country Essentials · 11 foods
Malta Essentials
A considered first route through Malta: the foods that carry its everyday habits, celebrations, ingredients, and memory.
Explore all Malta foods →THE
ESSENTIALS
The complete shortlist
11 foods to know.
Each selection includes the reason it belongs here—so this is a guide, not just a pile of names.
Malta
Rabbit Stew
Stuffat tal-fenek
Stuffat tal-Fenek — Malta’s slow-braised rabbit stew with wine, tomato, garlic, and herbs.
Gibraltar, Malta
Pastizz
Pastizzi — flaky Maltese pastries filled most famously with ricotta or curried peas.
Malta
Ħobż biż-żejt
Ħobż biż-żejt — Maltese bread rubbed with tomato and filled or topped with olive oil, tuna, capers, and olives.
Gozo, Malta
Gozitan Ftira
Ftira Għawdxija
Gozitan Ftira — Gozo’s ring-shaped, topped flatbread with potato, tomato, cheese, and anchovy or tuna.
Malta
Ġbejna tan-nagħaġ
Ġbejniet tal-bżar
Ġbejna tan-nagħaġ — Malta’s protected sheep-milk cheese, sold fresh, dried, or peppered and pickled.
Malta
Aljotta
Aljotta — a garlicky Maltese fish soup with tomato, herbs, and rice.
Malta
Lampuki Pie
Torta tal-lampuki
Torta tal-Lampuki — pastry pie filled with seasonal lampuki and vegetables.
Malta
Bigilla
Bigilla — a thick dip of tic beans, garlic, herbs, and olive oil.
Malta
Imqaret
Imqaret — crisp diamond pastries filled with spiced dates and fried.
Malta
Treacle Rings
Qagħaq tal-għasel
Qagħaq tal-Għasel — Maltese treacle rings filled with a dark citrus-spice mixture.
Malta
Kinnie
Kinnie — Malta’s landmark bittersweet soft drink flavored with bitter orange and aromatic herbs.