Last week, San Franciscans thanked their lucky stars they live in California.  This week, we join Seattlites and Chicagoans with cold, rainy weather so we decided to post a recipe that will help us all warm up and take a break from the cold.  Escape to Morocco without leaving the comfort of your home with our Moroccan Bisteeya Baskets Filled with Chicken, Raisins & Cinnamon Recipe.

Imagine yourself in the Red City as you sink your teeth into these savory & sweet phyllo dough pies with bite-sized servings of juicy chicken, exotically spiced with saffron, turmeric, ginger, cinnamon and cumin.  The blend of spices will whisk you away to the wonderful spice markets in Marrakech.

Ingredients:

Chicken Filling:
2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
1 small onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon saffron threads
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
1 Tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds, toasted and ground
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
2 pounds boneless chicken thighs, shredded in a food processor
3/4 cup golden raisins, chopped
3 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup slivered almonds, lightly toasted and chopped
1/3 cup flat leaf parsley, chopped
1/4 cup cilantro, chopped

Topping:
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 cup powdered sugar

Baskets:
6 sheets of phyllo dough (1/3 pound)
1 sticks unsalted butter, melted

Methods/Steps:
Preheat oven to 375ºF.

Filling: Melt butter in large sauté pan. Add chopped onion. Cook on medium heat until begin to brown, about 5 minutes. Add garlic, saffron, turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, cumin, salt and pepper and cook 1 more minute.  Add chicken and cook over low heat until cooked through, about 5 minutes. Add chopped raisins and then slowly add the beaten eggs, stirring constantly until set, about 2-3 minutes. Mixture looks curdled. Transfer the filling to a bowl to cool. Stir in almonds and the chopped parsley and cilantro.

Topping: Combine cinnamon and powdered sugar. Set aside.

Make Baskets: Place 1 sheet phyllo on dry surface.  Keep remaining dough moist with damp towel. Brush with melted butter. Top with second sheet, brush with butter. Finish with third sheet, brush with butter.  Cut out a 3-inch circle.  Sprinkle circle with the cinnamon sugar topping.  Transfer the circle in a mini muffin tin. Once a muffin tin is full, transfer to the oven and bake for 10 minutes or until golden.  Remove from the oven and fill each cup with chicken filling and return to the oven for 2 more minutes to heat through.

Serve: Sprinkle with more cinnamon topping and garnish with a cilantro sprig and serve while hot.  Makes 30.

Recipe created by Parties That Cook® www.PartiesThatCook.com