Moroccan Chicken Basteeya Food

MOROCCAN CHICKEN BASTEEYA

Steps:

• Heat oil in large, nonstick skillet set over medium-high heat; cook onion for about 5 minutes or until tender. Stir in garlic, ginger, hot pepper flakes and saffron; cook for about 2 minutes or until fragrant. Stir in chicken, chicken broth, apricots, olives, lemon juice, cinnamon stick, salt and pepper. Simmer for about 10 minutes or until liquid has evaporated. Let cool completely; discard cinnamon stick.
• Whisk together eggs, cilantro and parsley; stir into chicken mixture. Set aside. In food processor, combine almonds, icing sugar and cinnamon; pulse until finely chopped.
• Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease 9-inch (23 cm) deep dish pie plate. Brush 1 sheet of phyllo with butter (keep remaining phyllo covered with damp tea towel to prevent it from drying out); top with another sheet of phyllo. Repeat to make 4 layers. Place layered phyllo in centre of pie plate, pressing to fit. Scrape chicken filling over phyllo; fold corners toward centre of pie (phyllo should not cover filling completely).
• Drape sheet of phyllo over filling; brush with butter and sprinkle with some of the almond mixture. Repeat layers with remaining phyllo, butter and almond mixture. Carefully tuck edges into pie plate, under bottom layers of phyllo.
• Bake for about 30 minutes or until very golden brown. Let stand for 5 minutes before cutting into wedges.

BISTEEYA

Steps:

• Place chicken in a large bowl along with garlic, salt, pepper, ginger, saffron, turmeric, and cinnamon sticks; set aside.
• Heat a large dutch oven over medium-high heat. Melt 2 tablespoons butter and saute onion. Add chicken mixture and enough water to cover chicken. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 1 1/4 hours.
• Heat olive oil in a heavy-bottomed saute pan. Add almonds and cook, stirring until browned. Remove from heat and let cool. Add confectioners' sugar and ground cinnamon; stir to combine. Set aside.
• Remove chicken and all bones from stock. Add lemon juice. Beat eggs and whisk into stock. Cook until thick and dry. Fold in parsley and cilantro; set aside.
• Remove and discard bones and skin from chicken, reserving meat. Shred with your fingers into small pieces (not larger than 1 inch, and preferably in shreds rather than chunks). Transfer to a medium bowl; stir in preserved lemons and set aside.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Brush a 10-by-2-inch round cake pan with clarified butter. Working with 1 sheet of phyllo at a time, place in cake pan, leaving edges to overhang pan. Brush with clarified butter before adding the next sheet in an overlapping circular pattern. Repeat process using 6 to 8 sheets of phyllo and clarified butter to cover bottom of pan.
• Top evenly with half of shredded chicken mixture. Cover chicken with half of almond mixture. Top this with half of egg mixture, then repeat layering process with remaining ingredients. Then take overhanging phyllo and fold toward center of pan.
• With another 6 to 8 sheets of phyllo and clarified butter, repeat overlapping circular pattern. Using scissors, trim a little excess phyllo. Tuck overhanging edges under the pie. Brush phyllo with clarified butter. Chill at least 30 minutes.
• Using a sharp knife, score phyllo in a diamond pattern. Bake until golden brown, about 45 minutes. If pie is not golden brown, increase oven temperature to 375 degrees and bake an additional 5 to 10 minutes.
• Remove from oven and dust with confectioners' sugar and, using your fingers, sprinkle with ground cinnamon in a decorative pattern. Slice and serve.

MOROCCAN CHICKEN

Steps:

• Season chicken with salt and brown in a large saucepan over medium heat until almost cooked through. Remove chicken from pan and set aside.
• Saute onion, garlic, carrots and celery in same pan. When tender, stir in ginger, paprika, cumin, oregano, cayenne pepper and turmeric; stir fry for about 1 minute, then mix in broth and tomatoes. Return chicken to pan, reduce heat to low and simmer for about 10 minutes.
• Add chickpeas and zucchini to pan and bring to simmering once again; cover pan and cook for about 15 minutes, or until zucchini is cooked through and tender. Stir in lemon juice and serve.

BASTEEYA (MOROCCAN CHICKEN PIE)

Steps:

