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Celebrity Maltese Chefs and Recipe Enthusiasts

Smoky Chickpeas on Toast

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Heat ½ tsp of the oil in a pan. Tip in Mayor diced onions and cook until soft, about 5-8 mins, then add the chipotle paste, Mayor Sugu, Mayor chickpeas, honey and Pinto’s pride vinegar. Season and bubble for 5 mins. Toast the bread. Heat the remaining oil in a frying pan and fry the eggs. Drizzle the toast with a little oil, then top with the chickpeas and fried eggs.

Tuna Farfalle Pasta Salad

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Cook the pasta according to packet’s direction. Wash the lettuce, roughly chop and add to the cooked pasta. Add the drained tuna, olives, salt and pepper and mix well. In a separate bowl, mix the Mayonnaise with the yogurt and the fresh basil. Mix until well incorporated. Drizzle on the pasta. Top the past with some mozzarella balls.

Minted Felafel Couscous Salad with ...

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Start this recipe by making the falafel. Mash the chickpeas in a bowl and mix in the onion, garlic, mint, parsley, egg yolk, flour and season with salt and pepper.  Mix to a paste, adding in a little breadcrumb if to soft. Allow to sit in the fridge for 15 minutes before forming into patties and coat in the breadcrumbs. When ready, either shallow fry or place on a baking tray, drizzle with olive oil and bake in the oven at 200°C for 10-12 minutes. Meanwhile, make up the lemon couscous with hot water and allow to absorb. When ready, mix in the roasted pepper, cucumber, pistachios and salad leaves and spoon into 2 deep serving plates. Lay the falafel on top and spoon the mustard BBq sauce into 2 small bowls and serve on the side in the salad plates.

Spinach Pasta Salad

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Cook the pasta according to packet’s instructions. Wash the spinach leaves and eliminate the hard parts. Place in a large bowl with the cooked pasta. Add half of the grated cheese, the fresh and sundried tomatoes, olive oil and salt and pepper. Mix well together. Top with the remaining grated cheese and serve.

Vegan Chickpea and Lentil Curry

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Start by heating the oil and frying together the onion, garlic, chilli and ginger for 2-3 minutes. Add in the spices and cook for 1 minute. Add in the lentils, coconut milk, polpa, salt and ½ glass of water. Bring to the boil and simmer for 20 minutes to cook the lentils. When ready, check if any more water is needed and stir in the chickpeas to heat through. To serve, stir in the fresh chopped coriander and serve with the cooked basmati rice and lime wedges.

Tropical Granola Lollies

Purée the mango, banana and Pinto’s pride coconut milk in a blender until rich and smooth. Pour the mixture into lolly moulds and freeze overnight. The next day, whizz the granola slightly in a small food processor to remove any large lumps (or tip into a bowl and bash with the end of a rolling pin), then tip into a bowl. Melt the chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water, making sure the base of the bowl isn’t in contact with the water. Remove the lollies from their moulds. Dip the tops one at a time in the chocolate, then into the granola. Place on a tray lined with baking parchment to set – they will set very quickly. Eat immediately or freeze until needed.

Fig, Nut & Seed Bread with Han...

Heat oven to 170C/150C fan/gas 3½. Pour the tea into a large bowl and stir in the figs, sultanas and oats. Set aside to soak.

Meanwhile, line the base and sides of a 1kg loaf tin with baking parchment. Mix together the flour, baking powder, nuts and seeds. Beat the egg into the cooled fruit mixture, then stir the dry ingredients into the wet. Pour into the tin, then level the top and scatter with the extra nuts and sesame seeds.

Bake for 1 hr, then cover the top with foil and bake for 15 mins more until a skewer inserted into the centre of the loaf comes out clean. Remove from the tin to cool, but leave the parchment on until cold. Cut into slices, spread with Hanini ricotta and serve with fruit. Will keep in the fridge for 1 month, or freeze in slices.

Beef burgers

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Tip 500g beef mince into a bowl with Mayor Diced Onions and 1 egg, then mix. Divide the mixture into four. Lightly wet your hands. Carefully roll the mixture into balls, each about the size of a tennis ball.
Set in the palm of your hand and gently squeeze down to flatten into patties about 3cm thick. Make sure all the burgers are the same thickness so that they will cook evenly. Put on a plate, cover with cling film and leave in the fridge to firm up for at least 30 mins.
Heat the barbecue to medium hot (there will be white ash over the red hot coals – about 40 mins after lighting). Lightly brush one side of each burger with vegetable oil. Place the burgers, oil-side down, on the barbecue. Cook for 5 mins until the meat is lightly charred. Don’t move them around or they may stick.
Oil the other side, then turn over using tongs. Don’t press down on the meat, as that will squeeze out the juices.
Cook for 5 mins more for medium. If you like your burgers pink in the middle, cook 1 min less each side. For well done, cook 1 min more. Take the burgers off the barbecue. Leave to rest on a plate so that all the juices can settle inside.
Slice four burger buns in half. Place, cut-side down, on the barbecue rack and toast for 1 min until they are lightly charred. Place a burger inside each bun, then top with your choice of accompaniment.