Friday, January 28, 2011

French Fridays with Dorie- Chicken B'stilla


 This week's selection for French Fridays with Dorie is chicken b'stilla (or pastilla, as it's sometimes written). A Moroccan dish, it's savory, sweet and full of exotic flavors. Traditionally made with pigeon, Dorie's version is full of chicken, onions, garlic and spices- ginger, cinnamon, coriander and saffron. Honey and a sprinkling of cinnamon sugar give it a slightly sweet edge, and sliced almonds give it a wonderful toothsome texture.

 Dorie says that it's meant to be eaten with your hands at the start of a multi-course meal, but it's hearty and delicious enough to be served as a main course, especially if paired with a nice fruity salad. I had  a bit of trouble with the filo dough- my crust didn't turn out as flaky as I had hoped it would be- but it was still crispy with the cinnamon sugar on top. To see how others prepared this dish, visit this week's  "FFwD Leave Your Link" page and have a wonderful weekend!

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46 comments:

  1. AnonymousJanuary 28, 2011 at 10:36 PM

    Your b'stilla looks like it came right out of a cookbook! My family enjoyed the b'stilla and I'll be making it again. :)

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  2. ElisabethJanuary 28, 2011 at 10:39 PM

    You did an amazing job on the chicken b'stilla. It's quite a challenge to be making these recipes that call for something so diffferent each week.
    Well, done...looks so delicious!

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  3. susanJanuary 28, 2011 at 11:31 PM

    beautiful! wasn't it delicious?

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  4. MonetJanuary 29, 2011 at 12:06 AM

    Wow! This looks like an amazing dish. I've never heard of b'stilla before, but now I'm eager to try and make it! Thank you for sharing your dish with me. I hope you have a happy Saturday. Hugs and love!

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  5. cocoa and coconut January 29, 2011 at 12:58 AM

    This is such a unique and delicious-looking meal. It's something I'd order when eating out.

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  6. CakelawJanuary 29, 2011 at 3:31 AM

    Your b'stilla looks great! I agree that the almonds gave it a nice crunch.

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  7. AnonymousJanuary 29, 2011 at 4:03 AM

    Now that you mention it, I'm not sure how this dish could've been eaten with my hands! Lol. Your dish looks wonderful!

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  8. Sharon @ Fun and LifeJanuary 29, 2011 at 5:21 AM

    This looks wonderful! I love onions, garlic and ginger so any recipe with all three ingredients is simply calling my name! Sounds delicious, making me drool!

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  9. Treat and TrickJanuary 29, 2011 at 6:18 AM

    This sounds yummy and you've done it perfectly!

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  10. BarbaraJanuary 29, 2011 at 7:08 AM

    I'm looking this recipe up ASAP! Your b'stilla looks delish. I've had good luck with filo and I find the combo of savory and sweet interesting. But how could you eat it without a fork? Maybe smaller pieces?

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  11. Lynne DaleyJanuary 29, 2011 at 7:59 AM

    Great styling of your b'stilla! The fruit salad sounds great with it!

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  12. KayteJanuary 29, 2011 at 8:07 AM

    Oh, this looks so lovely and so elegant. You have transformed rustic into elegance...very fun to see that option. That dough gave me fits, but yours looks wonderful!

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  13. kitchen flavoursJanuary 29, 2011 at 8:28 AM

    Looks delicious! I've just popped over from Life Is Full, looks like the Filo dough is something that has got to get used to, and I have not use mine yet, still in the freezer! Looks like I've got to do a bit of 'research' before using them! ^..^

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  14. marlaJanuary 29, 2011 at 10:01 AM

    My friend Susan over at the Urban Baker just posted this beautiful chicken recipe too. Looks hearty & amazing!

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  15. ElaineJanuary 29, 2011 at 11:44 AM

    I had a time with the phyllo too, but yours looks beautiful! I love that you can see the layers,

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  16. Cher RockwellJanuary 29, 2011 at 12:21 PM

    Very nice - it doesn't look like you phailed with the phyllo!

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  17. RitaJanuary 29, 2011 at 12:47 PM

    I am so impressed;I've been looking at this recipe; yours turned out beautiful and must be full of good flavour.

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  18. From the KitchenJanuary 29, 2011 at 5:37 PM

    Have I mentioned that I'm "babysitting" Dorie's new book while my friend is in Florida for a few months? I'm so excited about trying some new recipes and know I'll have to have my own copy. Your dish looks delicious--no one would even guess that the phyllo is less than phantastic (sorry, couldn't resist). I wonder if one could substitute woodchuck for the chicken!!!!!

    Best,
    Bonnie

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  19. My Farmhouse KitchenJanuary 29, 2011 at 6:50 PM

    there sure is some good cooking going on over here...looks great, my friend.

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  20. JacquelineJanuary 29, 2011 at 7:00 PM

    OH, this looks so exotic. I must try it. I love such unique things as this, what flavors. Your English muffins are gorgeous too. I have only made them once when I was much younger, now it makes me want to give them a try again. So much better than packaged.

