Savor Local Maltese Food
From Local Pastizzi, Traditional Fish Dishes To Kinnie And Twistees – Here Are The Best Traditional Malta Food Items
If you’re planning on visiting Malta, get ready for your diet to be demolished. Our tiny island is a full-on carb overload destination. Being close to Sicily and accessible from various other Mediterranean countries, these traditional Malta food is a feast for your taste buds. Here are our favourite national dishes.
PASTIZZI
It’s hard to miss out on the traditional pastizzi (cheesecakes). You’ll almost be able to smell the oily but mouth-watering smell of these delicious multi-layered pastries. You can either have them with ricotta or a traditional version of the British mushy peas. These are often enjoyed hot with a cup of tea. You will probably find the best ones in Rabat on your way to the Silent City of Mdina. There’s also the iconic Pastizzi ta’ Roger in Zejtun but they’re imported across various stalls in Malta.
HOBŻ BIŻ-ŻEJT
Bakeries are your best friends in Malta. You cannot visit the country without trying this traditional Malta food: the famous hobż biż-żejt. This is normally bread pasted with juicy tomato and additional capers, herbs, cheese or anchovies. This traditional Maltese meal is perfect for a day by the beach or enjoying it as lunch in the sun.
TRADITIONAL PASTA DISHES
We warned you it’s all about carbs in Malta! Since we’re close to Italy, pasta dishes are a must on our tiny island. Homemade ravjul (ravioli) filled with sheep milk’s cheese and topped with tomato sauce is a favourite. A traditional baked pasta dish called imqarrun il-forn and the famous timpana are also popular.
RABBIT
This might come as a shock to some foreigners but eating rabbit is a Maltese delicacy. A fenkata (rabbit stew) is a traditional Maltese dish. It is often served as a stew with potatoes and vegetables, or alternatively, rabbit with pasta. Mgarr is a top locality to get this traditional Malta food.
FISH
Marsaxlokk is THE place to go buy fresh fish on the island as it is known to be Malta’s fishing village. Lampuki is the most common type of fish in Malta. You can either cook it as a main meal or else enjoy a slice of torta tal-lampuki (lampuki pie).
KINNIE AND TWISTEES
Kinnie is the official Maltese zesty drink. Similar to Marmite trend in the UK, you’ll either love this product or hate it but you definitely have to try it to be the judge. Twistees is a traditional Maltese cheesy snack which is loved by many.
CISK
Cisk is the most popular locally brewed beer that is loved by many foreigners. It is extremely refreshing and it is the most popular drink on a sunny day. If you’re not a heavy drinker, you can also try the Cisk Chill Lemon and Berry flavours.