Moroccan chicken pastilla with almonds and cinnamon — the sweet-and-savory pie of Moroccan cuisine

Pastilla (also known as bastilla) is one of the most festive dishes of Moroccan cuisine — a round pie of thin crunchy pastry, filled with tender chicken stewed with spices, eggs and sweet almonds with cinnamon. The combination of savory and sweet flavor makes it unique in the world.

Ingredients (for 6 people)

• 1 whole chicken (about 1.5 kg) or 800 g chicken thighs
• 500 g thin filo pastry
• 250 g peeled almonds
• 6 eggs
• 2 large onions, finely chopped
• 1 bunch of fresh parsley and 1 bunch of fresh coriander, chopped
• 100 g melted butter (plus for brushing the pastry)
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon Indian saffron (turmeric)
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (plus for sprinkling)
• 100 g powdered sugar (plus for sprinkling)
• salt and black pepper to taste

Preparation steps

1. In a large pot, sauté the onions in olive oil, add the chicken, ginger, Indian saffron, salt, pepper, parsley and coriander; cover with water and boil for about 45 minutes until the meat softens.
2. Remove the chicken, strain the broth and reserve it; shred the meat into thin strips.
3. Return the broth to medium heat and add the beaten eggs, stirring constantly until they set and the liquid thickens; remove from heat.
4. Lightly toast the almonds, chop them coarsely and mix with powdered sugar and cinnamon.
5. Brush a round pan with melted butter. Lay 5–6 pastry sheets, brushing each with butter and leaving the edges hanging over the pan.
6. Pour in the chicken layer, then the egg mixture, then the almonds with cinnamon.
7. Fold the hanging edges over the filling and cover with 2–3 more buttered pastry sheets.
8. Bake in a preheated oven at 180°C for 30–35 minutes, until golden and crunchy.
9. Let it cool slightly, sprinkle with powdered sugar and cinnamon and serve warm.

Time and servings: Preparation about 40 minutes; cooking about 1 hour 20 minutes. For 6 people.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0).