Name: Pastizzi
Yield: 12
Cuisine: Malta
Ingredients: 1 package puff pastry or homemade rough puff dough; 2 cups (450 g) ricotta cheese; 1 egg; Salt and pepper; Or pea filling: 1 cup cooked split peas mashed with 1 small onion, 1 tsp curry powder and salt; 1 egg, beaten, for brushing

Where it comes from

Pastizzi are a staple of Maltese street food, sold in small shops called pastizzerija across the island, often late at night. The ricotta version is called pastizzi tal-irkotta and the pea version pastizzi tal-pizelli.

Explore the cuisine of Malta.

Recipe

Make Pastizzi at home

Serves 12Time 45 minutes

Ingredients

1 package puff pastry or homemade rough puff dough
2 cups (450 g) ricotta cheese
1 egg
Salt and pepper
Or pea filling: 1 cup cooked split peas mashed with 1 small onion, 1 tsp curry powder and salt
1 egg, beaten, for brushing

How it's made

Heat the oven to 400 F (200 C).
Mix the ricotta with egg, salt and pepper; or mash cooked peas with a little onion and seasoning.
Roll the pastry thin and cut into squares or strips.
Place a spoonful of filling in the center and fold into a diamond or round shape, pinching the edges.
Brush with beaten egg.
Bake 20 to 25 minutes until puffed and golden.
Serve warm.