Top 4 Maltese Soups

Aljotta is a traditional soup that is especially popular during Lent, when meat is forbidden. Fish is the key ingredient used in this soup – head and tail included, and it is usually made with small fish such as rockfish. The fish is combined with fried onions, garlic, water, tomatoes, and flavorings such as mint and bay leaves. The soup is then strained and rice is added until fully cooked. All that remains is to garnish the soup with parsley and add a squeeze of lemon into it, and aljotta is ready to be consumed.Expand

This hearty Maltese vegetable soup is incredibly versatile and can be prepared with various seasonal vegetables. It typically employs carrots, potatoes, kohlrabi, broad beans, celery, peas, or cabbage, but it is adaptable to preference and the availability of ingredients. Some varieties include ingredients such as poached eggs and the traditional ġbejna cheese. Depending on the choice of vegetables, soppa can be enjoyed throughout the year and is best served with sourdough bread on the side.Expand

This hearty Maltese soup is traditionally prepared during winter months. Kawlata is made with either smoked pork shank or bacon, and a variety of vegetables such as broad beans, pumpkin or chayote squash, potatoes, kohlrabi, celery, carrots, cauliflower, and cabbage. Modern recipe variations also include macaroni pasta. This chunky soup is flavored with fennel seeds, and it is typically served as a one-course meal, often topped with a generous amount of grated cheese.Expand

Maltese kusksu is a hearty and nourishing soup prepared with peas, broad beans, and giant couscous (also known as pastina, pearl pasta, or Israeli couscous). Dried mint, cheese, and eggs might also be added to the soup in order to further elevate its flavors. It is believed that kusksu soup has Italian and Middle Eastern origins, but this dish is nowadays a Maltese staple. The soup is typically prepared during winter due to its warming properties and nutritional value. It is recommended to serve kusksu with a few slices of local sourdough bread.Expand