Traveling and exploring different cultures definitely affords the opportunity to taste the world and while on vacation in Trinidad you just can’t avoid indulging in all the local and traditional foods.

Local mom, hairstylist and aspiring entrepreneur, Sigournie La Foucade, was so kind to open up her kitchen to my curiosity sharing her tips and tricks to making the perfect pastele pie. This quick and simple recipe transforms Trinidad and Tobago’s most famous Christmas dish, pastele, into a year round favorite. Combining the ingredients used to make pastele with the technique used to make shepherd’s pie, Sigournie effortlessly whips up two pastele pies while giving me the exclusive on her recipe secrets.

Ingredients 

Minced Meat Filling

• 1 lb minced meat
• 1/2 cup raisins 
• 1/2 cup capers
• 1/2 cup olives
• 2 small onions
• 4 cloves garlic
• 4 pimentos
• 2 stalks celery
• 4 stalks cilantro

Pastele Dough

• 2 1/2 cups cornmeal
• 1/2 stick butter
• 4 tbsp oil
• 1 cup milk
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 tbsp maggie all purpose seasoning

Bon Appétit! Follow Sigournie on instagram at authenticme_whitney_ to see more of her life as a mom and stylist.