Ash Wednesday is upon us! Here are seven traditional Maltese treats to eat this Lent
Carnival celebrations wrapped yesterday evening, and today Malta moves into a more sombre celebration. Today, the 5th of March, marks Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent, a highly symbolic Christian ritual leading to the more pleasant Easter celebrations.
Traditionally, Lent is a period of reflection and sacrifice and is primarily marked by a change in eating pattern: no meat consumption on Wednesdays and Fridays (meat was considered a luxury in the olden days) and some even spend 40 whole days without sugary or savoury treats – which means no soft drinks, chocolate, crisps or red meat for well over a month.
Thankfully, there are SOME traditional treats which are permissible during the next 40 days that devout Maltese Catholics like to snack on. Here they are!
Kwarezimal
Made from flour, sugar, orange grind and almond paste (aka intrita), this traditional, sweet yet simple treat is primarily consumed during the Lent period. Furthermore, the original recipe is vegan friendly yet some bakers include a honey drizzle on top. This component can be easily replaced or omitted, making for a universally delicious treat!
Qaghaq tal-appostli
If you live for carbs, then this is one treat you do not want to miss out on. These sweet-yet-savoury bread rings come in big sizes (yes, bigger than your face!), and can be consumed either plain or toasted with butter. Yum!
Torta tal-haxu
Torta tal-haxu, or ricotta pie, is a downgrade from traditional cheese pies which generally include peas or beans. Since Lent marks a period of restraint and moderation, the fancier ingredients are abolished. Nevertheless, the pie's delicious, soft, fluffy interior makes for an irresistable snack, or even lunch or dinner!
Qassatat tal-helu
Fine, sugar should technically be avoided during this time, but sometimes one needs a teatime snack without having to worry about the consequences. This is one effective solution: a sweet tart with a sugary ricotta filling topped with a cherry. Nothing over-the-top, but serves as the perfect pick-me-up we all need from time to time!
Bebbux
Bebbux, or snails, are a traditional food dish for this specific time of the year. While snails technically count as protein, it is red meat that is generally not consumed during this period, meaning white cuts and fish are accepted.
Qaqocc mimli
Filled with a mixture of tuna, capers, onion and garlic, qaqocc mimli or stuffed artichokes, are not an exclusive Lent dish but they're nonetheless the perfect tuna dish. Even the process of eating them (picking out the stuffed leaves and scraping them with your teeth) can turn into a fun activity for everyone!
Karamelli tal-harrub
Karamelli tal-harrub are small sugary squares that look like little pieces of brown glass. They’re a traditional sweet made from carob syrup and are one of the foods that were traditionally okay to eat in the abstemious Lent period before Good Friday, because they weren’t derived from animal by-products.
It was only in the 19th or 20th century that sugar started to be considered something that could break the Lent fast, especially during times of poverty and scarcity when such products were considered frivolous luxuries. Nowadays, even people who give up chocolate for Lent may make an exception for karamelli, because they’re not sweets sweets. Although the amount of sugar in them might question this.
Which ones will you be trying this Lent season?