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  21. Mary BergfeldJanuary 29, 2011 at 7:49 PM

    What a gorgeous meal. Yours looks perfect and you did a fabulous job with the challenge. Kudos. I hope you have a wonderful day. Blessings...Mary

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  22. LorraineJanuary 29, 2011 at 8:54 PM

    This sounds wonderful. I have never seen anything like it. Good thing they don't use pigeon anymore..lol

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  23. AnonymousJanuary 29, 2011 at 9:00 PM

    I've never heard of this dish before but I so want to make it now. I love Morrocan food and all the wonderful spices. Sweet and savoury - delicious!

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  24. Cookie SleuthJanuary 29, 2011 at 10:37 PM

    I have never heard of this, but this looks great!

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  25. crustabakesJanuary 30, 2011 at 8:26 AM

    Did u make ur own fillo from scratch? I have never had b'stillas before but ur picture is looking very very scrumptious!

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  26. JoanneJanuary 30, 2011 at 8:36 AM

    I am so intrigued by this dish! A little sweet, a little savory PLUS moroccan flavors? I'm in love.

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  27. mr. pineapple manJanuary 30, 2011 at 10:36 AM

    never tried this before but looks amazing!

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  28. UnknownJanuary 30, 2011 at 12:56 PM

    I have to try this recipe! I like all the flavors and would love this for dinner.
    It looks like your b'stilla came out perfectly and It looks delicious:-)

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  29. FaithJanuary 30, 2011 at 2:49 PM

    This is something I've been wanting to make for so long! Looks like you did an amazing job on it, Betty...I'm inspired now! :)

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  30. JanetJanuary 30, 2011 at 4:28 PM

    Lovely, and thanks for the link to French Food Fridays. As soon as I have a job and my own kitchen again I am going to join. Til then I will live vicariously through you all. :-)

    Jaet

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  31. claireJanuary 30, 2011 at 6:26 PM

    looks amazing! have you been doing french fridays for awhile?

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  32. MiriamJanuary 30, 2011 at 9:53 PM

    If I ate Chicken I'm sure I would love this :). Miriam@Meatless Meals For Meat Eaters

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  33. motherrimmyJanuary 30, 2011 at 10:12 PM

    This is a dish I've never heard of, but the combination of ingredients sounds amazing! Ginger, cinnamon and coriander plus saffron. Your picture looks as delicious as the dish sounds.

    Kristi

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  34. UnknownJanuary 30, 2011 at 10:53 PM

    This looks absolutely amazing!

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  35. Kris' KitchenJanuary 30, 2011 at 10:53 PM

    Great looking b'stilla! These were unusual ingredients for my family, but we loved it, and we loved the leftovers...the flavors just get better. Enjoyed your post!

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  36. chow and chatterJanuary 30, 2011 at 11:06 PM

    wow great pie layers of flavor

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  37. graceJanuary 31, 2011 at 5:09 AM

    pigeon? no thanks--for some reason, that sounds extraordinarily unappealing to me. perhaps it's because they're also known as rats with wings... :)
    glad you went the chicken route and i LOVE the cinnamon sugar on top!

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  38. MimiJanuary 31, 2011 at 12:18 PM

    Your b'stilla is picture perfect. This was not a dish my family was overjoyed with, however they would love your snowball cake. The Hershey Black Magic cake is one of my favorite chocolate cakes.
    Mimi

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  39. Frolicking Night OwlJanuary 31, 2011 at 1:05 PM

    This looks great! And yes, you must try the chocolate mousse cake ... def do it cold!

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  40. Georgia | The Comfort of CookingJanuary 31, 2011 at 1:08 PM

    Oh Betty, what a beautiful dish! This looks absolutely delicious. I love your exotic dishes... they are so eye opening!

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  41. Magic of SpiceJanuary 31, 2011 at 6:45 PM

    Looks like you did a beautiful job to me :)

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  42. FOODESSAJanuary 31, 2011 at 7:29 PM

    I had heard of this dish, however, never really knew of the key ingredients...how interesting. Shall look it up.

    Betty, if your chicken b'stilla turned as tasty as it looks in your photo...you've certainly got a winner on your plate ;o) I would have never guessed about your little flake troubles. LOL

    Ciao for now,
    Claudia

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  43. ZoeJanuary 31, 2011 at 9:39 PM

    Your b'stilla looks so delicious. It has so much spices and flavours, all combine in one dish. sound good to me.

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  44. ♥Sugar♥Plum♥Fairy♥February 1, 2011 at 1:55 AM

    Oh how did i miss this one ??
    I loveeee how u say about the little sweet , savory , and exotic flavors!
    ANd u slice is perfect and inviting!
    Was around on ur blog last night , there are 2 main recipes i wanna make soonnnnn...and i must fit it in!
    Thannxx a ton for v wonderful recipes!

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  45. BakingWithoutaBoxFebruary 1, 2011 at 6:48 PM

    What a great job you did on that dish! I'm afraid I'd get flustered with all the complicated goodness. But that just looks so good. Very happy she used chicken rather than pigeon in her recipe though. Lovely photo by the way!

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  46. Tasty TrixFebruary 2, 2011 at 10:24 AM

    I absolutely hate working with filo but isn't it worth it in the end? Love this dish so much!!

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Thanks for stopping by scrambled hen fruit! I appreciate all of your comments and look forward to reading them.