).
On her Heritage Radio Network podcast, A Hungry Society, Korsha Wilson interviews diverse voices shaping American food traditions.
60
| Jan/Feb 2022
PORTRAIT: CELESTE NOCHE; FOOD STYLING: GREG LUNA
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or many, a flight to the U.S. Virgin Islands signals the start of vacation, but for me, it’s a reunion where I see my extended family. I spend time enjoying the vistas, soaking up the warm Caribbean sun, and eating as many patés as I can. Patés are an excellent snack you find at food trucks and stands in St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix. Golden and warm, the pockets of fried dough are often filled with saltfish, beef, or even tuna or chicken stewed with spices and tomato. The best shops sell out, meaning you have to get there early. I learned how to make paté dough from my grandmother and always join in when I’m back in USVI and a cousin or great-aunt is making patés and johnny cakes. When I’m home in New Jersey, I make my own version of patés using ground lamb spiced with Scotch bonnets and turmeric. The setting is decidedly less tropical, but it still makes me feel like I’m in St. Thomas surrounded by my family whenever I take a bite.
