Moroccan table
Original traditionpastillaFès-Meknès

Authentic Chicken & Almond Pastilla

A magnificent sweet-and-savory pie pairing shredded saffron chicken and cinnamon-spiced egg filling with layers of crisp almonds, wrapped in shatteringly crisp warka pastry.

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Moroccan table
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In the imperial kitchens of Fes, where spices danced like courtiers in the Sultan's court, the pastilla was born of a clever chef's desire to please both the Sultan's sweet tooth and his love for savory meats. During the annual Moussem of Moulay Idriss, the patron saint of Fes, the chef presented this masterpiece as a symbol of the city's dual nature - spiritual yet earthly, traditional yet innovative. The golden dusting of sugar represented the divine light, while the savory filling honored the earthly bounty. The warka pastry, thinner than a love letter, was said to have been brought by Andalusian refugees who carried their culinary heritage like precious jewels. To this day, pastilla graces Moroccan celebrations as a reminder that balance - between sweet and savory, tradition and innovation - is the essence of Moroccan life.

Authentic Chicken & Almond Pastilla belongs to the Fès-Meknès table. Taste it where its Andalusian-Moroccan heritage kitchen tradition lives, or fold it into an itinerary through the region.

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Recipe

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modified version of a jane brody recipe. you can substitute sliced surimi sticks for the shrimp or scallops but, if you do so, do not add until salad has been dressed and tossed or the surimi will shred. cooking (passive) time also includes chilling time.

broccoli florets, scallions, red bell peppers, currants, small shrimp…
Kitchen method
Recipe

Seafood Bastilla with Shrimp, Calamari and Fish

Swordfish, shrimp, and calamari are mixed with Chinese vermicelli, black mushrooms, and a spicy tomato sauce. The filling is enclosed in paper-thin warqa or phyllo dough and then baked.The measures below are for raw seafood prior to cleaning. Prep time does not include shelling or deveining shrimp or cleaning calamari. Save time by having your fishmonger do some of this for you.Seafood Bastilla can be assembled and frozen until baking time. Shape the bastilla into a single large pie as shown here or make small, individual-sized pies for easier serving.

For the Seafood:, 1 kilogram/2 pounds fresh medium shrimp (shelled, cleaned and tails removed), 1/2 kilogram/1 pound fresh calamari, cleaned and cut into 1/4" rings (tentacles chopped), 1/2 kilogram/1 pound fresh swordfish (or another firm, low-fat fish), 3 tablespoons butter (divided)…
Kitchen method
Recipe

B Stilla

a rather unusual moroccan chicken pie that is both savoury and sweet. traditionally, it uses pigeon or capon, but chicken is a good, and more readily available substitute. this is really good, so roll up your sleeves and give it a go!

butter, chicken, parsley, onion, saffron thread…
Kitchen method
Recipe

Bisteeya or Moroccan Chicken Pie

this will break your mouth as they say down south. its just fantastic if you like exotic flavors and good old fashioned chicken pot pie!

butter, whole chickens, onion, salt and pepper, cinnamon…
Kitchen method