Moroccan Seafood Bastilla Recipe
A classic Moroccan seafood pie with shrimp, calamari, fish and Chinese vermicelli stuffing.
- 2 lbs. fresh medium shrimp, in the shell ((or 1 lb. shelled with head and tail removed))
- 1 lb. fresh calamari, (cleaned; cut into rings or strips and tentacles coarsely chopped)
- 1 lb. swordfish (or other firm fish, cut into filet or steak)
- 3 tablespoons butter, (divided)
- salt and pepper
- 2 large ripe tomatoes, (seeded and grated)
- 3 large cloves garlic, (pressed)
- 1 large handful fresh parsley, (finely chopped)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil or vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 6 to 7 oz. Chinese vermicelli ((bean thread or rice vermicelli))
- 1 large handful dry black mushrooms ((wood ear mushrooms))
- 1 tablespoon hot sauce, (or to taste)
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce, (or to taste)
- tomato sauce ((recipe above))
- reserved liquids from cooking the seafood
- 1 lb. warqa pastry sheets,
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, (melted)
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 egg yolk, (lightly beaten)
- 1 cup grated cheese (Edam, Mild Cheddar, Gouda, etc.) (optional)
- 1/2 cup grated cheese (optional)
- cooked shrimp in the shell (optional)
- parsley sprigs (optional)
- If starting with raw shrimp in the shell, allow time for cleaning it. Remove the shell, head, tail, and legs from the shrimp. Deveining the shrimp is optional but I always do it. Wash the cleaned shrimp and drain thoroughly. The cleaned shrimp can be covered and refrigerated for up to a day until needed.
- In a small saucepan or pot, combine the grated tomato, garlic, parsley, oil and salt and pepper. Simmer over medium-low to medium heat until a thick sauce forms, about 15 minutes.
- Remove from the heat and stir in the hot sauce and soy sauce. Set aside.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Melt 1 tablespoon of butter and add the shrimp. Season the shrimp with 1/2 teaspoon each of salt and pepper, and saute for 1 or 2 minutes, just until the shrimp is white and cooked through. Drain and reserve the liquids and set the shrimp aside.
- In the same skillet over medium heat, melt 1 tablespoon of butter and add the swordfish steak. Season generously with salt and pepper and cook, turning several times, until the fish is cooked and flakes easily. Drain and reserve the liquids. Break the fish off the bone into bite-size pieces, discarding any skin, and set aside.
- In a skillet with a lid, melt 1 tablespoon of butter over medium heat. Add the calamari and season with 1/2 teaspoon each of salt and pepper. Cover and braise the calamari in the butter and its own juices for 30 minutes or longer, until the calamari is very tender. Add a tiny bit of water during cooking only if the liquids evaporate before the squid is cooked.When the calamari is cooked, drain and reserve the liquids and set the calamari aside.
- Soak the dried mushrooms in a bowl of cold water for 25 to 30 minutes. Drain and coarsely chop the mushrooms.
- At the same time, soak the Chinese vermicelli in a large bowl of cold water for about 15 to 20 minutes, until tender enough to cut but not fully plumped. Drain and chop into 2" to 3" strands.
- Transfer the chopped rice vermicelli to the pot with the tomato sauce. Add the reserved liquids from cooking the fish and seafood and stir to combine. (I find tongs the easiest to use for this.)
- Simmer gently over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, until the vermicelli is tender and most of the liquids have been absorbed. Remove from the heat.
- Transfer the Chinese vermicelli to a very large bowl. Add the shrimp, calamari, fish and chopped mushrooms. Stir gently to combine.
- Taste for seasoning. The filling should be quite flavorful and zesty, a bit salty and spicy to the tongue. Adjust seasoning with additional soy sauce and/or hot sauce as desired. Note that some versions of seafood bastilla have a lot of heat due to hearty additions of hot sauce. Use your own palate as your guide.
- Working on parchment paper or aluminum foil allows for easy transfer of the bastilla once it's assembled. Overlap sheets of parchment paper or foil to create a large work surface of about 17"x 17".
- Brush the paper or foil with melted butter and then a little vegetable oil. Overlap sheets of warqa pastry, shiny side down, to fully cover this area. Allow the pastry sheets to drape well beyond the edge of your work area.
