Maltese Bread With Tomatoes (Hobz Biz-Zejt)

The national dish of Malta. Tasty, easy to make, ideal for picnics or days by the sea. The primary ingredients are bread, tomatoes, olive oil, salt and pepper. The other ingredients vary widely, although capers and olives are almost universally included. If using fresh tomatoes, make sure they are soft and juicy rather than firm to the touch. This simple dish is popular as a take-out meal but is also served as an appetizer in most restaurants, and as a bar snack in village pubs. In the latter cases the bread is often toasted, a bit like bruschetta. You can make anything from a single portion to a large-family size meal to a large event. Exclude tuna for a vegetarian/vegan version.

 

Maltese Bread - Il-Hobza tal-Malti