🇲🇹 Maltese Recipes

Traditional Mediterranean Cuisine

Qassatat tal-Inċova (Anchovy Pies)

Maltese savoury pies filled with anchovies, tomato, capers, and olives. A salty, tangy fish-filled alternative to pea qassatat.

Prep: 20 minutes (plus 30 minutes chilling) Cook: 30 minutes Servings: 8-10 small pies
Jump to recipe
Watercolour illustration of pleated anchovy pies with tomato, olives and capers.

Ingredients

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

Instructions

  1. Make the pastry: Rub the cold butter into the flour and salt until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Add cold water gradually, mixing until the dough just comes together. Do not overwork. Wrap in cling film and chill for 30 minutes.
  2. Sauté the aromatics: Heat the olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook for about 5 minutes until soft. Add the garlic and cook for another minute.
  3. Build the filling: Stir in the chopped tomatoes and tomato paste. Cook over medium heat for 10–15 minutes, until the mixture is thick and no longer watery. Remove from heat.
  4. Finish the filling: Stir in the anchovies, capers, olives, and parsley. Season with black pepper and add oregano or chilli flakes if using. Allow the filling to cool completely before shaping.
  5. Shape the qassatat: Preheat the oven to 180°C (fan 170°C). Roll the chilled pastry to about 3–4mm thickness. Cut out circles roughly 10–12cm in diameter. Place a spoonful of filling in the centre of each circle. Fold the edges inward in pleats, leaving the centre slightly open — this is the traditional Maltese style.
  6. Bake: Place on a lined baking tray and bake for 25–30 minutes until golden. Cool slightly before serving.

Qassatat tal-Inċova are traditional Maltese savoury pies filled with anchovies, tomato, capers, and olives. Commonly found in village bakeries across Malta, they are especially popular during Lent when meat is avoided. Their distinctive open-topped shape sets them apart from pastizzi, and the bold, salty filling is a hallmark of Maltese coastal cooking.

Serving Suggestions

  • Serve warm or at room temperature
  • Add a squeeze of lemon to brighten the filling
  • Great as a snack, light lunch, or part of a spread
  • Pair with a simple salad or olives on the side

Traditional Notes & Tips

  • The centre is traditionally left open, unlike pastizzi — this is intentional and distinctive
  • Drain the tomatoes well and reduce the sauce properly; a watery filling will make the pastry soggy
  • Anchovy flavour should be pronounced but balanced by the tomato and capers
  • Using lard alongside butter gives the pastry a more authentic, slightly crumbly texture
  • The filling must be completely cool before shaping, or the pastry will soften
  • Qassatat are best eaten the same day but can be reheated in a low oven

An anchovy version of a bakery pastry

Visit Gozo’s bakery guide places qassatat alongside ftira and lampuki pies in the island’s baking repertoire.

The anchovy, tomato, caper, and olive filling here is a fish-based variation. It is meat-free in the everyday sense of containing no meat or poultry, but it is not vegetarian. Choose the pea qassatat if you want a different filling while keeping the open-topped pastry format.