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Chicken-Stuffed Msmen Pastry Recipe

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★★★★

3.9 from 64 reviews

Msmen is a traditional Moroccan layered flatbread filled with a flavorful spiced chicken mixture and cheese. The dough is made from flour, honey, and baking powder, stretched thin, and folded around the juicy, seasoned chicken filling before being pan-fried to golden, crispy perfection. This recipe combines aromatic North African spices with tender chicken thighs for a satisfying and delicious meal or snack.

Ingredients

Scale

Dough

  • 500 g flour
  • 7 g salt
  • 12 g honey
  • 275 ml water
  • 6 g baking powder
  • 5 ml sunflower oil

Chicken Mixture

  • 220 g yellow onion, chopped
  • 550 g chicken thighs, finely chopped
  • 5 g ras el hanout
  • 2 g turmeric powder
  • 3 g cayenne powder
  • 3 g garlic powder
  • 4 g salt
  • 1 g dried parsley
  • 10 ml olive oil

Extra

  • Cheese (quantity as desired for filling slices)
  • Sunflower oil (for greasing and cooking)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the dough: In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. Make a well in the center and add the honey and water. Mix and knead the dough for 10-12 minutes until smooth and elastic. Then add the sunflower oil and knead for another minute. Cover the dough and let it rest for 30 minutes.
  2. Cook the chicken mixture: Heat olive oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Add the chopped yellow onion and sauté for 3-4 minutes until softened. Add the finely chopped chicken thighs, ras el hanout, turmeric powder, cayenne powder, garlic powder, and salt. Cook the mixture for 6-7 minutes until the chicken is fully cooked. Stir in the dried parsley and mix well. Remove from heat and allow the mixture to cool completely.
  3. Divide and shape the dough: Divide the rested dough into 9 equal pieces, each about 85 g, and shape them into balls. Grease your hands with sunflower oil and flatten a dough ball on an oiled work surface (using about 25 ml oil). Cover and let rest for 30 minutes.
  4. Stretch the dough: Grease the work surface again with 15 ml sunflower oil per msmen. Place a dough ball on the surface and, using your fingertips, gently stretch it from the center outward into a very thin sheet approximately 38 x 33 cm. Regularly oil your hands to prevent tearing.
  5. Cut and fill: Use a pizza cutter to make 4 small cuts around the edges to facilitate folding, dividing the dough into three sections. Place a slice of cheese on the dough, then top with a portion of the cooled chicken mixture. Fold the dough from left to right over the filling to encase it.
  6. Cook the msmen: Place the filled msmen on parchment paper. Heat a frying pan over medium heat and cook the msmen slowly until golden brown on one side, then flip and cook the other side until fully cooked and golden brown. Repeat with remaining msmen.

Notes

  • Knead the dough for at least 10-12 minutes to develop elasticity, making it easier to stretch thin without tearing.
  • Lightly grease your hands, work surface, and dough while shaping to prevent sticking and tearing.
  • Stretch the dough as thin as possible for a crispy texture; thicker layers will be less crisp.
  • Allow the chicken mixture to cool fully before filling to make handling easier.
  • Preheat the frying pan over medium heat before cooking the msmen.
  • Cook msmen slowly and flip only after the bottom is golden brown for even cooking and perfect texture.
  • Cooked msmen can be frozen and later reheated in a dry frying pan or in an oven at 180°C for a few minutes.

Keywords: Msmen, Moroccan flatbread, chicken filled msmen, Moroccan chicken recipes, layered flatbread, spiced chicken, North African cuisine

Find it online: https://epicrecipebox.com/chicken-stuffed-msmen-pastry-recipe/