Everything you wanted to know about Maltese cuisine

I have a rule, whenever I arrive at a certain place I start learning the local cuisine. I try as many dishes as possible and then I also try to learn their history because food is part of the culture of the country. If you haven't tasted it, you haven't understood it. It's that simple.

So it's not surprising that when I arrived atMalta I elegantly ignored the pizzerias that are plentiful there or the burgers and Full English Breakfast (a relic of nearly 170 years of British rule) and immediately started “sampling” the Maltese restaurants. Luckily, I quickly discovered that some of the best Maltese restaurants are right near where I live and the best of them all 'Ta Kris It is about a 2 minute walk away.

So after eating there quite a bit, I managed to catch up with the chef of the place, Chris (after whom the restaurant is named), for a short chat about Maltese cuisine. We talked about the unique characteristics of the cuisine, its history and of course its most famous dishes. So if you've decided to come to Malta and try the local cuisine, here's everything you need to know.

Characteristics of Maltese cuisine

Malta has a number of historical characteristics that have influenced its cuisine:

Malta is an island.

SinceMalta Surrounded by the sea and known as excellent seafarers, it is no surprise that fish and other seafood are a staple in Maltese cuisine. True, fish prices have risen in recent years, but you can still find lampuki (a fish with slightly oily skin that the Maltese love to fry) in season, and of course octopus, which is featured in a variety of dishes.

Proximity to Italy

For most of its history, Malta was considered a southern suburb of Sicily, and its cuisine was greatly influenced by this. This is why every Maltese restaurant serves pasta and the famous cannoli dessert (a pastry roll filled with mascarpone cheese or chocolate cream). However, this does not mean that Maltese food is a perfect copy of Italian food, and as you will see below, there are quite a few interesting twists.

Proximity to North Africa and Arab culture

It is impossible to understand Malta without mentioning the Arab conquest of the years 870-1091 and the proximity to North Africa. The result is expressed not only in the Maltese language, where quite a few words have taken root in Arabic, but also in Maltese cuisine. So whether it is the names of the dishes or the famous Maltese dessert Imaret (fried date pastry), you will find quite a few Arab influences in Maltese cuisine. Just don't look for normal hummus here, you have no chance of finding…

Malta is a relatively poor island.

If you travel around Malta, you will find that one of the island's characteristics is the lack of vegetation. Although if you look carefully you will find a few fields, vineyards and olive trees (and even a garden or two), by and large it is a relatively dry country. As a result, in the days when the wealth of a country was determined by the level of its agriculture, Malta was considered a poor country and this of course affected the cuisine of its inhabitants.

The first effect is the popularity of slow cooking and rich stews. The reason for this is that such cooking allows even the worst meat to become tender and edible, while the sauce can be eaten with bread and soaked up. And speaking of bread, the Maltese are very fond of their sourdough bread and eat very large quantities of it. Is it any wonder? Rumor has it that they got it from the Knights of St. John who brought it from France…

The second effect of poverty on Maltese cuisine is the fact that they eat almost anything they can find. Here too we see a similarity to French cuisine because one of the Maltese dishes is snails (in Maltese, Bebbux). Hello, they are The escargotThe difference is that the French eat escargot with a butter, garlic and parsley sauce, while the Maltese eat it with a red wine and tomato sauce. Personally, I prefer the French version, but the brave among you are definitely welcome to try the Maltese version too 🙂

Famous dishes from Maltese cuisine

So after we talked about the main characteristics of the cuisine, it's time to mention some dishes that anyone who hasn't eaten them is like not having visited Malta.

Maltese plate

This is one of my favorite dishes and makes a great lunch in itself (although it is considered a first course). This dish contains all the best of Maltese cuisine and includes Maltese sausage, white beans, a great bean spread, tuna, 2 types of Cheeses Maltese sheep, sun-dried tomatoes and a tomato spread that I'm simply addicted to. All of this is combined with Malta's famous sourdough bread and the result is a celebration of carbohydrates and great taste.

Gbejna

You may have seen this dish in other restaurants, but because it's so delicious, I'm including it in this article. It's fried cheese wrapped in crunchy dough and dipped in mango sauce. Simply delicious!

Balbuljata

It's eggs, usually mixed with tomato sauce and meat (although there are all sorts of variations on it). And if it reminds you of shakshuka, then you're not wrong 🙂

And speaking of Labulita, the Maltese have a show of the same name, so if you'd like to know what their language sounds like, you're welcome to watch the following short promo:

https://youtu.be/g56yCPtBPrQ

Aljotta – Maltese fish soup

This is a fish and herb soup with a sour taste and is without a doubt my favorite soup in Malta. The fish in the soup varies according to the season and the chef's tradition, but you will usually find fish such as sole, flounder or cod.

Bragioli

This is one of Malta's most famous dishes. It is a meat stuffed with minced meat, to which a hard-boiled egg is also added. All of this is served in a hot tomato sauce that is simply a pleasure to mop up with Maltese bread.

Maltese-style octopus stew (Stuffat)

Octopus and calamari are staples of Maltese cuisine and can be found in both starters and main courses. The classic way is to cook the octopus in a tomato and red wine sauce, as in the photo, and serve it with bread so that not a drop of the excellent sauce goes to waste.

Imqaret

So after we talked about starters and main courses it's time to talk about desserts. Honestly, most desserts in Malta are pretty mediocre in my opinion and that's an advantage because skipping them reduces the number of calories in the meal. On the other hand, they do have one simple but insanely delicious dessert, which is the Imart.

This is a fried date pastry that is served hot. The frying is what makes the texture of the dough a little hard and every bite a pleasure. I could eat these pastries all day long if I weren't afraid of adding 20 kilos (or 20 tons) to my weight, but if you're already in Malta you have to try it.

Maltese street food

And before we finish, it's impossible not to say a few words about two famous Maltese street foods. If you haven't eaten them at least once, it's as if you haven't visited Malta.

Pastizzi

This is without a doubt one of the most famous dishes in Malta, if not the most famous. It is a pastry with an insane amount of butter and filled with ricotta or peas. It is fatty, produces feelings of guilt mixed with heartburn, but it is delicious!

Ftira

A patira is a Maltese sandwich made from bread that has been baked for many centuries (in the past it was baked in public ovens so people could meet and chat while the bread baked). There are all kinds of patiras and my favorite kind contains tuna, capers, sun-dried tomatoes and tomato paste. It is undoubtedly a very filling sandwich that can easily replace lunch.

Planning a trip to Malta?

As you have probably already discovered (and if not, you will soon), there is so much to do in Malta that it is very difficult to choose between the variety of attractions and activities. But don't worry, I have done the work for you and collected the most worthwhile attractions and activities. You can find them in the article What to do in Malta?

Looking for a hotel in Malta?

I have collected some recommended hotels for you to prevent you from making any unpleasant mistakes. However, before I give you my recommendations, I need to answer one important question: Where in Malta should you live? The answer to this question and my recommendations for hotels in Malta can be found in the article Where to look for a hotel in Malta.