Bastilla

Recipe taken from Moroccan Modern by Hassan M'Souli
I have included the recipe as given in the book with my alterations in parenthesis.

Ingredients

Chicken
3 lb whole chicken (in the future I would just use chicken breast to save time)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 brown onion, diced (yellow)
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 tablespoon grated ginger
1 teaspoon saffron threads (1/2 teaspoon turmeric)
2 bay leaves
1 preserved Lemon (some lemon juice)
3 cups water (I used only two)
salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Creamy eggs
6 eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 bunch cilantro, chopped
1/2 cup orange blossom water (watered down orange juice)

Glazed onion
1/2 orange blossom water
1 brown onion, halved and finely sliced
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1 cup toasted flaked almonds
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

7 tablespoons butter (I used only 3 or 4)
1 tablespoon orange blossom water
Filo pastry
2 tablespoons confectioners sugar, to dust
2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
orange segments and strawberries, to garnish

Cut the chicken into quarters. Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan, add the onion, garlic, and ginger, fry for a minute then add the saffron, bay leaves and lemon. Fry for about 3 minutes, until softened slightly.

Add the chicken and cover with water. Season with salt and pepper and simmer for about 20 minutes, until coked. Remove the chicken from the pan. Allow to cool, then pull the meat off the bones and slice it into strips.

Boil the sauce until reduced by half. Take out half and reserve for later.

To make the creamy eggs, add the eggs, cilantro, salt and orange water to the remaining sauce in the saucepan. Stir over low heat until creamy, taking care not to over cook. Remove from heat and set aside.

For the glazed onion, place the reserved sauce and the orange blossom water into a frying pan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes, until reduced further. Add the onion, confectioners' sugar, and cinnamon and simmer for 20 minutes. Add the almonds, stir through, and set aside.

Preheat over to 350. Melt the butter and combine with orange juice. Brush two trays with some of the orange butter. Layer 9 sheets of filo pastry in a fan pattern covering the tray and overhanging the sides. Fold another sheet in half and place in the center. Spoon on the glazed onion mixture, fold over 3 sheets of the overhanging filo to cover, place another folded sheet in the center and brush with orange butter.

Spoon on the creamy eggs to make another layer. Fold over 3 more sheets of overhanging filo, place another folded sheet in the center and brush with orange butter.

Add the chicken to make another layer and cover with folded remaining filo sheets. Fold over remaining 3 sheets of overhanging filo and brush with orange butter.

Bake in the oven until the pastry has browned on the top. Turn on the other tray, brush with orange butter and cook to brown the underside. ( I did not do this because mine was not flat more dome-ish. It seemed to brown fine on the bottom.)

Transfer to a serving tray and duct with sugar and cinnamon and garnish with orange and strawberry segments.

Moroccan Chicken with Tomatoes and Potatoes

1 pkg chicken (3 or 4 boneless breasts or a selection of bone-in breasts and/or thighs)
3-4 baking potatoes, peeled and cubed (I didn't peel)
1 can diced tomatoes (or 2-3 large fresh tomatoes)
3-5 carrots diced
1 large onion quartered
1-2 cloves garlic diced
1/2-1 red bell pepper diced (I used green)
1 cup peas
1/4 cup olive oil
parsley (1/4 cup fresh or 2 tbs. dried)
1 1/2 tsp. paprikaa
few pinches of saffron, if you've got it
salt and pepper to taste

In a large pot, heat oil and sauté onion and garlic. Add chicken, tomatoes, red pepper, parsley, paprika, saffron, and 1/2 cup water. Cover and cook about an hour (until chicken is thoroughly cooked and just beginning to shred when handled much), stirring occasionally.

Add water as necessary to keep mixture wet and saucy (maybe 2 cups total by the end of the process). Add potatoes, carrots/parsnips, and peas and cook for another 20-30 minutes, or until potatoes and carrots are completely cooked. Salt and pepper as you like.


Now, if you want to eat in authentic Moroccan style, dish onto a large plate and serve with lots of bread (something crusty like French works well).
Using the bread as the only untensil, everyone eats out of their section of the plate (using the right hand only). Wow, a culture where playing in your food is the norm!

