My language partner brought to my attention that one of the most important components of traditional Maltese cuisine is something called pastizzi. The word directly translates to English as cheesecake, but pastizzi are sold in great variety throughout the islands of Malta. The most traditional form of this tasty food consists of a fluffy round pastry dough filled with a ricotta-based cream. In Maltese, this is called pastizzi tal-irkotta. Popular Maltese recipes note that a generous amount of salt and pepper should be used in the cream, rendering it a more savory treat. Modern pastizzi resemble Italian ravioli or Spanish empanadas and often incorporate parsley and a pea-based spread. Additionally, various types of cheese and spices can be blended into the center.
Although the treat resembles a pastry, it is typically viewed as a snack that can be eaten at any time of day and purchased from a pastizzeria, which are found all over Malta. These shops sell pastizzi and other traditional Maltese snacks at very low prices. The art of creating the perfect pastizzi dough is very important to Maltese natives and this step can take 24+ hours to complete. Based upon popular recipes I browsed, the mixing of the cream filling and baking time is very quick (approximately 20 minutes). Included below is a YouTube demonstration of the process.
Aside from being a delicious and popular treat that you can purchase anywhere in Malta, there is an important cultural significance of pastizzi. The traditional form of this snack represents a blend of Arabic pastry crust (flaky and crunchy) and Italian filling (ricotta, parmesan, mozzarella). It is documented that the snack was likely popularized during the Arab conquest of the Rabat and has remained a popular snack since. There is even a common saying in Malta that goes, jinbieghu bħal pastizzi, which translates to selling as fast as pastizzi.
When I traveled to Malta, I recall tasting a small pastizzi and really enjoying it! Additionally, I brought home a selection of tasty pastizzi so that my family and friends could get a taste of Malta too.
Below is a video demonstrating the process of making the perfect Maltese pastizzi:
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