Bisteeya Recipe

Directions

1. 1
   Poach chicken and the next 7 ingredients in 1 qt of water till tender, about 1 hour, and let it cold.
2. 2
   Toast the almonds till lightly brown, then chop finely.
3. 3
   Mix the almonds with the granulated sugar.
4. 4
   Drain the chicken, reserving the broth, remove the bones and shred the meat.
5. 5
   Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees.
6. 6
   Beat 12 Large eggs well.
7. 7
   Adds the Large eggs to the slowly boiling broth, stirring.
8. 8
   Simmer the Large eggs, stirring, for 10 min and then remove them with a skimmer and let them drain and cold.
9. 9
   Mix together the shredded meat and the cooked Large eggs.
10. 10
    Moisten with broth if mix is too dry.
11. 11
    Brush a leaf of filo pastry with melted butter and top it with another leaf.
12. 12
    Brush another filo leaf with butter, place a fourth leaf on top and brush it with butter.
13. 13
    Center the second pair of filo leaves on a small pie or possibly cake pan, spoon 1 1/2 Tbsp.
14. 14
    of the almond mix in the center and spread it out into a circle about 3-inches in diameter.
15. 15
    Then put 5 1/2 ounces of the chicken/egg mix on the almonds, press it down to about a 5-inch diameter circle, add in 1 1/2 Tbsp.
16. 16
    of almond mix on top.
17. 17
    Then fold the leaf up over the mix, pleating the top, and, using a wide spatula on top and the support of the pie or possibly cake pan below, carefully invert the packet onto the first pair of filo leaves.
18. 18
    Paint the edges of the flat sheet
19. 19
    with an egg wash and fold up the edges, pleating the top.
20. 20
    With a large spatula carefully place the bisteeya on a cookie sheet lined with parchement paper and brush the top lightly with melted butter.
21. 21
    Repeat this process 5 more times.
22. 22
    Bake the 6 bisteeyas in a 350 degree oven till brown, about 35 min.
23. 23
    Sift powdered sugar on top of bisteeya and run crisscrossing lines of cinnamon over the top.
24. 24
    Suggested drink: Tea
25. 25
    Yield: 6 servings