Everything is better when it's Maltese.
International food has hit the Maltese islands with a major bang! There are so many different types of cuisines on offer that taking your pick on what to eat is sometimes a huge challenge. But, how can we give some of those fun classics - such as pizza, tacos and paella - a super Maltese twist, putting the local into the international?
Pizza
This guy has pretty much made it onto Maltese menus without much change and it is one of the most popular choices on the island. But, you can Maltese-ify your pizza with a few local twists. Use a rich kunserva (tomato paste) on the base, sourced from our local tomatoes, for some added sweetness, and grate a dried gbejna or two before you start to pack on the rest of your toppings. I always go for fresh local veggies, thinly sliced and cooked to perfection.
Ramen
This dish, that’s perfect for the cold weather we’ve been through recently, is versatile and can easily take in some Mediterranean flavours. To get a good ramen, you need a good stock. To make one, get yourself some local red prawn, decapitate those suckers and use the head and shell to get a super stock. Don’t let the stock pot boil or it will go bitter, but aim for a steady simmer. Fry up the rest of the prawn in your preferred oil - coconut works nicely - and cook them for a few seconds in the pan. That's all they need! And, for a balance of flavours, add pork belly - local pork that is, which is packed with streaks of fat, giving your ramen a super rich flavour.
Tacos
Taco Tuesdays will never be the same once they take the Maltese route. Think of the main components of a taco: the beans, the salsa, the sour cream… all totally Maltese-able. Switch the kidney beans for fried bigilla to give your taco a smooth, yet crispy texture; make a fresh salsa or pico di gallo with local cherry tomatoes and grate some gbejniet into a yoghurt base for a cool dressing. Rumour has it that Maltese avocados are being cultivated but a mature plant takes 25 years to produce fruit, so don’t hold your breath.
Paella
A traditional Spanish dish made Maltese with zero effort? Let’s talk about paella. There's not much to swap out here! Take the standard ingredients list and source them locally. Rabbit, clams and mussels can all be found here, fresh from the Mediterranean. The only genuine swap you are going to have to make is the salty meat. But, trade your Spanish chorizo for the juicy, aromatic, succulent flavours of Maltese sausage. It's a win, win, if you ask me. And, give it an additional Maltese kick by using additional rabbit seasoning - a popular spice mix found in most supermarkets.
There are many more! How do you Maltese-ify your dishes?