Maltese Cuisine

Hobz biz-zejt

Cuisine: Maltese Created by Shane Delia

The name Hobz biz-zeit –translates as bread with oil. Thick slices of bread are spread with the beloved sweetish tomato paste called kunserva and topped with capers, olives, garlic, black pepper and a drizzle of olive oil. Sometimes tuna or anchovies are added.

Ingredients

Dense, crusty bread
Good quality tomato paste (known in Maltese as kunserva)
Capers
White Anchovies or tinned tuna in oil, drained
Sea salt and pepper
Flat leaf parsley, leaves picked
Extra virgin olive oil

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Preparation

Spread tomato paste over slices of bread.

Sprinkle capers.

Top with whole white anchovies or tuna.

Season with sea salt and freshly ground pepper.

Sprinkle with parsley and drizzle generously with extra virgin olive oil.

Maltese Restaurants

Displaying 4 of 4 Maltese Restaurants.

Restaurant		Suburb
1.	The Original Maltese Cafe	Surry Hills
2.	Maha Bar & Grill	Melbourne
3.	Pastizzi Cafe	Newtown
4.	Cafe Valletta	Sydney

10 Feb 2012 01:22 AEST

Marthese

labrador

GOOD MALTESE FOOD

maltese food is the best especially bigilla,hobs biz-zejt and cannoli tal lirkotta and also imqarett and zalzett. the only thing i would like to know is to make the real maltese bread.

21 Sep 2011 10:12 AEST

Tony

Manchester UK

UK Comment

Ive seen a number of different ways of this being done, personally I prefer mine as below.. in the UK I have to settle for tiger bread unless I bring a few loaves back from Malta. Gbejna cheese I also adore (hard peppered) Sea Salt/Pepper Anchovies Tuna Sliced Green Olives Diced onion baby capers (along with the usual Kunserva) I also use the above and add diced tomato into the mix with some fresh mint and four leaf as a kind of Maltese salad for my lunch at work.. easy and healthy

07 Aug 2011 07:33 AEST

Wally Vella-Zarb

MALTA

Not so sure about the parsley...

We have always used mint leaves, torn (not cut) into little pieces and strewn over the bread. We find that this acts as a freshener in the summer heat. Well done on keeping our cuisine popular in Australia!

04 Jun 2011 04:56 AEST

John Gatt

Melbourne

Yum!!

I use sardines some red onion and olives on my Hobz biz-zejt we use to catch the sardines in the docks across the road from St. Lawrence's Church when i was a boy I think it was called the Shat (or shot)

30 May 2011 07:34 AEST

Vic

St HELENS TASMANIA

I like it verey much

I was born in Gozo Malta, Yes that is my faverate, in summer with that crunchey hobs biz-zeit going to ramla beach, in Gozo, what a treat, If i can get the recipe to know how, to do it, yout it ou tell some pepole about it, and they turn their nose about it, they don't know, what they are missing. Thank you so much.

23 May 2011 11:02 AEST

Tom Smith

Melbourne

This is great

Cool recipe!

12 Dec 2010 12:51 AEST

Felicity Zerafa

Scoresby

No one beats Maltese foods

hello all, if you need any Maltese recipes go to www.malteserecipes.com.au and you will find any thing you want thats were i get all my recipes,imqaret,qaghaq ta laghsel i maid some they come so nice, pastizzi,hobs ect ect.if you want me to send you any recipes this is my email wilfeldi@hotmail.com

12 Oct 2010 09:26 AEST

Susan

Croydon Nth VIC

Hobz biz - zejt

Its lovely to read everyones comments on traditional Maltese dishes. I've grown up on these yummy receipes as my parents are Maltese. Every Sunday we would get fresh crusty bread from the bakery & enjoy a huge spread of Hobz biz zejt , everything from tomatoe paste, tuna, extra virgin olive oil, capers & fresh ricotta cheese (thats the Australian version) Lots of ground salt & pepper. I introduced this spread to my husband 24 yrs ago when we were going out and he and our kids love it also.

08 Feb 2010 06:51 AEST

Joyce nee Scicluna

Redcliffe (Qld)

I made a boo boo!

Hello again, I made a boo boo! my email is - info@maltesefoods.com.au Grazzi hafna

07 Feb 2010 05:25 AEST

Joyce nee Scicluna

Redcliffe- Brisbane-Qld

Delicious!

Hello, I was born in Australia but both parents were Maltese (now deceased). I remember the beautiful hobz biz-zejt and puddina mum used to make for us. In Sydney and Melbourne it is easy to get the kunserva (tomato paste) and other foods, but here its more difficult, so I have decided to make available to Brisbanite Maltese, traditional Maltese food, like the kunserva from Gozo,gbejniet ( cheese) kinnie etc. My email is maltesefoods.com.au

17 Nov 2009 07:23 AEST

Eva Gauci

Shepparton

Yum

I'm Maltese & I have Hobz biz zeit once a fortnight. I use anchovies insted of tuna. My pa was born in Malta & has fond memories of Malta. I'm going to try to go to Malta in the next 2 years. I also love rabbit stew, Pastizzi's & ravioli. YUM!!!!!

12 Jul 2009 10:50 AEST

Matilda Tipping

Padstow N.S.W.

Recipes

I have just watched the recipe of Hobbs Biz-Zejt and it broath me a lot of memories of when i was little, Can you please sednd me the Recipe of the Maltese Bread like the one i just saw. I would love to make some myself thank you very much Your's Truly Matilda. This is my E-Mail Address. tilly.46@optusnet.com.au Thank you again.

18 Jun 2009 05:32 AEST

Darren

Potts Point

Tomato paste

I grew up with this stuff. Dad is Maltese. I think traditionally you're mean to rub a halved tomato into the bread, but tomatoes being so hard and pink the paste is a substitute. I remember fondly sitting on my Aunty's balcony overlooking Meliha Bay in Malta, eating beautiful hobz biz-zeit -- fresh tomatoes, bread capers and rock salt. Gorgeous.

20 May 2009 08:28 AEST

Perth WA

just as simple

Hi, I love this site so many exciting worldy recipies, I remember having this for school lunch the same as Katie just the bread, olive oil and tomato paste. I used to try and swap it for vegiemite sandwiches! oh how I miss it now. 'am going off to make one right this minute.does anyone have pastitzi recipies?If so please post on site.

11 Apr 2009 08:10 AEST

Raymond S G Martin

Gosnells WA 6110

Hobz biz - zejt. (Yummy)

Hi I am from malta I came to Australia with my family back in Nov. 1963 we landed in Fremantle of the ship Sydney I was only 8 years old at the time . It is nice to see someone with recipes that I like and forgot about Thanks I look forward to keeping in touch with your web site.

10 Mar 2009 03:21 AEST

Mitchell Wilton

Toowong (Qld)

still craving it

I am just craving one right now - Ate one very morning when in Malta with my Maltese wife. I remember the bakery served theirs with tuna and added some lemon juice too

01 Feb 2009 04:33 AEST

Katie

Delahey (Melbourne)

Yummy!

This is a great recipe. My dad and I love it (he's Maltese)! We make it much simpler than this though - just bread, tomato paste and olive oil. Enjoy!

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