Moroccan Turkey Phyllo Pie Recipes

SAVOURY MOROCCAN PIE

Steps:

• About 2 hours before starting, remove the phyllo from the freezer but keep tightly covered.
• Salt and pepper the chicken.
• Brown in its own juices in a heavy skillet.
• Remove to a plate.
• Add the onions and parsley to the skillet.
• Sauté in 2 tbsp vegetable oil or margarine until golden, stirring frequently.
• Return chicken to the skillet and add coriander, turmeric, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, ginger, saffron in water, allspice, and 2 cups water or more if you think it is needed.
• Bring to a slow boil.
• Cover and simmer about 45 minutes, or until the chicken is done.
• Meanwhile, sauté the almonds in 4 tbsp oil until brown.
• Remove to dry on paper towels.
• When cool and dry, chop coarsely and combine with the sugar and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon.
• If you are going to cook the pastilla immediately, preheat oven to 375°F.
• When chicken is done, remove from pot and let cool.
• If you wish, skim off some of the fat from the sauce and leave sauce over small flame to reduce the stock to about 1 1/2 cups.
• When the chicken is cool, debone it and, using your fingers, break it into small chunks, about 1/4 inch each.
• Place on a plate.
• When the sauce is reduced, slowly add the beaten eggs and stir for a minute or two until eggs become custard like.
• Do not let the sauce become too dry.
• You can assemble the pie several ways, using either a round quiche pan or a 9x13-inch dish.
• Brush oil on the bottom of either pan you use.
• For the rectangular method, place 1 phyllo sheet in the pan and brush with oil.
• Repeat with 5 more sheets.
• Over them, spread 1/2 the nuts, 1/2 the egg mixture, all the chicken the remaining egg mixture, and the remaining nuts.
• Cover with 5-6 sheets of phyllo, again brushing with oil each time.
• Fold over any loose ends and brush the tops with oil.
• Take a last leaf of phyllo, fold under so that it neatly covers the pie, and brush with oil. (You can also layer the phyllo between the different foods).
• For the circular method, place one sheet of phyllo in the middle of the quiche pan.
• Brush with oil and then repeat with 5 more phyllo sheets, moving the pan a bit so that the phyllo fans the entire pan.
• Fold 2 pieces of phyllo and place in center.
• In a circle 9 inches in diameter, sprinkle 1/2 the almonds on top, then 1/2 the egg mixture, all the chicken, the remaining egg mixture and finally the remaining almonds.
• Cover with the extended edges of the 6 phyllo sheets, brushing the edges first.
• Seal down, then place 2 more sheets of phyllo on top.
• Fold over and seal underneath, so that an enclosed circular crust is formed.
• Bake the pie 30-45 minutes, until top is evenly browned.
• When ready to serve, sprinkle the top with confectioners' sugar and cinnamon, almonds, or both, in crisscross fashion over the entire pastilla.
• If preparing in advance, make up the pie, then layer with aluminum foil and freeze.
• Remove a few hours before cooking and cook as normal.
• You may need to bake it a bit longer.

TURKEY B'STILLA

Steps:

• Make almond sugar:
• In a food processor finely grind together almonds, sugar, and cinnamon.
• Make filling:
• Mince garlic. Chop cilantro and mint. Chop enough onion to measure 1 1/2 cups.
• In a large saucepan bring broth to a boil and remove pan from heat. Stir in saffron and steep 10 minutes. Add turkey and simmer mixture, stirring and breaking up lumps, 2 minutes, or until meat is just cooked through. In a large sieve set over a bowl drain turkey mixture and return drained cooking liquid to pan. Transfer turkey mixture to a large bowl. Boil cooking liquid until reduced to about 3/4 cup, about 10 minutes. Transfer 1/4 cup liquid to a small bowl and reserve. Reduce heat to moderate and add whites in a stream to liquid remaining in pan, whisking. Cook mixture, whisking, until whites are opaque, about 2 minutes. Add egg mixture to turkey mixture and stir until combined. In a non-stick skillet heat oil over moderate heat until hot but not smoking and cook onion, stirring, until golden. Add ras el hanout, flour, gingerroot, and garlic and cook, stirring constantly, 1 minute. Add reserved cooking liquid and boil, stirring and scraping up brown bits, 1 minute. Add mixture to turkey with raisins, lemon juice, cilantro, and mint, stirring until combined well. Cool filling completely. Filling may be made 1 day ahead and chilled, covered.
• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Stack phyllo sheets on a work surface and cover stack with overlapping sheets of plastic wrap and then a dampened kitchen towel. Working quickly (phyllo dries out easily), arrange 1 phyllo sheet in a 9-inch glass pie plate, letting edges hang over. Sprinkle bottom with 2 teaspoons almond sugar and 1 tablespoon bread crumbs. Repeat layering 2 more times, arranging each phyllo sheet in a different position to create an even overhang all around. Top with remaining phyllo sheet and spoon filling evenly into shell. Sprinkle filling with 2 teaspoons almond sugar and carefully fold overhanging phyllo over top of filling to enclose it completely (phyllo will be very brittle; don't worry if it breaks). Sprinkle remaining almond sugar over top. Bake pie in lower third of oven 25 minutes (top will be golden brown in places).
• Dust pie with confectioners' sugar and cinnamon and serve immediately.

MOROCCAN CHICKEN PIE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375ºF.
• Heat 1 tablespoons oil in large skillet on medium heat. Add onions; cook and stir 5 minute or until crisp-tender. Stir in turmeric; cook 1 minute Transfer to large bowl.
• Add remaining oil and the chicken to skillet; cook 5 to 8 minute or until chicken is evenly browned, turning occasionally. Brown in batches if your pan is not large enough to hold all chicken. Remove from skillet; add to onions.
• Add nuts, raisins, parsley and cinnamon to chicken/onion mix; mix lightly.
• Whisk eggs and sour cream until well blended.
• Spray 9-inch springform pan and 8 phyllo sheets with cooking spray.
• Stack 4 phyllo sheets; place in prepared pan, extending edges of sheets up side of pan. Repeat to make second phyllo stack; place crosswise over first stack, extending edges of phyllo over top edge of pan.
• Fill phyllo crust with chicken mixture, then egg mixture. Spray remaining 4 phyllo sheets with cooking spray; cut in half. Place over egg mixture to completely cover egg mixture. Fold excess phyllo over pie. Spray with additional cooking spray.
• Bake 50 to 55 minute or until golden brown. Cool 15 minute.