North African · Morocco
Bastilla: The Sweet-Savoury Pastry Tradition
A pie made from thin warqa pastry (similar to phyllo) layered with three fillings: spiced braised poultry, scrambled egg enriched with the braising liquid, and toasted almonds with sugar and cinnamon. The assembly requires working quickly with warqa, which dries and cracks rapidly. The finished pie is baked, then dusted with a pattern of cinnamon and powdered sugar.
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Nine not yet within reach.
How the 9 are reached
- Not yet within reach
- 9 · squab (450g each), coriander seeds, black peppercorns, bay leaves, shelled almonds, shelled pistachios, fresh coriander, ground ginger, phyllo sheets
I
The Market List
The benchmark for each ingredient, and who stocks it near you. Tap a stockist to go straight to the product.
2
squab (450g each)
plucked and cleaned
Origin · FranceNot yet within reach of Gibsons · each reach is counted
200g
onion
sliced
Your own market
100g
carrot
cut into chunks
Your own market
50g
celery
cut into chunks
Your own market
6
coriander seeds
Not yet within reach of Gibsons · each reach is counted
6
black peppercorns
Origin · Kampot pepper, Cambodia — protected geographical indicationNot yet within reach of Gibsons · each reach is counted
2
bay leaves
Not yet within reach of Gibsons · each reach is counted
1
cinnamon stick
Your own market
100g
smen (preserved butter) or clarified butter
Your own market
200g
onions
sliced thin
Your own market
60g
shelled almonds
blanched and split
Not yet within reach of Gibsons · each reach is counted
60g
shelled pistachios
Not yet within reach of Gibsons · each reach is counted
15g
fresh coriander
chopped
Not yet within reach of Gibsons · each reach is counted
15g
fresh parsley
chopped
Your own market
4g
ground cinnamon
Your own market
4g
ground ginger
Origin · New ZealandNot yet within reach of Gibsons · each reach is counted
2
egg yolks
Your own market
100ml
reserved poaching liquid
Your own market
150g
phyllo sheets
Not yet within reach of Gibsons · each reach is counted
60g
melted butter
Your own market
20g
powdered sugar
Your own market
3g
ground cinnamon
for garnish
Your own market
Within reach counts in town, delivered, shipped and the nearest city. A staple counts once it has a local seller. Charted from each shop's own pages; not yet vouched by a cook who shops here.
The larder of Gibsons →II
The Method
1
Poach squab with carrot, celery, onion, coriander seeds, peppercorns, bay leaves, and cinnamon stick in salted water for 35 minutes; cool in liquid, then shred meat finely; reserve 100ml poaching liquid.
2
Heat smen in heavy pot; sauté sliced onions until golden and caramelized, 15 minutes; add almonds and pistachios, toast 2 minutes.
3
Fold in shredded squab, fresh herbs, ground cinnamon, and ginger; season with salt and white pepper.
4
Whisk egg yolks with reserved poaching liquid; fold into filling off heat until cohesive.
5
Layer 4 phyllo sheets, brushing each with melted butter; spread quarter of filling across lower third, fold edges inward, then roll into tight cylinder.
6
Arrange seam-side down on buttered sheet tray; repeat with remaining phyllo and filling to create 4 rolls.
7
Brush tops generously with remaining butter; bake at 190°C until deep golden, 25–28 minutes.
8
Dust with powdered sugar and ground cinnamon; serve warm.
III
Sensory Tests
◇Where it lives or dies. Traditional bastilla uses pigeon; chicken thighs are the contemporary substitute (and are more practical for home cooking without loss of character)
For the most authentic flavour: steep a pinch of saffron in 2 tablespoons of warm water and add to the braising liquid — the saffron aroma permeates the filling
The traditional Moroccan sequence: bastilla is the first course at a wedding banquet, followed by a tagine, followed by couscous — it is an opener, not the main
Pillar IV
Cross-cuisine parallels are part of membership.
The dishes this one teaches you, across the cuisines — on every recipe.
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V
What to Pour
The pairing
Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Buffalo Trace Distillery · Kentucky Bourbon Country
Not yet stocked in New South Wales
Whisky
From New South Wales
Nothing from New South Wales holds against this yet.
Without alcohol
No pour without alcohol holds against this yet.
Why each one works is part of membership — Enter · from $49 a year →
The whole pairingPillar VI
Origin and lineage are part of membership.
Where the dish comes from and how it came to be — on every recipe.
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The working kitchen