• Brush a large 10-inch pie plate with some melted butter (or margarine, if you need to keep this kosher) and set aside.
• In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat the olive oil; saute the onions until soft (about 5 minutes), then add the garlic, chile, cinnamon stick, curry powder, fresh ginger, lemon zest and chicken chunks and saute for two minutes.
• Stir in the prunes, olives, chicken stock, lemon juice, and the salt and pepper; bring this to a boil.
• Reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer, without stirring at all, for 10 minutes; then remove the lid and simmer for 5 more minutes, or until the liquid has evaporated; let this cool completely (I'm going to guess you discard the whole cinnamon stick, since it's not mentioned in the original recipe).
• Meanwhile, in a food processor (the mini one will work well), pulse the icing sugar, ground cinnamon and almonds until coarsely chopped.
• Preheat oven to 375F.
• When the chicken mixture has cooled completely, it's time to begin the assembly: on your work surface, arrange a sheet of phyllo (keep the remaining phyllo sheets under a damp tea towel) and brush it with some of the melted butter or olive oil.
• Lay this sheet of phyllo in the middle of the pie plate, letting the excess phyllo hang over the edge; repeat with 4 more sheets of phyllo.
• Stir the lightly beaten egg and chopped coriander into the chicken mixture, combine, then spoon the entire mixture into the pie plate, on top of the sheets of phyllo in it.
• Fold the phyllo edges that are hanging over the edge of the pie plate, one at a time, onto the middle of the pie, sprinkling some of the almond mixture between each layer; do this loosely and not tightly.
• Butter one piece of the remaining phyllo and sprinkle with some of the almond mixture; place over filling and tuck in any overhang; repeat with remaining phyllo and almond mixture--Christine Cushing says to do this one by one, not stacked together, to achieve a light, blossomy top.
• Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until the top is browned and crisp; let stand for 5 minutes before cutting into wedges to serve.

BASTEEYA (MOROCCAN CHICKEN PIE)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Brush a 10-inch pie dish with some melted butter.
• In a large skillet heat olive oil over medium high heat. Sauté the onions until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, chile, cinnamon stick, curry powder, ginger, lemon zest and chicken and sauté for 2 minutes. Stir in the prunes, olives, stock, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer, without stirring, for 10 minutes. Remove lid and simmer for a further 5 minutes, or until liquid has evaporated. Let cool completely.
• Meanwhile, pulse icing sugar, cinnamon and almonds in food processor until coarsely chopped.
• On a work surface, arrange a sheet of phyllo. (Keep remaining phyllo under damp tea towel.) Brush phyllo with butter. Lay in the middle of pie dish allowing excess phyllo to hang over edge. Repeat with 4 more sheets of phyllo.
• Stir beaten egg and coriander into chicken mixture. Spoon chicken mixture into prepared pie dish. Fold the phyllo pieces that are hanging over the edge of the pie dish, one at a time into middle of pie, sprinkling some of the almond mixture between each layer.
• Butter 1 piece of phyllo and sprinkle with some of the almond mixture. Place over filling and tuck in any overhang. Repeat with remaining phyllo and almond mixture. (Do these one by one, not stacked together, to achieve a light, blossomy top.)
• Bake for 20 minutes until top is browned and crisp. Let stand for 5 minutes before cutting into wedges.

BISTEEYA OR MOROCCAN CHICKEN PIE

Steps:

• In a large skillet put 2 tablespoons butter, the chicken pieces, onions, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon pepper,2 teaspoons cinnamon, the ginger, cumin, cayenne, saffron, turmeric and chicken stock.
• simmer gently, covered, until the chicken is cooked, 45 minutes.
• remove the chicken from the sauce and let it cool.
• remove all the bones and tear the chicken into 1 inch pieces.
• bring the liquid to a simmer and add the eggs stirring gently until the eggs are cooked and most of the liquid is evaporated, 4 to 5 minutes.
• add the chicken, cilantro, parsley, salt and pepper and mix well.
• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• Toast the almonds in the oven until they are very lightly golden and hot to the touch, about 5 to 7 minutes.
• Coarsely chop them in a blender or food processor and mix with 3 tablespoons sugar and 3/4 teaspoons cinnamon.
• set aside and reserve the rest of the cinnamon sugar for a garnish.
• Melt the remaining 12 tablespoons butter. brush a 12 inch pie pan with the butter.
• place one sheet of phyllo dough on the bottom of the pie plate so that it completely covers the bottom of the plate and extends over one side by several inches.
• brush the whole sheet of phyllo lightly and continue with 7 more sheets moving in a pinwheel effect, brushing butter on each sheet.
• spread the chicken mixture on the phyllo and sprinkle with the almond mixture.
• Fold the overhanging phyllo up over the chicken and almonds and brush with butter.
• then continue adding 7 more sheets of phyllo to the pie as your did before.
• tuck all the overhanging edges under the pie and brush remaining butter over top of the pie.
• place in 375F oven and bake until golden brown and flaky, about 20 minutes.
• sprinkle the garnishing cinnamon and sugar over top.

MOROCCAN CHICKEN PIE (B'STILLA)

Steps:

