BASTEEYA (MOROCCAN CHICKEN PIE)

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Basteeya (Moroccan Chicken Pie) image

I have not made this, but am posting it here in the hope that it might help someone out who is looking for a similar recipe. I saw Christine Cushing make this on her tv show and it looked amazing, and so had the recipe on hand in my "must-try" pile of printouts! Cushing says, "This is a killer Moroccan pie. The combination of cinnamon, icing sugar and almonds hidden between the layers of phyllo and the sweet and savoury chicken filling is really amazing."

Provided by Lennie

Categories     Savory Pies

Time 1h20m

Yield 6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 22

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 small Thai chile (or chile flakes, to taste)
1 cinnamon stick
1 teaspoon good-quality Madras curry powder
1 teaspoon chopped fresh ginger
1 teaspoon grated fresh lemon zest
4 cooked chicken legs, bones removed and meat chopped coarsely
2 pitted prunes, chopped
1/4 cup spicy green olives, diced
1/2 cup chicken stock
1/2 lemon, juice of
coarse salt
fresh ground black pepper, to taste
1 tablespoon icing sugar
2 tablespoons toasted whole almonds
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/3 cup melted butter (or olive oil)
8 sheets phyllo dough
1 egg, lightly beaten
2 tablespoons chopped fresh coriander (also known as cilantro)

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.

Caleb Naidoo
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I love the way the cinnamon and ginger add a warm flavor to this dish.


Tecnical ali
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This dish is a bit spicy, but it's not too hot. It's the perfect amount of heat.


Rocky Vhaw
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I'm so glad I found this recipe. It's a great way to use up leftover chicken.


Saidou Bansan
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This is the perfect dish to serve at a party. It's easy to make ahead of time, and it's always a crowd-pleaser.


Chloie Dee
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I love the way the almonds add a crunchy texture to this dish.


Zayden Porter
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This dish is a bit time-consuming to make, but it's so worth it. I highly recommend it for a special occasion.


Elmas Br
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I've never had basteeya before, but I'm so glad I tried it. It's now one of my favorite dishes.


ramier tiapson
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This recipe is easy to follow, even for a beginner cook. I highly recommend it!


LPSdalmatian
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I made this for my family, and they all loved it. Even my picky kids ate it up!


PETER MWAURA
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This is a great recipe for a special occasion. It's a bit pricey to make, but it's worth it for the wow factor.


Creaner Tyler
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I'm not a huge fan of Moroccan food, but I loved this dish. The flavors were well-balanced, and the chicken was cooked perfectly.


Gift Gabriel
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This recipe is a bit time-consuming, but it's so worth it. The flavors are incredible, and the presentation is beautiful.


ES SHAHIN
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I love the way the spices in this dish warm my soul. It's the perfect comfort food for a cold winter day.


Cat Anderson
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This dish is a labor of love, but it's worth it. The end result is a beautiful and delicious pie that will impress your guests.


J Daphnis
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I've made this recipe several times, and it's always perfect. It's a great way to use up leftover chicken, and it's also a great make-ahead meal.


RI RHOKI
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This is one of my favorite Moroccan dishes. It's always a crowd-pleaser, and it's perfect for special occasions.


Bothwell Mabvarume
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I made this for a party, and it was a huge hit! Everyone loved it, and I got so many compliments on my cooking.


Boy Ice
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This recipe was easy to follow, and the end result was stunning. I can't wait to serve this to my friends and family.


Akshat Jayesh
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I love the combination of sweet and savory flavors in this dish. The chicken and almonds go so well together, and the phyllo dough is the perfect flaky crust.


Sophia Ricketts
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This was my first time making basteeya, and it turned out amazing! The flavors were incredible, and the chicken was so tender and juicy. I will definitely be making this again.