Best Bisteeya Recipes

BISTEEYA

Steps:

• Place chicken in a large bowl along with garlic, salt, pepper, ginger, saffron, turmeric, and cinnamon sticks; set aside.
• Heat a large dutch oven over medium-high heat. Melt 2 tablespoons butter and saute onion. Add chicken mixture and enough water to cover chicken. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 1 1/4 hours.
• Heat olive oil in a heavy-bottomed saute pan. Add almonds and cook, stirring until browned. Remove from heat and let cool. Add confectioners' sugar and ground cinnamon; stir to combine. Set aside.
• Remove chicken and all bones from stock. Add lemon juice. Beat eggs and whisk into stock. Cook until thick and dry. Fold in parsley and cilantro; set aside.
• Remove and discard bones and skin from chicken, reserving meat. Shred with your fingers into small pieces (not larger than 1 inch, and preferably in shreds rather than chunks). Transfer to a medium bowl; stir in preserved lemons and set aside.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Brush a 10-by-2-inch round cake pan with clarified butter. Working with 1 sheet of phyllo at a time, place in cake pan, leaving edges to overhang pan. Brush with clarified butter before adding the next sheet in an overlapping circular pattern. Repeat process using 6 to 8 sheets of phyllo and clarified butter to cover bottom of pan.
• Top evenly with half of shredded chicken mixture. Cover chicken with half of almond mixture. Top this with half of egg mixture, then repeat layering process with remaining ingredients. Then take overhanging phyllo and fold toward center of pan.
• With another 6 to 8 sheets of phyllo and clarified butter, repeat overlapping circular pattern. Using scissors, trim a little excess phyllo. Tuck overhanging edges under the pie. Brush phyllo with clarified butter. Chill at least 30 minutes.
• Using a sharp knife, score phyllo in a diamond pattern. Bake until golden brown, about 45 minutes. If pie is not golden brown, increase oven temperature to 375 degrees and bake an additional 5 to 10 minutes.
• Remove from oven and dust with confectioners' sugar and, using your fingers, sprinkle with ground cinnamon in a decorative pattern. Slice and serve.

MOROCCAN CHICKEN & EGG PIE (BISTEEYA/B'STILLA)

Steps:

• Rinse the chicken & remove any fat. Crush the garlic & mix with the salt & pepper. Cover the chicken with the mixture & let marinate for 30 minutes.
• Place the chicken in a large pot. Add the water, butter, parsley, onion, cinnamon sticks, & spices to the pan. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat, cover, & simmer for 1 hour.
• Remove the chicken, cinnamon sticks, & any loose bones from the pan & set aside.
• Boil the sauce rapidly, uncovered, until it is reduced to 1 1/2 cups, then add the lemon juice. Lower the heat until the sauce is simmering.
• Beat the eggs until they are frothy & then add to the sauce. Stir continuously until the eggs are cooked. (They should become curdy, stiff, & dry.) Taste for salt & set aside.
• Remove all the bones from the chicken. Then shred into 1 inch pieces.
• Note: All the steps done until now can be prepared in advanced, even the day before.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Thaw the phyllo dough for use later.
• Heat 1/4 cup sweet butter until melted. When the foam subsides, clarify it by pouring the clear liquid butter into a small bowl & discard the milky solids.
• Unroll the dough, keeping it under a damp towel to prevent it from drying out.
• Fold 4 leaves in half & bake in the oven until crisp but not too brown, set aside.
• Brush some of the clarified butter on the bottom & sides of a 9x13 cake pan. Cover the bottom of the pan with 2 pastry leaves.
• Arrange 6 more leaves so that they cover half the bottom of the pan & half extend over the sides. (The entire bottom of the pan should be covered.) Brush the extended leaves with butter so they do not dry out.
• Scatter pieces of chicken on the bottom of the pan so there is a thin layer. Layer some of the well-drained egg mixture on top of the chicken. Place the 4 crisp leaves on top of the egg layer.
• Add another thin layer of chicken & then a thin layer of eggs (using all that is left).
• Cover the layers with all but 2 of the remaining phyllo leaves, brushing each one very lightly with butter.
• Fold the extended leaves over the top cover of the pie & brush lightly with butter. Put the remaining 2 leaves on top, lightly brush with butter, & fold these neatly under the pie (like tucking in sheets). Brush the entire pie again with butter.
• Bake the pie in the oven for 20 minutes (the top leaves will be golden brown).
• Shake the pan to loosen the pie. Invert the pie onto a large, buttered baking sheet.
• Brush top of the pie (which used to be the bottom) with more butter & return to the oven. Continue to bake for 10-15 minutes, or until golden brown.
• Place a large serving plate over the pie, hold firmly & invert so the pie is on the plate. Serve hot -- .

