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Bastilla: Moroccan Chicken Pie

06/07/19 | almond, Arabic, budget-friendly, chicken, cinnamon, egg, exotic, family, festive, Fragrant, Moroccan, pie

Bastilla is a trademark of Morocco, chicken pie wrapped in flaky pastry finished with a generous dusting of cinnamon and powdered sugar. The Spanish brought it to North Africa, but nomadic Berbers and native Arabic people have shaped its composition through the years. Known by many names, B’stilla/Pastilla/Bistilla is traditionally made with pigeon meat stewed in onions and aromatic spices, then wrapped in paper-thin crepes called warqa which means leaf in Arabic. My adventurous parents enjoyed it at a local Moroccan restaurant and described it as a delightfully different dish. My only thought was, “I am NOT eating pigeon!”

Bastilla

Then, a documentary about the culinary culture of Morocco piqued my interest. What we deem rats with wings are prized for their meat. While the pigeon stewed slowly with onions and aromatics in a heavy pot, a lady chef casually slapped a dough ball onto a big round griddle to make paper-thin warqa pastry, then effortlessly peeled it off without breaking it.

It was astounding.

Bastilla

Bastilla is such an interesting dish, but I cheat on two counts. I use store-bought phyllo dough and chicken meat. The stuffing has toasted almonds, egg and raisins seasoned with precious saffron and a hint of curry. Made in a skillet on the stovetop or baked in the oven, it’s ready in 30 minutes. Crispy, toasted in butter and finished with a heaps of cinnamon and sugar, Basilla is sure to impress any night of the week.Bastilla

Bastilla

Remember that phyllo dries out quickly. So keep it covered with a clean dish towel to prevent it from cracking.

Bastilla

Serves: 4-6
Prep: 30 mins
Cook: 45 mins

Ingredients
1 lb free-range chicken thighs
3 whole cinnamon sticks
2 onions
2 Tb butter
2 Tb olive oil
1/2 tsp saffron threads+1/2 tsp sugar+2 Tb hot water

1/2 tsp freshly-cracked black pepper
4 free-range eggs
1 tsp curry powder
1 cup toasted almonds
1/4 cup raisins
1 Tb preserved lemon,  chopped (optional)
10-12 large sheets phyllo
1 stick melted butter

Garnish
powdered sugar
cinnamon

Instructions

Put the kettle on and heat some water.
Grind saffron with sugar in a small mortar and pestle.
Pour yourself a nice cup of tea and add a few tablespoons of the hot water to the ground saffron.
Let it steep while you work on the onions.

Cook chicken and cinnamon sticks.

Peel, chop and caramelize onions in olive oil on a low flame. Be patient, else you’ll burn them as I often do!

Beat eggs with saffron liquid and curry.

Blitz almonds, sugar and cinnamon in a food processor to a sandy consistency.

Place a frying pan over low heat. Add a knob of butter and small drizzle of olive oil. Swirl around to coat the pan well.

Drape several sheets of phyllo across the bottom of the skillet.
Carefully tuck the pastry around the inside, then brush with melted butter.

Add chicken to the pan and sprinkle almond mixture over the top.
Pour egg mixture over the chicken and cover with more sheets of phyllo.
Carefully fold over the phyllo dough on all sides, brush the top with melted butter.

Bake the bastilla in a 350 *F (or cook on the stovetop with a lid on the pan). oven for about 12-15 mins or until lightly browned.
Carefully turn skillet upside-down on a large platter.

Sift a generous amount of powdered sugar over the pie.

Pinching cinnamon between your fingers, draw a criss-cross pattern of cinnamon over the layer of powdered sugar.

Bastilla

« Kibbeh (Middle Eastern Meatballs)
Chiles en Nogada »

Comments

  1. Valentina says

    June 7, 2019 at 14:55

    Oh my gosh, Colette, this looks amazing. I have a book by Kitty Moorse called Cooking at the Kasbah, and tried the Bastilla recipe. It was years ago and it was so much fun and very delicious. Your post has inspired me to make it again. Only I will try your recipe this time. 🙂 I was excited to land on your site today to see this new reicpe. I’ve missed you! 🙂 ~Valentina

    • colettezabo says

      June 12, 2019 at 13:11

      I would love to see your rendition of this, Valentina! xo

  2. David Scott Allen says

    June 10, 2019 at 06:59

    As you may remember, this is one of my favoritest dishes! And yours looks absolutely perfect! xox

    • colettezabo says

      June 12, 2019 at 13:12

      Wish I could sit at your table and enjoy it made by you. xo

  3. Santosh Kumar says

    June 11, 2019 at 21:18

    Hey coco..i also big fan of your blog and chicken is one of my favorite food as well….and its looks amazing & sound soo delicious…Thanks for sharing….!

    • colettezabo says

      June 12, 2019 at 13:12

      Nice to hear from you, Santosh. Glad you’re enjoying my recipes. Please let me know if you try any of them. Cheers.

  4. The Kitchen Lioness says

    June 17, 2019 at 21:20

    Dear Colette, what a fabulous recipe – your pics are wonderful, your post is inspiring and very informative! Such a lovely dish to prepare for family and friends! I have yet to try a ‘Bastilla’, as I haven’t managed to make one but I will change that soon!
    Hope you and your family is doing well!
    Andrea xo

    • colettezabo says

      June 18, 2019 at 08:24

      Hello, my sweet friend! Love your never-ending enthusiasm and kind heart.
      I can’t wait for you to try this. Bastilla is so easy to toss together and makes such a big impression.
      Let me know how you like it.
      Sending love to you and your sweet family xoxo

  5. Macy Brown From MakeTheBread says

    June 17, 2019 at 21:54

    This looks an amazing Coco, and this one of best recipe till now…am so glad to read your recipe…i will try to making this in few days latter..Thanks for sharing…!

    • colettezabo says

      June 18, 2019 at 08:21

      Hi, Macy!
      Please let me know how you like it.
      Enjoy!

  6. Cathy says

    June 25, 2019 at 20:59

    I have not been brave enough to make a Bastilla after returning from Morocco a few years ago. Thank you for this post as I feel like I need to give this a try. I adored the food and sights of Morocco and I would love to relive those moments bite by bite.

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About Coco

Welcome to Coco in the Kitchen! I am a proud Wife and Mommy cooking up some delicious meals and treats for my family. Follow along and collect some great dishes inspired by my Armenian roots and chocolate cravings! Get to know me more...

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