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Moroccan Chicken Basteeya

Video Title: How to make: Moroccan Chicken Basteeya
Video Duration: 0:59
Basteeya (or pastilla) is sweet and savoury pie wrapped in a phyllo-type pastry that is popular in Moroccan cuisine. It's an excellent way to use up leftover chicken. 
Serves: 6
Cook Time: 30 min

Ingredients

2 tbsp olive oil
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tsp grated fresh ginger
¼ tsp hot pepper flakes
¼ tsp saffron threads
2 cups shredded dark meat
½ cup chicken broth
¼ cup chopped dried apricots
¼ cup chopped green olives
2 tbsp lemon juice
1 cinnamon stick
½ tsp each salt and pepper
2 eggs, beaten
2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
¼ cup whole toasted almonds
1 tbsp icing sugar
½ tsp ground cinnamon
8 phyllo sheets
⅓ cup butter, melted

Food Safety

Before you start, wash all surfaces and your hands with soap and warm water, and remember to wash your hands, utensils and cutting boards after they touch raw meat or eggs. Avoid cross-contamination by using a different cutting board for your meat and other ingredients. Make sure you’re cooking to safe temperatures and chilling any leftovers within two hours. For more food safety tips, visit our Food Safety at Home Section.

Steps

  1. 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.

  2. 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. 

  3. 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).

  4. 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.

  5. Bake for about 30 minutes or until very golden brown. Let stand for 5 minutes before cutting into wedges. 

Helpful Tip

Tip: For shredded chicken, use leftover roast chicken or chicken legs poached in chicken broth.

Nutrition Info

Per 150 g serving Amount
Calories380
Protein17 g
Fat25 g
Saturated Fat9 g
Carbohydrate23 g
Fibre2 g
Sugar5 g
Cholesterol130 mg
Sodium600 mg
Per 150 g serving % Daily Value
Potassium10
Calcium4
Iron15
Vitamin A15
Vitamin C10
Vitamin B615
Folate20
Zinc20