Express Seafood Pastilla
Express Seafood Pastilla is a medium Moroccan recipe that serves 4. 600 calories per serving. Recipe by Casa Bena Cuisine on YouTube.
Prep: 51 min | Cook: 33 min | Total: 1 hr 39 min
Cost: $18.85 total, $4.71 per serving
Ingredients
- 1 package Brick pastry sheets (Approximately 12 sheets, ready to use)
- 100 g Rice vermicelli (Chinese vermicelli) (Fine vermicelli, rice vermicelli type)
- 500 g Frozen seafood cocktail (Mix of shrimp, calamari and mussels)
- 1 piece Shallot (Finely minced)
- 1 piece Red bell pepper (Cut into small dice)
- 3 cloves Garlic (Minced)
- 2 tablespoons Fresh cilantro (Chopped)
- 2 tablespoons Fresh parsley (Chopped)
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1 teaspoon Fresh grated ginger
- 1 teaspoon Ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon Mild pepper
- 1 teaspoon Tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon Harissa (or pepper) (If you don't have harissa, use black pepper)
- 1 teaspoon Turmeric
- 1/2 lemon Half preserved lemon (Cut into small pieces; if unavailable, juice of half a lemon)
- 150 g Unsalted butter (Melted, then warmed to brush the sheets)
- 3 tablespoons Olive oil
- 1 tablespoon Salty soy sauce (To season the vermicelli)
Instructions
Rehydrate the vermicelli
Place the vermicelli in a large bowl and cover with boiling water. Let rest 10 minutes until tender, then drain.
Time: PT10M
Prepare the aromatics
Finely mince the shallot, dice the red bell pepper, chop the garlic, cilantro and parsley.
Time: PT5M
Sauté the shallot and pepper
Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the shallot and pepper, sauté 5 minutes until lightly golden.
Time: PT5M
Cook the seafood and spices
Add the seafood cocktail, the 3 minced garlic cloves, turmeric, ginger, cumin, mild pepper, salt and soy sauce if desired. Cook over high heat 5 minutes stirring, until the mixture is well dry.
Time: PT5M
Season the filling
Stir in the half preserved lemon, tomato paste, harissa, remaining turmeric and the cilantro‑parsley mixture. Mix for 2 minutes then cook an additional 5 minutes.
Time: PT7M
Cool the filling
Transfer the filling to a wide dish and let cool at room temperature for about 10 minutes.
Time: PT10M
Prepare the vermicelli
Cut the rehydrated vermicelli into small pieces with kitchen scissors. Add 1 tablespoon soy sauce, mix so the vermicelli absorbs the sauce.
Time: PT3M
Combine vermicelli and filling
Fold the seasoned vermicelli into the cooled filling and mix well for even distribution.
Time: PT2M
Prepare the colored butter
Melt the butter in the pan over medium heat until it turns lightly golden and gives a nutty aroma, about 3 minutes.
Time: PT3M
Brush the brick sheets
Using a brush, coat each brick sheet with melted butter on both sides to prevent tearing during baking.
Time: PT2M
Form the mini pastillas
Place a heaping tablespoon of filling in the center of each sheet, fold into a basket shape (fan fold) and seal the edges with your fingers.
Time: PT10M
Use the cupcake mold
Place each folded pastilla into a cupcake mold to hold its shape while baking.
Time: PT2M
Bake
Bake the pastillas in a preheated oven at 200°C for 20 minutes, until golden and crisp.
Time: PT20M
Temperature: 200°C
Final decoration
When out of the oven, garnish each pastilla with a small shrimp, a drizzle of lemon and a parsley leaf.
Time: PT5M
Nutrition Facts
- Calories
- 600
- Protein
- 30 g
- Carbohydrates
- 45 g
- Fat
- 35 g
- Fiber
- 3 g
Dietary info: non-vegetarian, contains gluten, contains dairy, high in protein, high-protein
Allergens: crustaceans, mollusks, milk, gluten
Last updated: March 11, 2026