- Brush the pastry leaves with melted butter and add a single 12" round layer of warqa, shiny side down, to the center. Brush it with melted butter. This center circle serves as your guide and base for the bastilla.
- Place the seafood filling on the circular base, packing and shaping the filling to fit the 12" round. Drizzle melted butter over the filling then top with the grated cheese (if using).
- Gather the excess pastry up and around the filling, enclosing as much of it as you can. Try to maintain a nice circular shape with smooth sides. Trim excess folds of dough that create unwanted bulk. Brush the folded pastry with butter.
- Fully enclose the filling by arranging several more overlapping pastry leaves, shiny side up, over the top of the pie . Allow the edges of the pastry sheets to drape over the sides then tuck them carefully under the pie to finish shaping the bastilla.
- Brush the top and side of the bastilla generously with melted butter then with the egg yolk. (I use my hands for this step.)
- The bastilla is now ready for baking. Proceed to the next step, or wrap the bastilla in plastic (along with the parchment paper or foil base) and refrigerate for up to 24 hours, or freeze for up to 2 or 3 months.
- Preheat your oven to 350° F (180° C).
- Place the bastilla (still on its parchment paper or foil base) on a large baking sheet or pan. A flat sheet allows for easiest transfer; you can line it with foil and crimp up the edges to catch any drippings.)
- Bake in the middle of the oven until golden brown and crispy; about 35 to 45 minutes. Allow additional time if placing a frozen bastilla directly in the oven.
- Remove from the oven and if garnishing with cheese, sprinkle it over the hot bastilla. If your cheese doesn't have a low melting point, return the bastilla to the oven for a few minutes to melt the cheese.
- Carefully transfer the bastilla to a large serving platter. Garnish as desired with shrimp, lemon slices and parsley. Serve immediately.
In Morocco warqa pastry is used to enclose the filling; outside of Morocco look for brik pastry or use rustic style phyllo dough.Use fresh seafood. The measures below are for raw seafood prior to cleaning; be sure to allow time for careful shelling and prepping or have your fishmonger do that for you.
Melt 1 tablespoon of butter and add the shrimp. Season the shrimp with 1/2 teaspoon each of salt and pepper, and saute for 1 or 2 minutes, just until the shrimp is white and cooked through. In the same skillet over medium heat, melt 1 tablespoon of butter and add the swordfish steak.
In a skillet with a lid, melt 1 tablespoon of butter over medium heat. Add the calamari and season with 1/2 teaspoon each of salt and pepper.
Cover and braise the calamari in the butter and its own juices for 30 minutes or longer, until the calamari is very tender. Add a tiny bit of water during cookery only if the liquids evaporate before the squid is cooked.When the calamari is cooked, drain and reserve the liquids and set the calamari aside. Soak the dried mushrooms in a bowl of cold water for 25 to 30 minutes.
At the same time, soak the Chinese vermicelli in a large bowl of cold water for about 15 to 20 minutes, until tender enough to cut but not fully plumped. Transfer the chopped rice vermicelli to the pot with the tomato sauce.
Add the reserved liquids from preparation the fish and seafood and stir to combine. (I find tongs the easiest to use for this.) Simmer gently over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, until the vermicelli is tender and most of the liquids have been absorbed. Overlap sheets of parchment paper or foil to create a large work surface of about 17"x 17".
Brush the pastry leaves with melted butter and add a single 12" round layer of warqa, shiny side down, to the center. Place the seafood filling on the circular base, packing and shaping the filling to fit the 12" round. Allow the edges of the pastry sheets to drape over the sides then tuck them carefully under the pie to finish shaping the bastilla.
Brush the top and side of the bastilla generously with melted butter then with the egg yolk. (I use my hands for this step.) The bastilla is now ready for baking. Proceed to the next step, or wrap the bastilla in plastic (along with the parchment paper or foil base) and refrigerate for up to 24 hours, or freeze for up to 2 or 3 months.
A flat sheet allows for easiest transfer; you can line it with foil and crimp up the edges to catch any drippings.) Bake in the middle of the oven until golden brown and crispy; about 35 to 45 minutes. Remove from the oven and if garnishing with cheese, sprinkle it over the hot bastilla.
