B’stilla or spiced chicken parcels is a Moroccan recipe that makes delicious snacks or appetizers. If you are wondering what ras el hanout is, it is a Moroccan spice mix which includes cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, coriander, cumin, ground chili peppers, turmeric, nutmeg and peppercorn. Just in case you cannot find the prepared spice, perhaps you can make your own or  substitute it with other spice mixes like mandy spice or baharat.

 

Serves 6-8

Ingredients:

1 tablespoons olive oil

130g unsalted butter

1 small onion, finely chopped

1 chicken breast fillet, roughly chopped

2 teaspoon ras el hanout spice

50ml white wine

1/2 cup chicken stock

1 hard-boiled egg, peeled and chopped

1 tablespoon chopped coriander

1 tablespoon chopped parsley

16 sheets filo pastry

2 tablespoons toasted almonds, chopped

2 tablespoons almond, flaked or sliced

 

Preheat the oven at 200C and lightly grease a baking tray with melted butter or oil.

Heat the oil and half a tablespoon of butter in a medium sized frying pan over medium heat. Sauté the onions for 2 minutes until they are light brown.  Add the ras el hanout spice and cook it for another minute until it is fragrant.

Fry the chicken for -23 minutes until the edges are light brown. Pour in the wine and the chicken stock. Increase the heat to high and bring it to a boil. After, reduce the heat to low and let it simmer for another 5-8 minutes or until the flavors are absorbed by the chicken and the liquid evaporates.

Combine the egg, coriander and parsley in a food processor or blender. Process it for 2 seconds until almost smooth. Set aside.

Melt the remaining butter in a small saucepan or microwave it for 30 seconds. Get a piece of filo pastry and spoon some chicken, egg mixture and chopped almonds at the center of the pastry. Fold the filo to enclose the filling. Make sure that it is wrapped well and the edges are secure. Brush the pastry with melted butter and sprinkle it with flaked almonds. Repeat this for the remaining ingredients. Place the b’stilla on the greased baking tray and then bake it for 12-15 minutes until the parcels are golden brown. Remove from oven and let it stand for 3 minutes. Transfer them to a serving plate or individual plates. Sprinkle it with confectioners’ sugar before serving. Serve warm.

 

Photo Courtesy Of:  scaredy_kat