10x Maltese dishes you need to know
Reasons to go to Malta: the culture, the lovely weather, the great nightlife and… The culinary delights. Maltese cuisine is surprising, yet you can also recognize many Italian, Spanish and sometimes even Arab influences in it. We know those are delicious cuisines, so that promises a lot of good things. So off to Malta like a madman!
10x traditional dishes from Malta
1. Pastizzi
Wherever you are in Malta, you can undoubtedly buy pastizzi. They are a bit like the croissant in France; you can find those on every corner too. Pastizzi are small filled puff pastry snacks. The filling is savory and usually consists of ricotta, spinach and/or pea purée. You may also occasionally taste anchovies in them. Some people also consider pastizzi Maltese street food. In any case, they are affordable and easy to take with you. Make sure to get them from a fresh bakery, though; you can sometimes come across some tough stuff.
2. Soppa tal-Armla
Soppa tal-Armla means ‘widow’s soup’. The story goes that widows asked people to open their windows when they made soup—hence the name. Soppa tal-Armla is a vegetarian soup based on plenty of vegetables, such as peas, carrots and cauliflower. The soup is made more filling by adding potatoes, egg or pasta. With a bit of luck, you’ll get a soup with cheese in it. So delicious!
3. Stuffat tal-Fenek
Malta’s national dish is the delicious stew Stuffat tal-Fenek. Vegetarians may want to skip this one, because it contains a type of meat we don’t eat very often here: rabbit. The browned rabbit is stewed for hours in a flavorful sauce of tomatoes, stock, onions, garlic and red wine. When done properly, you get meat so tender it falls off the bone. It is best eaten with a fresh piece of Maltese bread. This white bread is airy with a thick, crispy crust. I would book a ticket to Malta right now just for that bread.
4. Imqaret
They know how to make desserts in Malta too! Imqaret is sweet, fried pastry filled with dates or figs. Sometimes they are nicely flavored with cinnamon or orange zest. Like pastizzi, you can often find them at markets. They are also on the menu at countless Maltese restaurants. There, they are usually a full-fledged dessert served with coffee and a scoop of ice cream.
5. Bragioli
Meat plays a fairly major role in Maltese cuisine. You can see that in Bragioli, for example: seasoned meat rolls made with veal and beef. The flavor mainly comes from the bacon inside the rolls and the sauce made with tomato paste, wine, herbs and vegetables. Bragioli may not be the prettiest dish, but it is seriously incredibly delicious.
6. Aljotta
Not in the mood for meat? Go for Aljotta: Maltese fish soup. Which fish is used can vary depending on where you are. Gilthead sea bream is a regular ingredient. As long as the fish is fresh! The soup contains pieces of cooked fish, stock, tomato, garlic and herbs. To make it a little more filling, rice is sometimes added to the soup.
7. Kannoli tal-Irkotta
Hey, ‘kannoli’ sounds familiar. Isn’t that the cannoli we know from Italy? Indeed, this is the Maltese version of the Sicilian treat. They are just a little smaller than their Italian brothers, and the ricotta filling is richer than in Sicilian cannoli. Meaning: not too much fuss and no extreme flavor additions. You will certainly come across striking flavor combinations, for example with cherries or candied orange pieces. Fun to try. Kannoli is another snack you can find at many Maltese markets.
8. Hobz biz-Zejt
Another Maltese dish we can recognize from Italy: Hobz biz-Zejt. Literally translated, that means ‘bread with oil’. When you see the dish, you can definitely see a little of the Italian bruschetta in it. Hobz biz-Zejt is crispy bread with plenty of olive oil, tomatoes (sliced tomatoes and sometimes a spread) and various toppings. These may be chopped herbs, but also capers, goat cheese (gbejna), onions or olives. Sometimes it is served with some tuna on top as well. There is a good chance you can order this snack at a Maltese bar.
9. Ftira
They are good with bread in Malta. You can tell when you try Ftira, too. It resembles flatbread in some ways, perhaps focaccia or ciabatta, and yet it is another traditional Maltese creation. It is a flat, round loaf with a distinctive hole in the middle. The toppings can vary widely. You will often find tomatoes, onions and oil on it, and sometimes tuna, cheese or an omelet as well. I wish this were the standard in the Netherlands instead of the stale cheese sandwich.
10. Kapunata
Another reason why Malta is a great place to be if you love Italian cuisine. Take Kapunata, for example. It is a stew with plenty of tomatoes, eggplant, bell pepper, black olives, onions and fresh herbs. Everything cooks slowly for a long time, making the vegetables soft and flavorful. Perfect if you find Stuffat tal-Fenek (the rabbit stew, remember) a bit too intense. And kapunata… that of course sounds a lot like the sweet-and-sour stewed caponata from Sicily.
Have you ever tried any of these dishes from Malta? Or do you know another typical Maltese dish that really belongs on this list? We are curious!
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