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Algerian Pastilla Beestiya Recipe

Ingredients

How to make it

  • Method:
  • 1) Cook the chicken in a pot with the onion, garlic, saffron, turmeric, coriander leaf, about 1 tablespoon of salt and 1 cup of water, bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and simmer for about an hour.
  • 2) Remove the chicken, let cool enough to handle. Bone and mince the meat. Taste for seasoning, adjust if necessary.
  • 3) Reduce the liquid the chicken cooked in to about 1 cup. Add lemon juice and gently beaten eggs. Stir constantly until the eggs are cooked. Place the eggs in a sieve to drain excess liquid and fat. Taste for seasoning, adjust if necessary.
  • 4) Add the sugar and rose water to the chopped almonds, mix well.
  • 5) Add two tablespoons of butter to the a 10" frying pan. Place 2 sheets of warka in the center. Place four more warka sheets as shown. Actually two are shown, complete by adding two more on the other side.
  • 6) The first layer of filling is the almonds, spread 1/3 of the mixture into the pan. Add 1 layer of 1/3 of the eggs, then a layer of 1/3 of the chicken. Repeat.
  • 7) Butter the warka sheets with the remaining butter and fold over the warka as shown. It may seem like alot of butter but this dish serves 6-8 people depending on the number of courses.
  • 8) Fry on low heat until golden brown. You can check by inverting the pastilla onto your hand. That's how I transfered it to a slightly larger pan to brown the other side. This should take about 15 minutes on each side, but can vary depending on the thickness of your pan and heat source. Watch it carefully to avoid burning.
  • http://www.chefzadi.com/2005/09/algerian_pastil.html#more
  • Step by step photos in the link. Eventhough I've simplified the cooking method considerably, it is still a moderately difficult dish to prepare. Look at the photos and recipes carefully before beginning.

Reviews & Comments 3

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    " It was excellent "
    deliathecrone ate it and said...
    How hot should the oven be, and how long should I bake it?
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  • farid 16 years ago
    I wrote it in English and French for my website because I have readers in both languages.

    You can substitute filo for warka but you'll have to bake it which is fine.
    Was this review helpful? Yes Flag
  • lisapa 16 years ago
    Clarification for anyone reading the ingredient list--each item is first listed in English, with the original(?) French underneath. I read elsewhere that phyllo can be subbed for warka.
    Was this review helpful? Yes Flag

The Cook

farid Los Angeles, CA

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