Tour Guide, Malta, Malta
| 6 mins read
Maltese Cuisine is delicious and offers plenty of Mediterranean flavours. Since Malta had been exposed to a variety of cultures, this has influenced the Maltese style in cooking. Today, we’re going to list the 25 Maltese dishes.
1. Ross il-forn
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This delicious dish is a staple in Maltese homes, basically, it’s baked rice with mincemeat. It’s easy to make and takes about 30 minutes to prepare excluding cooking time. If you see this while dining in a Maltese restaurant, order it you won’t be disappointed.
2. Timpana
This is also another Maltese classic, using macaroni pasta covered in pastry. There is another version without the pastry which we the “ghagin il-forn.”
3.Torta tal- ricotta/lumpaki/spinach
When you’re here, you’ll notice these little corner places selling pasty such as the infamous pastizzi which we highly recommend. In our homes, we do pies with ricotta, lumpaki (dolphin fish, Mahi Mahi) when they are in season or with spinach.
4. Il-Fenek (the rabbit)
You haven’t experience Malta until you try the rabbit; Imgarr is famous for this dish. It’s either served pan-fried with garlic and white wine or the stew which is cooked in tomato sauce; whatever you chose, you’re won’t be disappointed and don’t forget the spaghetti with rabbit sauce.
5. Octopus Stew
Since we’re in the heart of the Mediterranean Sea, Malta offers plenty of seafood and fish dishes; the rabbit stew is cooked in tomato sauce, black olives, and capers and we usually serve it with spaghetti because why not?
6. Maltese sausages
The Maltese sausages have more flavour than your traditional sausages but they are a must-try. They are usually fried or added with the roasts or in stews.
7. Beef Olives
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We are might be in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea but we do love our meat as well. This Maltese classic is a staple for the colder weather. These beef olives are filled with mincemeat, eggs, and bacon and slow-cooked in rich red wine sauce. Yum.
8. Horse Meat.
If you happen to have dinner in the whereabouts of Imgarr, you might see it on the menu; it’s quite rich in flavour and it’s not for everyone.
9. Bigilla
Usually served as a snack or as a starter or with platters. It goes well with the crunchy Maltese bread or Galletti (water biscuits)
10. Minestra
When the weather gets cold, soups will be on the menu in many Maltese homes; the Minestra is cooked with a verity of vegetables and served with bread and olive oil.
11. Maltese soup (Kusksu)
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Wonderful and delicious, this soap is also very easy to prepare. It has fava beans and goat cheese makes for a great starter if you spot it on the menu in the colder days.
12. Bordu (Chicken broth or meat broth)
Usually, when we get sick, we make this hearty soup to makes us feel all warm and fuzzy from the inside. There two options either with chicken or meat.
13. Soppa ta- l-armla (Widow soup)
This soup is packed with hearty vegetables and the veggies are not always the same. The story behind this soup is the wife depended on her husband’s income to buy the food stock. When the husband died, the widow found herself penniless so the locals used to give her food. The vegetable vendors used to give her some vegetables so she could make soup together with cheese lets and eggs. That’s how the soup was born.
14. Qrabali il-forn (Stuffed marrows)
On Sundays, the Maltese like to do roasts. This dish is easy to make with its marrow stuffed with minced meat and served with baked potatoes.
15. Il-Froga ta’ tat-tarja (Maltese Vermmicelli omelette)
This is the Maltese version of the omelette. The ingredients are simple, vermicelli pasta with eggs and some parmesan cheese. Sometimes we add chopped bacon and ham.
16. Spaghetti with sea urchins
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This is a Maltese delicacy served usually with long pasta' it’s like tasting the Mediterranean Sea with this dish.
17. Oven Roasts
This is a wholesome homey dish which uses either chicken, meat or pork with potatoes and onion jus; it’s quick and easy. Lay the protein on a dish chop some onions and garlic and potatoes put everything on the dish add some water and oil and you’re good to go. One of the classic Maltese dishes.
18. Stuffed Aubergines
Same as the stuffed marrows, these babies are stuffed with mincemeat either beef or pork, cooked in the oven with some roasted potatoes.
19. Lampuki
This fish is only available during the month of September; the lampuka (dolphin fish or Mahi Mahi) can be served either grilled or pan-fried.
And for those with a sweet tooth:
20. Imqaert (Dates Cakes)
These little bundles of joy are deep-fried pastry filled dates and they smell heavenly. Found in village streets or in street markets.
21. Konnoli tal-Iroktta (cannoli)
Quite similar to the ones found in Sicily, Maltese Cannoli offers a thick pastry shell filled with sweet ricotta. There is a variation of ingredients such as chocolate, nuts, and cherries.
22. Qaghaq tal-ghasel (Honey Rings)
They are round rings found in most grocery stores. They are your best friends when taking a hot cup of tea or coffee as an afternoon snack
23. Torta Tal-Lewz (almond Cake)
We love out almonds and why not they are gorgeous. This cake can be spotted in villages feasts or at weddings. The outer layer consists of pastry, filled with almonds, honey and, orange rind which makes the cake moist and deliciously nutty.
24. Pudina tal-hobz (bread Pudding)
Bread was a staple in the difficult times in the 18th century. No food was wasted so the stale bread was let to soak and turned into sweet pudding adding sultanas and chocolate to add the sweet taste.
25. Helwa Tat-Tork (Turks Sweet)
Last and least in our list of 25 foods Maltese dishes. Not Maltese but became popular when Malta was under Arab rule. It’s a common sweet over here and it’s very sweet but worth it. It’s either chocolate or nut-based and the paste is made of crushed sesame seeds.