Pastizzi

Name: Pastizzi
Prep time: 40 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 65 min
Yield: 12 servings
Cuisine: Malta
Ingredients: 1 lb ricotta cheese; 1 egg; 1/4 cup grated Parmesan; Salt and pepper to taste; 1 package puff pastry or rough puff dough; 1 cup dried yellow split peas, cooked and mashed (for pea version); 1 onion, sautéed (for pea version)

12 servings40 min prep25 min cookMedium Malta

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The Story Behind It

The Tale of Pastizzi

Story updated September 17, 2026

Pastizzi, flaky pastry parcels filled with ricotta or mushy peas, reflect Malta's long culinary crossroads history, shaped by both Arab and Sicilian influence over the centuries. Sold fresh from small local pastizzeriji, they remain one of Malta's most popular everyday snacks.

Ingredients

Scale:· 12 servings

1 lb ricotta cheese
1 egg
1/4 cup grated Parmesan
Salt and pepper to taste
1 package puff pastry or rough puff dough
1 cup dried yellow split peas, cooked and mashed (for pea version)
1 onion, sautéed (for pea version)

Instructions

1Mix ricotta with egg and Parmesan, seasoning well, for the cheese filling.
2For the pea filling, mash cooked split peas with sautéed onion and seasoning.
3Roll pastry thin and cut into rectangles.
4Place a spoonful of filling in the center of each piece.
5Fold and pinch the pastry into the traditional diamond shape, leaving the top slightly open.
6Bake at 425°F for 20-25 minutes until puffed and golden.
7Serve warm.

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