Traditional local Zeppoli and where to find them in Malta 😋
One of the most loved seasonal sweets, zeppoli are a traditional deep fried choux pastry eaten for the Catholic feast of St Joseph on the 19th March - but they can be found in the weeks before this feast all over Italy and Malta, and in Italian communities all over the world, like the United States. 😮
What’s in a name?
Popularised in the 19th century by Neapolitan baker, zeppole (as they are called in Italy) can be plain, but they are usually filled with custard, ricotta, nuts and dried fruit, or other types of cream mixtures, and can also be topped with powdered sugar or honey. They can even come in different shapes and sizes. They can also vary in their methods of filling. 😋
Fun Facts
The Feast of St Joseph is celebrated in many villages around Malta for whom St Joseph is the patron saint. Rabat is the main one, but there are also feasts of St Joseph in Kalkara, Zejtun, Msida, Manikata, and Qala, Gozo. To these localities, zeppoli play an even more important role. 👑
During this period, another fried treat that can be found are sfineg, savoury zeppoli filled with anchovies 🐟 - this may sound intimidating or downright gross if you’re not familiar with them, but they’re actually super tasty and definitely worth a try. These have been around for a few weeks now (since the start of Lent) and are consumed throughout March. 📅
Spots to check out
You can get zeppoli at pretty much any confectionery on the island right now, but we’ll give you a few specific spots where you can find this sweet treat. 🤪
Manouche: for that perfect choux and delish filling! 🤤
Busy Bee: to keep things traditional but ever so tasty. 🇲🇹
Ta Doni: in the heart of Rabat, for a truly authentic vibe. 🤙
Ella’s Gourmet: a spot of artisan luxury never hurt anyone! 🤩
Eri's Gourmet: a FoodBlog fav, get these zeppoli while they're hot! 🔥
We hope you take the opportunity this weekend to stuff your face with every zeppola you can find! Do you have a favourite zeppoli outlet? Let us know in the comments below! ⬇️
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