• Heat chicken broth in a 4-quart saucepan; add in saffron, garlic, cinnamon sticks, coriander, turmeric, onion, and carrot.
• Bring broth to a boil and simmer, uncovered, for 20 minutes.
• Remove cinnamon sticks from broth, decrease heat to medium.
• Stir in parsley and eggs, stirring eggs until they appear like scrambled eggs, but not dry.
• Remove the eggs and vegetables with a slotted spoon and place them in a colander set over a bowl (refrigerate until ready to proceed).
• In a heavy pan, melt the butter; add in the almonds and brown them in the butter, being careful not to burn them.
• Remove from heat, and cool.
• Place the almonds in a food processor fitted with a metal blade; add the 1/3 cup powdered sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon; pulse on and off until the almonds are ground; set aside until ready to proceed.
• Preheat oven to 400°.
• Unwrap the phyllo dough and cover it with a clean kitchen towel.
• Brush a 13 x 9 inch ovenproof baking dish with melted butter.
• Brush a sheet of phyllo with melted butter, sprinkle it with some of the bread crumbs, and place it in the baking dish; repeat with 5 more sheets of phyllo, brushing each one with butter and sprinkling it with crumbs (you will have 6 sheets total).
• Spread half the egg and vegetable mixture over the phyllo, and sprinkle the filling with half of the ground almonds.
• Cover with 2 more sheets of phyllo brushed with butter and sprinkled with bread crumbs.
• Cover with all the chicken, then top with 2 more sheets of phllyo brushed with butter and sprinkled with bread crumbs.
• Top with remaining egg/vegetable mixture and the remaining ground almonds.
• Cover the pie with 4 more sheets of phyllo, each buttered and sprinkled with bread crumbs (at this point the pie may be refrigerated for up to 24 hours before baking).
• Bake for 30-40 minutes, until the phyllo is golden brown.
• Remove the pie from the oven and let it rest for 5 minutes.
• Sprinkle with powdered sugar and ground cinnamon; serve.

BASTEEYA (PASTILLA) | MOROCCAN CHICKEN PIE

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 180c.
• 2. Add oil and butter, sauté the garlic and onions till transluscent.
• 3. Add chicken thighs.
• 4. Add parsley, coriander, turmeric, cinnamon, saffron and salt. Stir well. Add water.
• 5. Cover and simmer on low heat for 1 1/2 hours until meat easily pulls apart.
• 6. Remove chicken pieces, pull apart and leave aside.
• 7. Add lemon juice and eggs to the stock and stir continuously (will look like thick scrambled eggs). Stir until all of the liquid is absorbed.
• 8. Make the almond filling by toasting the almonds then combining almonds, confectionery sugar and cinnamon.
• 9. Place two sheets of phyllo pastry and butter well. Place 2 more sheets, butter one sheet and not the second one.
• 10. Place the chicken filling, followed by half the almond filling, then the egg filling, followed by the remaining almond filling.
• 11. Place 4 sheets of phyllo, buttering each sheet.
• 12. Bake for 20-25 mins at 180c.
• 13. Garnish with almonds and sifted confectionery sugar.

MOROCCAN CHICKEN & EGG PIE (BISTEEYA/B'STILLA)

Steps:

• Rinse the chicken & remove any fat. Crush the garlic & mix with the salt & pepper. Cover the chicken with the mixture & let marinate for 30 minutes.
• Place the chicken in a large pot. Add the water, butter, parsley, onion, cinnamon sticks, & spices to the pan. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat, cover, & simmer for 1 hour.
• Remove the chicken, cinnamon sticks, & any loose bones from the pan & set aside.
• Boil the sauce rapidly, uncovered, until it is reduced to 1 1/2 cups, then add the lemon juice. Lower the heat until the sauce is simmering.
• Beat the eggs until they are frothy & then add to the sauce. Stir continuously until the eggs are cooked. (They should become curdy, stiff, & dry.) Taste for salt & set aside.
• Remove all the bones from the chicken. Then shred into 1 inch pieces.
• Note: All the steps done until now can be prepared in advanced, even the day before.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Thaw the phyllo dough for use later.
• Heat 1/4 cup sweet butter until melted. When the foam subsides, clarify it by pouring the clear liquid butter into a small bowl & discard the milky solids.
• Unroll the dough, keeping it under a damp towel to prevent it from drying out.
• Fold 4 leaves in half & bake in the oven until crisp but not too brown, set aside.
• Brush some of the clarified butter on the bottom & sides of a 9x13 cake pan. Cover the bottom of the pan with 2 pastry leaves.
• Arrange 6 more leaves so that they cover half the bottom of the pan & half extend over the sides. (The entire bottom of the pan should be covered.) Brush the extended leaves with butter so they do not dry out.
• Scatter pieces of chicken on the bottom of the pan so there is a thin layer. Layer some of the well-drained egg mixture on top of the chicken. Place the 4 crisp leaves on top of the egg layer.
• Add another thin layer of chicken & then a thin layer of eggs (using all that is left).
• Cover the layers with all but 2 of the remaining phyllo leaves, brushing each one very lightly with butter.
• Fold the extended leaves over the top cover of the pie & brush lightly with butter. Put the remaining 2 leaves on top, lightly brush with butter, & fold these neatly under the pie (like tucking in sheets). Brush the entire pie again with butter.
• Bake the pie in the oven for 20 minutes (the top leaves will be golden brown).
• Shake the pan to loosen the pie. Invert the pie onto a large, buttered baking sheet.
• Brush top of the pie (which used to be the bottom) with more butter & return to the oven. Continue to bake for 10-15 minutes, or until golden brown.
• Place a large serving plate over the pie, hold firmly & invert so the pie is on the plate. Serve hot -- .