Pastizz

Maltese Pastizz (Cheese/Pea cake)

Two varieties of Maltese pastizzi
Type Pastry
Place of origin Malta
Main ingredients Phyllo-like dough, ricotta or mushy peas
Variations Ricotta, Ġbejna Għawdxija, Piżelli
Cookbook: Maltese Pastizz (Cheese/Pea cake)  Media: Maltese Pastizz (Cheese/Pea cake)

A pastizz (plural pastizzi) is a traditional savoury pastry from Malta. Pastizzi usually have a filling either of ricotta or mushy peas, and are called pastizzi tal-irkotta (cheese cake), "tal haxu", or pastizzi tal-piżelli (pea cake).[1][2] Pastizzi are a popular, traditional and well-known Maltese food.

Preparation

Pastizzi are usually diamond-shaped or round-shaped [3] and made with a pastry very much like the Greek phyllo pastry (although there is also a puff pastry version). The pastry is folded in different ways according to the filling. They are typically baked on metal trays in electric or gas ovens in a pastizzeria, usually a small or family concern. They are also sold in bars, cafes and by street vendors.

Culinary export

Pastizzi are also produced by Maltese immigrant communities in Australia, Canada, the UK and the [Maltese American|US]][4] and Canada. The first pastizzeria in Scotland opened in 2007.[3]

Pastizzi in the Maltese language

Such is its popularity, the word "pastizzi" has multiple meanings in Maltese.[5] It is used as a euphemism for the female sexual organ, due to its shape, and for describing someone as an "idiot". The Maltese idiom jinbiegħu bħall-pastizzi (selling like pastizzi) is equivalent to the English "selling like hot cakes", to describe a product which seems to have inexhaustible demand.[6][7][8] Things which are jinħarġu bħall-pastizzi, coming out like pastizzi, can be said to be emerging at a fast rate, sometimes too quickly.[9][10] [11]

See also

References

  1. "#1 Pastizzi.com". Pastizzi. Retrieved 2010-01-21.
  2. Gaul, Simon (2007). Malta Gozo & Comino. New Holland Publishing. p. 157. ISBN 1-86011-365-6.
  3. 1 2 Maltese meat pies Archived 2011-07-28 at the Wayback Machine. British Baker, 12 October 2007
  4. http://parparellu.com/food-menu/
  5. Fabri, Ray (2009) Maltese linguistics: a snapshot; in memory of Joseph A. Cremona (1922-2003) Bochum: Brockmeyer ISBN 978-3-8196-0734-9 p.44
  6. "No candle in the wind". The Times of Malta. 21 June 2003.
  7. http://www.thinksite.eu/pages/tsdart.asp?id=739
  8. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-06-04. Retrieved 2012-01-01.
  9. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-05-13. Retrieved 2012-01-01.
  10. http://www.alfredsant.org/pages/dassingle.asp?id=256
  11. Dibattiti tal-Kamra tad-Deputati (Rapport Uffiċjali u Rivedut): L-Għaxar Parlament, Seduta Nru. 311, It-Tlieta, 1 ta’ Novembru, 2005 Archived 2013-12-24 at the Wayback Machine. (in Maltese). Stampat fl-Uffiċċju ta' l-Iskrivan, Kamra tad-Deputati. Accessed January 2012. "Debates of the House of Representatives ... 1 November 2005"
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