BISTEEYA

Steps:

• Place chicken thighs with onion, garlic, parsley, salt, turmeric and ginger. Toss well, rubbing chicken with the spices. Marinate 2 hours at room temperature or overnight in the refrigerator.
• Cook chicken with the marinade, chicken broth and cinnamon sticks. Bring to boil, reduce heat, cover and gently simmer for 1 hour. Remove chicken from broth and set aside.
• Strain broth, and boil it on high heat about 10 minutes, until reduced to 1 3/4 to 2 cups.
• Toast almonds in the microwave for 3 minutes on high. Add powdered sugar and ground cinnamon. Set aside.
• After broth is reduced, add lemon juice and gently simmer another 10 minutes. Increase heat to medium and, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, slowly stir in beaten eggs. Cook, stirring, until eggs are set but not dry. Most of the liquid should evaporate. About 8-10 minutes. Add salt if necessary, cool to room temperature.
• When chicken is cool, shred the meat and set aside.
• Preheat oven to 425°F.
• Unroll phyllo. Spray bottom and sides of a 14 inch deep dish pan with butter flavored spray. Arrange 6 sheets phyllo so that half the sheet covers the bottom of the pan and half extends over sides. Spray with butter flavored spray. Fold 4 sheets in half and let them air dry.
• Place shredded chicken on bottom of phyllo in pan. Cover with egg mixture then the 4 dry phyllo sheets. Sprinkle almond/sugar mixture over pastry. Cover with all but 2 remaining pastry leaves. Spraying each with butter flavored spray. Fold the overlapping leaves over the top and spray with butter flavored spray.
• Bake 20 minutes or until golden. Dust top with cinnamon and powdered sugar before serving.

MOHAMED'S BISTEEYA

Steps:

• Put first 10 ingredients (chicken broth, chickens, garlic, salt, cinnamon, parsley, onion, ginger, pepper, butter) in a large pot.
• Bring to a boil, cover, lower heat, and simmer for 1.5 hours.
• Remove chicken from cooking liquid and shred meat into bite-sized pieces. Set aside.
• Strain liquid and cook down until it has reduced to 2 cups. Add lemon juice and simmer about 5 minutes. Slowly add beaten eggs and stir constantly with a wooden spoon until the eggs have congealed into a thick curd and most of the liquid has evaporated. This takes about 10 minutes. Cool.
• Heat 2 tbs. of butter in a skillet and saute almonds. When you can smell them and they are lightly browned, drain on paper towels, chop, and combine with powdered sugar and cinnamon.
• One hour before eating, preheat oven to 400°F.
• Unroll the phyllo and put the leaves under a damp towel to keep them moist while you are working. Brush the bottom of a pizza pan, paella pan, or very large cake pan with the melted butter. Layer the bottom of the pan with leaves of phyllo until the entire surface is covered and the phyllo extends about 2 inches outside the pan in all directions. Brush the top of the phyllo with butter.
• Top with half of the nut mixture, cover lightly with more phyllo, and brush with butter. Add half the chicken, covering with more phyllo and brushing with butter. Cover with half of the egg mixture, add another layer of phyllo, and brush with butter. Add remaining chicken and a couple more leaves of phyllo brushed with butter, and sprinkle the remaining almond mixture over the top. Cover with all but 3 of the remaining leaves of phyllo, again brushing with butter. Fold the edges of the bisteeya in over the top to make a neat package. Put the remaining leaves of phyllo on top and pour most of the remaining butter over them.
• Bake for 20 or 25 minutes until top leaves are golden. Remove pan from oven, carefully invert onto a large buttered baking sheet, brush with the remaining butter, and bake 10 minutes more.
• Dust with powdered sugar and cinnamon.

