Maltese sandwich

I was standing over a bowl full of tomatoes from my neighbor and the Maltese sandwich popped into my head. I am not really a tomato eater but my mom would make these sandwiches for me almost every day and I loved them. I really did think they were "a thing" but googled it anyway, not thinking there would be anything online. I thought it was my mom just made up. 

Mine were not made with Tuna. As I remember it, just a really good bread, smeared with lots of tomatoes, sprinkled a little salt and capers, drizzled with olive oil. Now, reading the recipe, I do remember the  tomato paste.

Ingredients: 

1 fresh small ciabatta 

1 can of tuna in oil (not in brine)

a good squeeze of tomato paste to cover the ciabatta 

a handful of rucola

some olive oil to drizzle

pepper for flavour 

Method: 

Slice the ciabatta in half with a bread knife and cut through so you have 2 halves. With a knife spread the kunserva on the bread enough to cover the bread half well and so you can taste the tomato paste clearly. Open up your can of tuna and drain half the oil from it. Carefully divide the tuna flakes over the bread with a fork. Drizzle over some extra olive oil and season with pepper. Add on the rucola and place the top of the ciabatta back on top of the tuna and rucola. 

 

ħobż biż-żejt is one of the most known and popular of Maltese dishes. Very tasty and easy to make, it is ideal ideal for picnics or an afternoon snack by the sea after a refreshing swim. The main ingredients are also very easy to find in pretty much any supermarket or grocery store around the corner. And if you cannot find the ingredients, the shop attendant will be happy to help you find them. The traditional ħobż biż-żejt is made up out of fresh Maltese bread, layered with fresh tomatoes or tomato paste (called ‘Kunserva’ in Maltese), olive oil, salt and pepper. Other ingredients are added to taste and can vary widely. When I ate this for the first time, I had only Tuna added on, other times capers, olives, green peppers and fresh anchovy were added on as well. I might have one later today!