Hen pastilla is a kind of Moroccan hen pie wrapped in a crispy, flaky crust, with a singular candy and nutty twist. These will change the best way you consider candy and savory!
A journey into Morocco
The previous metropolis of Fez is one in all a form. The shady streets had been constructed so narrowly that no automobile may drive by way of, preserving the previous allies like they’ve been for hundreds of years.
After spending every week in Coastal Casablanca, the Fassi partitions of brownish stone and the homes’ previous picket carvings appear to emerge from a special dimension of time.
Between the alleys, treasures of tradition could be discovered.
Centuries-old Islamic faculties, tea homes, and candy retailers stand in each nook. The latter is the place I bought to strive my first pastilla.
Pastilla and Moroccan candy retailers
Candy retailers in Morocco are colourful and stuffed with historical past. Pastries and confections manufactured from nuts, dates, and (truthfully) a number of sugar dominate the cabinets, with an odor of orange blossom water within the air.
From time to time, as I’m strolling the previous allies, I’ll cease by a candy store for a snack and a glimpse of Moroccan tradition. One time, as I entered, a spherical phyllo pastry, in regards to the measurement of my palm, caught my eye.
“What is that this?” I requested the store proprietor.
“Hen pastilla, actually good”, he replied.
I turned immediately curious. Why? As a result of I had by no means tackled a hen dish with powdered sugar on it. I purchased one piece, together with another confections.
The primary chew caught me unprepared, because the sweetness of the outer layer complimented the savory and nutty filling in a manner that I’d by no means deemed doable. Trying again, I reckon that the cinnamon powder acted because the pivot, making a synergy between the candy and the savory.
What’s hen pastilla manufactured from?
Per week later, after I visited the Culinary Museum of Marrakech, I discovered that hen pastilla is certainly a type of conventional phyllo pastry. It’s made with layers of Warqa (lit. leaf) phyllo-like sheets, wrapping a filling that consists of three layers:
- Shredded hen (or pigeon, which is extra conventional), stewed with spices reminiscent of ginger, saffron (affiliate hyperlink), and cinnamon.
- Eggs, scrambled within the residual sauce of the hen stew.
- Floor almonds, flavored with cinnamon and sugar powder.
How one can make pastilla
To assemble the pastilla, a number of Warqa sheets are layered on one another and unfold with clarified butter between the layers. Then the filling parts are added on prime and wrapped throughout the Warqa.
To seal the pastry and prepare dinner the Warqa, the pastilla is flipped over (seam aspect down) and baked.
It’s finally garnished with powdered sugar and cinnamon, and able to be served.
The dimensions of a pastilla can fluctuate based on the prepare dinner’s desire and the variety of diners. Whereas I had a small, private pastilla in Fez, it may also be ready within the measurement of a big cake, to feed an entire household.
Regional variations of Moroccan pastilla
Varied regional variations of pastilla could be discovered throughout Morocco.
Whereas the Pastilla is comparatively candy in Fez, the Tétouan-syle pastilla is extra on the tangy aspect.
Sephardic Jewish communities in Morocco and the diaspora have additionally been indulging pastilla for generations, however chorus from mixing meat and dairy (on account of Jewish dietary legal guidelines). Therefore, their elements can fluctuate fairly a bit.
Within the coastal areas of Morocco, a seafood pastilla is often made. Shrimp, olives, and vermicelli noodles are used for the filling, making the flavour profile of the dish considerably completely different. However it is a recipe for an additional day.
Substitutions for particular elements in pastilla
Be happy to regulate the sweet-and-savory stability to your liking, in addition to the dimensions of the pastry.
Warqa sheets could be present in North African grocery shops. However in the event you can’t discover them, you possibly can simply substitute them with phyllo sheets.
Flavoring elements reminiscent of gum arabic and orange blossom water (affiliate hyperlinks) could be arduous to seek out, however I’d positively make an effort and stroll that further mile, as they add a singular aroma to the dish and actually make a distinction.
Different flakey pastries
When you like phyllo-style pastries, you’ll want to strive Greek cheese pies, tiropita, and Greek hen pie, kotopita. You’re certain to take pleasure in them!