CASABLANCA BISTEEYA BURGERS

Steps:

• Prepare a medium-hot fire in a charcoal grill with a cover, or preheat a gas grill to medium-high.
• For the mayonnaise:
• Combine the ingredients in a small bowl. Refrigerate until serving.
• For the patties:
• Combine the turkey and eggs in a large bowl. Add the almonds, ginger, cinnamon, garlic, salt and pepper. Combine, mixing gently so that the meat does not get compacted. Divide into 6 equal portions and gently shape into patties that equal the size of the rolls. Refrigerate until grilling.
• For the onions:
• Heat the butter in a medium-sized fire-proof skillet on the grill. Once the foam subsides, add the onions, saffron and salt. Sprinkle with the sugar and saute until golden brown, 5 to 8 minutes. Cover and set aside.
• When the grill is ready, brush the grill rack with oil. Place the patties on the rack, cover, and grill approximately 4 minutes, until golden brown on the bottom. Turn the patties gently and grill an additional 4 minutes, or until the meat reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer. Remove from the grill and let rest tented with foil, about 3 minutes.
• While the patties rest, place the rolls, cut side down, on the grill and toast lightly, about 2 minutes.
• To assemble the burgers:
• Thinly spread the roll tops and bottoms with the mayonnaise, place the patties on top of the roll bottoms, and top the patties with equal portions of the onions. Add the roll tops and serve.

BISTEEYA - MORROCAN CHICKEN PIE

Steps:

• Melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in a large skillet. Add the onions and cook for 5 minutes, or until transluscent. Scrape the onions onto a plate and set aside. Season the chicken with salt and pepper, then add the chicken to the pan, skin side down. Brown on both sides, about 10-12 minutes.
• Add the onions back to the pan, along with the garlic, ginger, turmeric and saffron. Saute for about a minute. then add the chicken broth. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes, or till the chicken is cooked through. Remove chicken from the pan and let cool.
• Preheat oven to 350F. Grease a 12 inch pizza pan
• While chicken cools, reduce the cooking liquid by half, over medium heat. Whisk the eggs in a small bowl, then pour the eggs in a steady stream into the warm liquid, stirring constantly. Keep stirring until the reach the consistency of soft scrambled eggs, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat and transfer the eggs to a bowl.
• When chicken is cool enough to handle, remove the skin and bones, and shred the chicken. Add to the bowl with the eggs.
• Place the almonds in a spice grinder or small food processor with the powdered sugar and cinnamon. Process until until they resemble coarse crumbs. Don't let it turn into a paste. Add the almond mixture to the chicken mixture. Add the orange flower water, lemon zest, parsley and cilantro. Taste and adjust salt & pepper if needed.
• Melt the remaining butter. Open the package of filo and drape a damp kitchen towel over it to keep it from drying out while you work. Place a sheet of filo on the pizza tray and brush with melted butter. Place another sheet on top in a pinwheel effect, and brush with butter. Continue layering and buttering until you have used 8 sheets. Place the chicken mixture on top. Fold the overlapping filo up over the top of the filling.
• Place a sheet of filo over the top and brush with butter. Continue to layer and butter in the same pinwheel manner as the bottom crust until you have used 8 sheets. Tuck the overhanging edges over and under the sides to make a nice neat packet. Brush the top liberally with butter.
• Bake the Basteeya for 35-45 minutes until cooked through and golden. Right before serving, dust liberally with additional powdered sugar mixed with a generous pinch of cinnamon.