Our island's most popular street food, the pastizz, is savoured in large quantities by both locals and tourists alike, so much so that pastizzerias bake fresh batches constantly throughout the day. Yet, our love for this traditional staple does not stop at our shores. Pastizzi are also produced abroad by Maltese immigrant communities mainly in the UK, US, Canada and Australia.

The origin of this national treasure somewhat sketchy, however, according to historians staple such as pies, the timpana and the pastizz emerged at a time when locals started experimenting more with their food, creating novel recipes that included pastry. In fact, pastry was considered a good option to satisfy a hungry belly when not much meat or other ingredients were readily available. Pastizzi were eventually transformed into the country's national snack and became an integral part of Maltese cuisine. Today, they can be brought from the many pastizzerias found in practically every corner. Hole-in-the-wall kind of stores, many of these shops are family-run businesses, however, pastizzi are also sold in bars, cafes and confectioners.

Deeply ingrained in the local culture, the word is also used in the Maltese language to make reference to specific situations like the idiom inbiegħu bħall-pastizzi (selling like pastizzi), alluding to anything that is in constant and high demand, equivalent to the English expression 'selling like hot cakes'.

Different variations

Diamond-shaped or round-shaped depending on the filling, pastizzi are usually made with a pastry that looks a lot like the Greek phyllo variety, although some pastizzerias also offer a puff pastry version and come in round and half-moon formats. The dough is usually stretched and folded with layers of fat in between each sheet and rolled several times to achieve its unique flakiness once baked. Traditionally, this savoury treat is filled with either ricotta, commonly referred to as pastizzi tal-irkotta (cheese cake) or with mushy peas, also known as pastizzi tal-piżelli (pea cake). Pea cakes either come with peas and onions or with peas and anchovies. It is thought that the mushy peas filling is a reflection of the island's British influence. Baked on metal trays in either electric or gas ovens, it is hard to miss the mouth-watering smell that comes from the many pastizzerias dotted across the island.

In recent years, pastizzi have been elevated to a whole new level with many shops offering different variations to the golden snack. Chicken, beef or spinach pastizzi are slowly but steadily becoming popular with locals.

Other items found in a pastizzeria

A variety of other delicious items are also on offer. Similar to the pastizz, qassatat are bigger alternatives made with shortcrust pastry that tend to be more like a pie. These come with either a ricotta, mushy peas or spinach filling. Pizza is another favourite snack available. Topped with cheese, tomatoes and olives, pizza slices are generally cut thickly in squares and are known for oozing oil and lots of goodness. Freshly baked pies with all sorts of fillings ranging from beef, chicken and lamb to ricotta and vegetables are also popular, whereas some shops may provide less common products like the octopus pie. In addition, most joints are known for items like sausage rolls and savoury pasta bakes like timpana, lasagna, tortellini, cannelloni and ross il-forn (baked rice). These are usually baked in sheet trays and sold by the piece or they are prepared in individual portions.

Although not typical of a pastizzeria, some shops may offer freshly prepared salads, an assortment of baguettes, ftajjar, ciabattas and wraps, burgers, as well as Sicilian arancini (rice balls). In addition, a number of pastizzerias also offer Maltese sweet items like sinizza, kannoli, ottijiet and krustini, date tarts, jam tarts and rock cakes or seasonal products associated with a specific celebration like Halloween, Christmas and Easter.

There's no denying that pastizzi are high in calories, but as people are increasingly becoming more health-conscious, pastizzerias have raised their game and now offer low-calorie alternatives, allowing clients to continue savouring the delectable flavour without packing on the pounds.

Frozen goodies to bake at home

Want to relish a good pastizz at home for breakfast with your morning coffee or as an evening snack with a glass of wine? Stock your freezer with bags of the frozen alternative or with sausage rolls to whisk out and pop into the oven when the mood strikes you. Frozen, homemade ricotta, chicken and salmon ravjul, as well as different types of pastries and doughs are also available to purchase at the pastizzeria. What is more, the frozen variety can also be purchased in small sizes, ideal for an intimate party at home.

For a cheap, delicious, appetising snack that can fill your belly at any time of the day, visit a pastizzeria near you from the long list of shops found on Yellow.