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 Cannoli 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, the US, UK[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 expression 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

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 10/28/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.