7 Common Wild Foods in Malta

Malta is deceptively wild! Like every piece of fertile land across the world, there is potential for wild food to grow. Common wild foods are the best to harvest as they're the most abundant and giving. Here are 5 common wild foods you can find and enjoy in Malta.

If you would like to find out more about wild food in Malta, do check out Malta's Friends of the Earth foraging guide. And in case you were wondering how I got to experience these plants? It was through the brilliant work of IAIS in Malta and their work on sustainability and equity.

Why forage in Malta?

Maybe it is just me, but I love experiencing a place through food. In Malta there are some fantastic local dishes like; rabbit stew, goats cheese ravioli, snails and date cakes. Oh, and the hot, flaky pastry of Pastizzi, a Maltese pea pasty is to die for.

These are local dishes that have evolved over time, however there is also native foods that grow wild across the island. This is important, because most of Malta's food is imported, in fact up to 80% of it. Importing rather than using what naturally grows in a place uses unnecessary resources and doesn't fully celebrate Malta's food.

Malta is also a small island with limited space and resources to grow food. Firstly because it is quickly being urbanised and currently being built up at a ridiculous speed. Secondly because it doesn't have any natural rivers or lakes. Therefore access to water is limited to rainfall in the winter months and desalinated seawater which takes money, time and more resources. Water on Malta is precious. Wild food grows naturally and is suited to the soil and weather conditions, it helps protect the isle, not take away from it.

Prickly Pears

Prickly pears are the easiest wild food to spot. Even the leaves are edible and contain water and vitamin C. Though beware, the hairs are an irritant (I learnt this the hard way), they should be picked with gloves and processed properly - peeled and/or de-haired. The juice is unusual and reminded me of a combination of sour and prune juice.

Golden Samphire

This was such a wonderful find! Golden samphire (Limbarda crithmoides) is somewhere between Rock samphire (which also grows in Malta) and Marsh samphire. The texture is soft and the taste, salty. A lovely snack and naturally goes well with fish and seafood.

Lentisk

I actually hoped this was black pepper! Actually, it is so much more nuanced in flavour than that. At each stage of fresh to dried, the berries taste different too. Traditionally used to flavour liqueurs, but also added as spice to cakes, meats and soups. Lentisk (Pistacia lentiscus) is also known as Mastic.

Cape Sorrel

Cape sorrel (Oxalis pes-caprae) is part of the oxalis family. I originally know this one as Bermuda Buttercup - an edible plant growing on the Isles of Scilly with a wonderful sour flavour. It is considered an invasive weed, so is a good one to eat. It also provides valuable ground cover to help keep moisture in the soil. So enjoy it, but don't pick too much. This is also in my Wild Food Foraging in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly book.

Carob

This is a favourite of mine, and I was super excited to find it wild (with a guide, of course). So excited I forgot to take a photo in situ, so this is it back in my kitchen. Carob (Ceratonia siliqua) is sweet and nutritious. It is so much more than a chocolate substitute. I love using the powder to make Palestinian bliss balls.

Wild Rocket

Perennial wall rocket (Diplotaxis tenuifolia) is another easy wild food to spot in Malta. Growing abundantly, it is a member of the mustard family and is delicious raw. It can be added to salads or used in pesto instead of basil.

Fennel

Wild fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) is a refreshing Mediterranean flavour. Perfect with fish, great as a digestive tea, and I love nibbling on the seeds as I walk. It is abundant in Malta and a useful spice to enjoy.

There are plenty more wild foods in Malta such as; Sea spinach, Mallow, Capers and Nasturtiums. This is just some of the range that inspired me and helped me enjoy the beautiful Maltese landscape and culture.

Related posts:

Plant inspired Poetry - Common Sorrel Wild Berries in Austria A Forager's Dog - Paddy foraging Blackberries Wild Food: Common Vetch