Ftira

Name: Ftira
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Malta
Ingredients: 1 round Maltese ftira bread (or crusty sourdough), halved; 1/2 cup Kunserva (Maltese sun-dried tomato paste); 1 can tuna in oil, drained; 1 small red onion, thinly sliced; 10 black olives, pitted; 2 tbsp capers; 2 tomatoes, sliced; 3 tbsp olive oil; Salt and pepper to taste

4 servings20 min prep10 min cookEasy Malta

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The Story Behind It

The Tale of Ftira

Story updated September 17, 2026

Ftira is a distinctively ring-shaped Maltese bread, baked in wood-fired ovens as an everyday peasant staple long before it became the base for Malta's iconic stuffed sandwich. It's traditionally filled with tuna, olives, capers, and kunserva, a thick tomato paste central to Maltese pantries.

Ingredients

Scale:· 4 servings

1 round Maltese ftira bread (or crusty sourdough), halved
1/2 cup Kunserva (Maltese sun-dried tomato paste)
1 can tuna in oil, drained
1 small red onion, thinly sliced
10 black olives, pitted
2 tbsp capers
2 tomatoes, sliced
3 tbsp olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1Slice the ftira bread horizontally and lightly toast the cut sides if desired.
2Spread the kunserva tomato paste generously over both halves.
3Layer the flaked tuna, sliced onion, tomatoes, olives and capers over the base.
4Drizzle generously with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
5Close the sandwich with the top half of the bread and press down firmly.
6Wrap tightly and let it sit for 10-15 minutes so the flavors meld and the bread absorbs the oil.
7Cut into wedges and serve.

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