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Freshly baked pie with lattice crust and powdered sugar

Moroccan chicken pie with almonds and cinnamon

Bastilla

Bastilla

1h 25mHard

Prep Time

45 min

Cook Time

40 min

Total Time

1 hr 25 min

Servings

8

1 pie (10-inch)

Difficulty

Advanced

Cost

Moderate

$$

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Bastilla

Moroccan chicken pie with almonds and cinnamon

A stunning Moroccan pastry of shredded spiced chicken, eggs, and toasted almonds wrapped in crispy warqa pastry and dusted with powdered sugar and cinnamon. Sweet meets savory perfection.

45m

Prep Time

40m

Cook Time

85m

Total Time

8

Servings

Hard

Difficulty

Moderate $$

Cost

Mediterranean CuisineMain Course
Sarah Chen
Sarah Chen

April 28, 2023(Updated April 13, 2026)

Bastilla (or pastilla) is the crown jewel of Moroccan cuisine—layers of flaky pastry enclosing a fragrant filling of spiced chicken, custard-like eggs, and crunchy almonds. It's unlike anything else.

Why This Recipe Works

The contrast of sweet powdered sugar, savory spiced chicken, and crunchy almonds creates a multi-sensory experience. Layering the filling in stages ensures every slice has all the components.

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs bone-in chicken thighs
  • 8 sheets phyllo dough (or warqa)
  • 1 cup blanched almonds, toasted and ground
  • 6 eggs, beaten
  • 1 tsp each: cinnamon, ginger, saffron, and turmeric
  • Powdered sugar and cinnamon for dusting
OvenBake

Test Kitchen Pick

Sheet Pan

Helpful Tool

Why a good sheet pan helps here

The pan is doing more work here than it looks like. A sturdy, evenly heating sheet pan gives you better browning and fewer hot spots.

This recipe benefits from more even oven contact and easier cleanup.

  • Promotes more even browning
  • Useful across weeknight roasts and baking

A heavy rimmed sheet pan is one of the highest-use tools in almost any kitchen.

Shop sheet pan options for this recipe

Instructions

  1. 1

    Simmer chicken with onion, spices, and 1 cup water for 30 minutes. Remove chicken, shred meat, and reduce the broth.

  2. 2

    Pour beaten eggs into the reduced broth, stirring to create a soft, creamy scramble. Set aside.

  3. 3

    Mix ground almonds with 2 tbsp sugar and 1 tsp cinnamon.

  4. 4

    Layer phyllo in a buttered round pan, fill with egg mixture, then chicken, then almond mixture. Fold phyllo over and brush with butter.

  5. 5

    Bake at 375°F for 25-30 minutes until golden. Flip onto a plate and dust generously with powdered sugar and cinnamon lattice.

Serving Suggestions

Ways to Serve This Dish

  • Serve with crusty artisan bread for dipping

  • Finish with a drizzle of high-quality extra virgin olive oil

  • Pair with a simple arugula salad dressed in lemon vinaigrette

Substitutions

Warqa pastryPhyllo dough

The most widely available substitute

Bone-in chickenRotisserie chicken (shredded)

Saves time while keeping good flavor

DepthPantry

Test Kitchen Pick

Olive Oil

Helpful Pantry Staple

Why the olive oil matters

On recipes like this, olive oil is not just a background fat. A better bottle gives you cleaner flavor and a better finish.

This is one of the few pantry upgrades that keeps paying off every time you cook in this lane.

  • Useful in dressings, sauces, and finishing
  • Improves flavor without changing the recipe structure

A good bottle of olive oil is one of the safest pantry upgrades for Mediterranean and Italian cooking.

Shop olive oil for this recipe

Tips & Storage

Pro Tips

  • Keep phyllo covered with a damp towel while working to prevent drying.

  • The powdered sugar and cinnamon dusting is essential—don't skip it.

Storage

Best served immediately. Refrigerate leftovers for 2 days.

Reheating

Reheat in a 350°F oven for 15 minutes to re-crisp the pastry.

Nutrition Facts

Per serving (220mg) · 8 servings

Calories380
LowModerateHigh

A moderate-calorie serving · based on a 2,000 cal daily diet

Protein26g
Carbohydrates20g
Fat22g
Fiber440mg
Sugar2g
Sodium6g

Nutritional values are approximate and may vary based on specific ingredients and preparation methods.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use puff pastry?
Phyllo is closer to traditional warqa. Puff pastry would be too thick and buttery.
Is it supposed to be sweet?
Yes, the sweet-savory contrast is what makes bastilla unique and extraordinary.

Explore More

More Mediterranean RecipesMore Main CourseStovetop RecipesOven Recipes
Sarah Chen

About Sarah Chen

Sarah Chen is a professional recipe developer and food editor with over a decade of experience in test kitchens and food media. She trained at the Culinary Institute of America before spending six years developing and testing recipes for national food publications, where she honed her ability to translate restaurant techniques into approachable home cooking. At RecipePool, Sarah leads recipe development, ensuring every dish is tested at least three times for clarity, accuracy, and genuine deliciousness. When she is not in the kitchen, she is browsing farmers markets and collecting vintage cookbooks.

View all recipes →

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