Prep Time
1 hour
Prepare dinner Time
half-hour
Complete Time
1 hour half-hour
Substances
For the hen filling
- 4 Tbsp olive oil
- 2 onions, chopped
- 1 Tbsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1.5 tsp turmeric powder
- 1 tsp ginger powder
- 1 tsp floor cinnamon
- A pinch saffron, soaked in lukewarm water (non-obligatory)
- 2 Tbsp recent parsley, chopped
- 1 Tbsp recent cilantro, chopped
- 1.5 tsp gum Arabic (non-obligatory)
- 600 g (approx. 1 lb 5 oz) bone-in hen
- 1-2 cups water
For the egg filling
- 1 Tbsp clarified butter
- 4 eggs
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1 Tbsp orange blossom water (non-obligatory)
For the almond filling
- 1 cup entire almonds
- 2 Tbsp clarified butter
- 1 Tbsp orange blossom water
- 1 Tbsp powdered sugar
- 1 tsp floor cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp salt
To assemble the Pastilla
- 9-10 spherical Warqa sheets*, palm sized or a bit bigger (all the time have a number of spare ones in hand, in case you want extra layers of warqa to seal the Pastilla)
- Vegetable oil (to grease the folding floor)
- Clarified butter (to brush the Warqa with)
- Egg white (to shut off the perimeters of the Warqa)
To complete
- Powdered sugar, to garnish
- Cinnamon powder, to garnish
- Toasted almonds, to garnish
Directions
For the hen filling
- Warmth 4 Tbsp of olive oil in a big pan or pot.
Add the chopped onions and stir fry on low warmth till translucent. - Add the salt, black pepper, turmeric powder, ginger powder, and floor cinnamon. Stir.
- Add saffron (if utilizing), parsley, cilantro, and gum Arabic (if utilizing). Stir once more.
- Add the hen and blend to include it with the remainder of the elements. Add a cup of water, cowl with a lid, and simmer for 20 minutes. (Add extra water if wanted.)
- As soon as the hen is cooked by way of, take away it from the pot. Let it cool. (Depart the sauce within the pan.)
- As soon as the hen has cooled to the contact, pull the meat off of the bone, shred it, and set it apart.
For the egg filling
- In the identical pan/pot out of your hen, with the sauce that’s left, warmth a tablespoon of clarified butter.
- Add within the eggs and scramble till cooked.
- Add a pinch of cinnamon powder and orange blossom water (if desired). Put aside.
For the almond filling
- In one other, clear pan, add the entire almonds and toast them over low warmth, till a nutty aroma is launched.
- As soon as toasted, roughly pound or grind the almonds with a mortar, meals processor, or blender.
- Return the almonds to the pan, add the clarified butter, orange blossom water, powdered sugar, floor cinnamon, and salt. Combine to coat the almonds.
- Toast on a low warmth for 1-2 minutes. Take away from the warmth and put aside.
Assembling the Pastilla
- Preheat your oven to 190C°/380F°.
- Oil a clear floor with vegetable oil. That is the place you’ll assemble your dish.
- Brush all of the Warqa sheets with clarified butter. (Ensure that the brushed aspect all the time faces the surface as you assemble the Pastilla.)
- Lay two brushed sheets of Warqa on prime of one another (brushed aspect down).***
- Unfold your fillings within the middle, whereas leaving a number of inches across the edges as a margin. First, unfold the egg filling, then the hen, after which prime it with a layer of the sugared floor almonds.
- Place one other Warqa sheet excessive of the Pastilla (brushed aspect dealing with out).
- Fold two reverse sides of the Warqa sheets in the direction of one another, and seal them by brushing the assembly edges with egg white. Repeat the identical course of with the remaining reverse sides, so the pastry is totally sealed.
- Flip the Pastilla, so the sealed edge is on the backside, and place on a greased baking tray.
- Repeat together with your remaining elements till all sheets and filling have been used.
- Bake in your preheated oven for about half-hour, or till golden brown.
- Take away from the oven and garnish the Pastilla with powdered sugar, floor cinnamon, and toasted almond.
- Take pleasure in!
Notes
*Clarified butter is conventional, nonetheless, un-clarified butter will work simply advantageous.
**Warqa pastry could be substituted with phyllo pastry.
***You can also make your Pastilla as giant or small as you want – palm-sized (or smaller) to serving plate-sized (or bigger). Ensure you begin with two full layers of pastry sheet on the underside, brushed with butter between every layer. And ensure you have sufficient unfilled area across the edges to seal your pastry on the finish of filling.
Really helpful Merchandise
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Diet Info:
Yield:
9
Serving Measurement:
1 of 9 pastilla
Quantity Per Serving:
Energy: 473
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Oz is initially from central Israel, and is presently based mostly in Amsterdam. Alongside being a jazz musician, he’s a devoted foodie and knowledgeable chef. He has traveled the world since 2021, exploring a few of his favorite cuisines reminiscent of Thai, Greek, Moroccan and way more! His favorite approach to journey goes to meals markets and venues, interacting with the native folks and listening to their tales by way of meals. He’s impressed by the unbreakable bond between a tradition and culinary traditions. By travelling and consuming, he enjoys witnessing how meals can affect and be influenced by historical past and cultural trade.
