National Dish Malta: Kannelloni Malti (Recipe)
In this article
Say hello to Kannelloni Malti, Malta’s answer to the great baked pasta dishes of the Mediterranean. Plump tubes are stuffed with creamy ricotta, tender spinach and a whisper of garlic, then blanketed in tomato sauce and cheese and baked until bubbling and golden. It is warming, generous, unfussy food — the sort of dish that draws a family to the table on a Sunday and holds its own at a celebration just as easily.
About Kannelloni Malti
Kannelloni Malti is a much-loved dish from the Maltese islands, rich in both flavour and history. The pasta tubes are filled with a mixture of ricotta, spinach and a handful of seasonings that turn the whole thing into a genuine treat. They are straightforward to put together and offer a lovely way into Maltese home cooking. Perfect for family meals or festive occasions, they carry a real sense of comfort and togetherness — much like the generous spread of a traditional Platt Malti.
Ingredients (serves 1–2)
- 250 g cannelloni tubes
- 200 g ricotta
- 150 g fresh spinach
- 1 small onion
- 2 cloves of garlic
- 100 g grated cheese
- 1 egg
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Olive oil
- Tomato sauce (as desired)
Shopping for the ingredients
To get the best results from your Kannelloni Malti, it pays to choose good-quality ingredients. Fresh items such as spinach and ricotta are ideally bought locally, which deepens the authentic flavour of the finished dish. Well-stocked supermarkets and weekly markets often carry the freshest produce. When you are buying dairy, do glance at the use-by date on the cheese to be sure of its freshness.
Preparing the dish
Good preparation is the key to success with this recipe. Begin by finely chopping the onion and the garlic and sweating them in a pan with a little olive oil until translucent. Add the spinach and let it wilt down. Then stir the contents of the pan together with the ricotta and the egg to give you a smooth, even filling, which you can season with salt and pepper.
Step-by-step instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180°C.
- Carefully fill the cannelloni tubes with the prepared filling.
- Cover the base of a baking dish with a little tomato sauce.
- Lay the filled tubes in the dish and cover them with the remaining sauce.
- Scatter over the grated cheese and cover the dish with foil.
- Bake for roughly 25–30 minutes, until cooked through.
- Remove the foil and bake for a further 5–10 minutes to brown the cheese.
Gluten-free / lactose-free version
For a gluten-free version of Kannelloni Malti, use gluten-free cannelloni tubes, which are now widely available. To make the dish lactose-free, replace the ricotta with a plant-based alternative such as a cashew cream or a firm silken tofu blended smooth with lemon. These adjustments let you cook the dish for anyone with an intolerance without giving up any of the flavour. The result is still a proper treat that everyone at the table can share.
Tips for vegans and vegetarians
For a vegan take on Kannelloni Malti, simply leave out the egg and swap the ricotta for a mixture of blended cashews and plant-based cream. The filling can be lifted further with frozen spinach and a pinch of nutmeg for extra depth. Do check that the tomato sauce and any seasoning blends you use are suitable for a vegan preparation. With these tweaks, vegans and vegetarians can enjoy the Maltese tradition in full.
More tips and tricks
To make your Kannelloni Malti even tastier, season the filling with additional herbs such as basil or oregano. If you enjoy experimenting, add a few pine nuts for a savoury crunch. Take care not to overfill the tubes, or the pasta may split during baking. Beyond that, adjust the seasoning to your own liking so the dish comes out exactly the way you want it.
Adapting the recipe to your taste
Kannelloni Malti is wonderfully flexible and easy to tailor to personal preference. You might, for instance, fold roasted vegetables such as courgette or aubergine into the filling — the same trick that works so nicely in Qarabaghli Mimli. Regional cheeses and local specialities can add interesting accents of their own. Don’t forget to vary the seasoning to suit different palates and to adapt the dish to your family or guests.
Ingredient substitutions
There will be days when you don’t have every ingredient to hand, and this recipe adapts happily. In place of spinach you could use rocket or Swiss chard, which gives the dish an entirely new character. If ricotta is unavailable, cottage cheese or even a plant-based cream cheese will do the job, as will the small local gbejniet cheeses celebrated in Torta tal-Gbejniet. Substitutions like these keep cooking varied and interesting.
Drink pairing ideas
To round off the experience, a well-chosen drink makes all the difference. A crisp white wine, such as a Maltese Chardonnay, harmonises beautifully with the flavours of the filling. For an alcohol-free option, sparkling water with a squeeze of lemon underlines the freshness of the dish. A lightly chilled herbal tea also sits well alongside this Mediterranean classic.
Serving and presentation ideas
To present Kannelloni Malti attractively, bring the finished dish to the table in a handsome baking dish and garnish it with fresh basil. For an extra flourish, use a colourful mix of sauces — a spoonful of green pesto or a red pepper sauce, for example. Good plates and a scattering of edible flowers can lift the overall look of the meal considerably.
A bit of history
Kannelloni Malti has its roots in Maltese cooking, which has been shaped by a long succession of cultures. Malta was settled and ruled by many different nations over the centuries, and the island’s kitchens still reflect that. These filled pasta tubes are a classic example of fresh ingredients meeting traditional methods, standing alongside stuffed dishes such as Ravjul Malti. They are not only delicious but also a symbol of Maltese hospitality and the local love of good food — a defining trait of Maltese cuisine.
More recipe ideas
Summary: Kannelloni Malti
Kannelloni Malti is a delicious and versatile dish that brings tradition and modern taste into perfect balance. With simple ingredients and plenty of room for adjustment, it suits any occasion, from a relaxed family supper to a festive banquet. Experiment with different fillings and presentations to give it your own personal stamp. In doing so you bring a little piece of Malta into your kitchen — and give your guests a meal they will remember.
