Bacon and Egg Ftira

Name: Bacon and Egg Ftira
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Yield: 2 people
Cuisine: Maltese
Ingredients: 2 ready-baked ftira rolls (about 350-400g total); 20g butter, softened, divided; 120g bacon (about 4 large rashers); 2 eggs; 2 slices cheese, such as cheddar (about 40g total); 1 ripe tomato, thinly sliced; 2 lettuce leaves, washed, dried and shredded; Black pepper to taste; 1 tbsp BBQ sauce (optional)

Fill a buttered ftira with bacon, fried egg, cheese, tomato and lettuce. A breakfast-style sandwich for two, ready in 20 minutes.

Prep: 10 minutes Cook: 10 minutes Servings: 2 people

Jump to recipe

Watercolour illustration of a bacon and egg ftira with fried egg, cheese, tomato and lettuce.

Ingredients

Have your ingredients ready? Go to instructions

Measures: 1 tbsp = 15ml; 1 tsp = 5ml. For local ingredient names and substitutions, see our guide to Maltese ingredients abroad.

2 ready-baked ftira rolls (about 350-400g total)
20g butter, softened, divided
120g bacon (about 4 large rashers)
2 eggs
2 slices cheese, such as cheddar (about 40g total)
1 ripe tomato, thinly sliced
2 lettuce leaves, washed, dried and shredded
Black pepper to taste
1 tbsp BBQ sauce (optional)

Instructions

Prepare the bread: Split the ftira horizontally and spread the cut surfaces with half the butter. Slice the tomato and dry and shred the lettuce. Put a slice of cheese on each bottom half.
Cook the bacon: Put the bacon in a frying pan over medium heat. Cook for about 5-7 minutes, turning, until cooked through and as crisp as you like. Transfer to a warm plate.
Fry the eggs: Add the remaining butter to the pan, lowering the heat if needed. Crack in the eggs and fry for about 3 minutes, or until the whites are set and the yolks are cooked to your preference. Cook them a little longer for a firmer filling.
Assemble while hot: Lay the bacon and eggs over the cheese so it softens. Add black pepper, the tomato and lettuce, and a little BBQ sauce if using. Close gently and serve at once.

This breakfast-style ftira brings hot bacon and fried egg together with cheese and fresh salad. The heat softens the cheese while the tomato and lettuce keep the sandwich from feeling too heavy. It is best assembled just before eating.

Ingredient Substitutions Outside Malta

Use a sturdy sourdough roll or ciabatta if ftira is unavailable. Streaky bacon gives more crisp edges; back bacon gives a meatier bite. Choose a cheese that softens against the warm filling, such as cheddar or a mild sliced cheese.

Serving Suggestions

Serve for breakfast, brunch or a quick lunch. Cut each sandwich in half and have napkins ready if you prefer a soft yolk. BBQ sauce is optional; the bacon and cheese already bring plenty of flavour.

Notes & Tips

Set the bread and salad out before cooking so the eggs can go straight into the sandwich.
If the bacon releases a lot of fat, carefully spoon off the excess before frying the eggs.
A firmer yolk is easier to eat in a sandwich. For anyone advised to avoid lightly cooked eggs, cook both the white and yolk until firm.
Keep the lettuce away from the pan and add it last to preserve its crunch.

Compare the warm and cold fillings in the ftira guide and filling planner.