Ok there is all is....hope you enjoy. Looking forward to next months challenge!!!
Angie

Rose Petal Ice Cream

1 3/4 hours freeze time - about 1 hour prep time

Ingredients:

• rose petal, from 3 fragrant roses (organic)
• 1/2 cup milk (whole is best, but any works!)
• 3 1/2 cups heavy cream
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 6 egg yolks
• 1/4 cup rose water
• rose oil essence to taste

1. Wash the rose petals in cold water and pat dry. Trim off the white base of the roses (it is really bitter). In a heavy (non-reactive) saucepan, place petals of 2 roses, the rose water, milk, cream, and 1/2 cup of the sugar. Place over medium heat and bring mixture to just under boiling. Let the mixture steep for about 1/2 hour to infuse the flavor out of the roses.

2. Combine the egg yolks and the remaining 1/2 cup of sugar in a mixing bowl. Whisk until it becomes think and a pale yellow color (this usually takes too much muscle for me - so I use a hand mixer). Bring the rose/cream mixture back to a near boil and whisk 1/4 of the warm mixture into the egg and sugar mixture to temper (I usually add an additional 1/4 cup to really make sure the eggs won't scramble). Then, pour all of the egg mixture into the rose milk and place over low heat. Cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.

3. Strain the mixture into a bowl and chill on ice or in the refrigerator. Pour into the ice cream maker and freeze.

4. Just before serving, add the remaining petals (tear them into smaller pieces) to the ice cream and fold together.

Voila! Rose Petal Ice Cream!

Moroccan Chicken Kebabs (Brochette)

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 lbs. chicken or turkey breast, cut into 3/4" cubes
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 2 teaspoons paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed saffron threads (optional) - I used tumeric.
• 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
• 1 or 2 cloves garlic, pressed or finely chopped
• 3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsely
• 1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil

Preparation:

Combine all ingredients except the chicken. Add the chicken, and mix well to fully coat the meat. Cover with plastic, and leave the chicken to marinate for several hours or overnight in the refrigerator.

Transfer the chicken to skewers and grill or broil about 4 or 5 minutes on each side, or until the meat is done. Serve immediately.

Yields 8 to 10 large skewers.

Morocco: Side Dish: 7 Veggie Couscous with Harissa paste

For the couscous:

• 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 large leeks (white and pale green parts only), minced
• 4 large garlic cloves, chopped
• 2 1/4 cups chicken stock or canned broth
• 1 cup raisins
• 1 cup 1/2-inch cubes peeled butternut squash
• 1 large yellow crookneck squash, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
• 1 large zucchini, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
• 3/4 cup frozen baby lima beans, thawed
• 1 teaspoon turmeric
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• Pinch (generous) of cayenne pepper
• 1 cup diced seeded plum tomatoes
• 3/4 cup frozen peas, thawed
• 1/2 cup coarsely chopped fresh cilantro
• 1 1/2 cups (about 10 ounces) couscous
• optional lemon wedges for garnish
  

For the harissa paste:

• 1/4 cup tomato paste
• 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper
• 3/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 cup olive oil
• 1/2 cup red wine vinegar
• 6 green onions, chopped
• 1 small red onion, chopped
• 2 large garlic cloves, minced

Preparation

To make the couscous:
Heat oil in heavy large Dutch oven over low heat. Add leeks and garlic. Cover and cook until leeks are very tender but not brown, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes. Add stock and next 8 ingredients. Season with salt and pepper. Increase heat and bring mixture to boil. Cover, reduce heat to medium and simmer until vegetables are crisp-tender, about 5 minutes. Mix in tomatoes, peas, cilantro, then couscous. Remove from heat. Cover and let stand 10 minutes.

Fluff couscous with fork. Transfer to large platter. Garnish with lemon wedges. Serve, passing Chunky Onion Harissa separately.

To make the harissa
Combine tomato paste, crushed red pepper and cayenne pepper in bowl. Gradually whisk in oil. Whisk in vinegar. Mix in onions and garlic. Season generously with salt and pepper. (Can be prepared 8 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature. Stir harissa well before using.)

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