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Pastilla | Traditional Savory Pie From Morocco, Maghreb | TasteAtlas

Pastilla

(Bastilla, Bisteeya, B’stilla, Bstilla, Besṭila, بسطيلة‎)

Pastilla is a stuffed pastry from Morocco, also known as b'stilla or bastilla. The rich, sweet and savory pie is filled with an unusual mix of pigeon or chicken meat, eggs, almonds, and cinnamon. It is commonly prepared for special events such as holidays, weddings, or parties.


The name stems from the Spanish word for pastry – pastilla. It is a time-consuming dish, but well worth the effort, as the end result is an incredibly flavorful, crispy warqa pastry, concealing savory meat and spices such as saffron, nutmeg, and ginger, topped with fried almonds and a dash of powdered sugar and cinnamon.


Although it is quite sweet on the exterior, this is a main course dish and not a dessert, as it is a plat complet, a dish with everything - the contrasts of savoriness and sweetness working together in unison. For the adventurous, there is also a modern and popular seafood pastilla, filled with fish, calamari, shrimp, and Asian rice noodles.

Pairing tips

Wine Appellation

Vouvray

This French wine region is located in the Loire Valley (Touraine district), and it is known for the production of varietal white wines that are predominantly produced ... Read more

Pastilla Authentic recipe

PREP 45min
COOK 1h 10min
READY IN 1h 55min

The recipe adapted from the website of the Moroccan Tourist Office is for a pastilla made with a filling of pigeons, almonds, and eggs, although pigeons can be substituted with chicken. The method of preparing is greatly simplified and made less time-consuming by the use of phyllo dough instead of the traditional warqa sheets.

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