Moroccan B'stella

CarrolJ's Note:

When we used to go to a Moroccan restaurant in San Jose, Ca. this was my favorite course of the multi-course meal. The original version of this recipe was on Food Network. I tried to simplify the steps so it would easier for today's cooks...but the spirit of the original recipe remains the same. It is a little work to put together...but if you make it, you won't be disappointed and will wish you had made a larger dish of it. Cooking time reflects both range and oven cooking times combined. Posted for ZWT #6--2010

• Total Time: 1 hrs 20 mins
• Prep Time: 50 mins
• Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients:

Serves: 4-6

Yield: 1.0 meat pie

• 2 ounces extra virgin olive oil
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 4 -6 chicken breasts, small chopped pieces (the Moroccans use squab)
• 1/4 cup parsley (finely chopped)
• 1/8 cup cilantro (finely chopped)
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 pinch saffron (optional spice)
• 1/2 teaspoon ginger
• 1 pinch nutmeg
• 1 pinch clove
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups water
• 6 eggs, beaten with a pinch of salt
• 1 (16 ounce) package phyllo dough
• 1/4 lb butter, melted
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon sugar
• 1 cup almonds (roasted and crushed )

Topping

• 1 tablespoon cinnamon
• 1 1/2 teaspoons granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar

Directions:

1. Heat olive oil in pan, then add onions, chicken pieces, parsley, cilantro, black pepper, saffron, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, and salt.
2. Stir well and add the 2 cups of water.
3. Cover with a lid and cook for 20 minutes.
4. Remove the chicken from pan and set aside.
5. Allow the sauce to cool slightly then add the beaten eggs to the sauce in the pan.
6. Cook the eggs with the sauce stirring continually so eggs won't stick.
7. When eggs are cooked, remove the pan from the heat and drain the eggs well in a colander.
8. Set he eggs aside to cool.
9. Open the phyllo and cover with a damp towel so it will not dry out.
10. Take an 8-10 inch round baking pan/dish and cover generously with butter.
11. Very gently, spread 5 sheets of phyllo dough alternately criss-cross over the pan, leaving some phyllo dough draped around the edges of the pan.
12. Add another sheet of phyllo crunched in the middle of the pan.
13. Mix together the 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon & 1/2 teaspoon sugar in a small bowl.
14. Pour some of the cinnamon sugar all around the phyllo.
15. Then, add 1/2 of the roasted crushed almonds.
16. Cover with 3 more layers of phyllo and pour on 1/2 of the eggs with half of the chicken.
17. Cover again with 3 layers of phyllo and sprinkle with the remaining cinnamon sugar and almonds.
18. Cover with 3 layers of phyllo and pour on the rest of the eggs and the chicken.
19. Cover with 2 layers of crunched phyllo and close the draping edges very gently like a rose, without pushing, it needs to be very fluffy.
20. Pour the melted butter over the phyllo and bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for about 10 to 15 minutes, until golden brown.
21. Turn the pan upside down onto a large platter. Mix together remaining cinnamon and sugar.
22. Garnish with powdered sugar and make a design with the mixture of cinnamon and sugar if desired.
23. Serve hot.

Reviews

[Nif]

OUTSTANDING!!!!! This delicious creation was worth the work, no question! I loved the colour from the saffron and the eggs were delicious! For step 4, I strained the chicken mixture and poured the sauce back into the pan. I used a springform pan but it came out easily anyway. I posted a photo of the top of it before I inverted it because it is really pretty. It is easier to cut when it's still quite warm. I didn't use cilantro (blech!), cloves or all of the topping. Made for ZWT6. Thanks CarrolJ! :)

[kellychris]

My DD said 10+ stars!! She just kept going on and on about "how you would find this in a really nice restarant, it has really good flavor then you get sweet, how she liked the eggs and it all mixes so well, etc.,etc.,etc......At first I found it strange, but I have to say,it DOES grow on you!! Thanks so much- made for ZWT6 and the Xtra Hot Dishes.