Maltese cuisine is quite humble in nature and is known as 'the cuisine of the poor man'. It is typically Mediterranean with influences from previous rulers namely Arabs, Italians, French, Spanish and the British. Malta has a rich culinary tradition and is technically the first ever fusion cuisine in the world. During the reign of the Knights of St. John in Malta, each of the Langues brought with them their own ingredients and recipes. The native Maltese worked in their kitchens and that knowledge was then brought home and the food was integrated in the local cuisine. Some typical Maltese dishes include: Rabbit - Rabbits are reared and farmed in Malta and are very tasty. There are some restaurants that specialise on just rabbit. Widow Soup - This is a vegetable soup made with whatever vegetables are in season, cooked in a thick tomato stock. Some people add little pasta to it but this is not necessary. Arjoli - This is a julienne of vegetables, spiced up and oiled. Maltese sausage - The Maltese sausage is a confection of spicy minced pork, coriander seeds and parsley, wrapped in stomach lining. Snails - Cooked with garlic and served with a green sauce made with garlic and fresh herbs and accompanied with fresh crusty Maltese bread. Lampuki Pie - Filleted dorado mixed with spinach, chestnuts and sultanas and encased in a short-crust pastry. Pastizzi - Hot pastries filled with either ricotta cheese or peas. The pastry is formed of multiple sheets of transparently thin and crunchy layers. Stuffed Aubergines - Oven baked aubergines filled with minced meats, breadcrumbs, onions, garlic and parsley. Bigilla - This is a puree made from beans and herbs. Timpana - Baked macaroni in a meat tomato sauce wrapped in pastry. Ross fil-forn - Delicious baked rice with a meat tomato sauce. Bragoli - Thin layers of beef form a parcel filled with a hard-boiled egg, pork mince, parsley and breadcrumbs which is then simmered very gently in gravy. Hobz biz-zejt - A Maltese bread or ftira, rubbed with tomato and olive oil then filled with garlic, onions, tuna and gerkins. Qaghaq ta' l-ghasel - It is a pastry stuffed with a honey mixture. |
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