Allergens in pastizzi: ingredients, variations and how to order safely
By the Menulta editorial team · Facts checked 15 October 2026 · Updated 15 October 2026
The short answer
Yes. Pastizzi are made with flaky wheat-flour pastry, so they contain gluten. Ricotta pastizzi (tal-irkotta) also contain milk and often egg in the filling. Pea pastizzi (tal-piżelli) usually contain mushy peas with onion and curry spices, which may include mustard or celery depending on the blend. Pastizzi are baked on shared trays, so cross-contact between fillings is likely.
What pastizzi is
Pastizzi are Malta's best-known snack: diamond-shaped pastries of thin, layered dough, traditionally filled with ricotta or with a mushy pea mixture, sold hot from pastizzerias across the islands, often very cheaply. They are eaten for breakfast, as a snack or late at night.
The pastry is made by stretching dough very thin, coating it with fat and rolling it, which creates the flaky layers. Recipes differ between pastizzerias.
Traditional pastizzi ingredients and their allergens
| Ingredient | Allergen | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Pastry dough | Gluten (wheat) | Flour, water, salt |
| Fat for layering | Possibly milk | Margarine or butter; check the product |
| Ricotta | Milk | Sheep's or cow's milk ricotta |
| Egg in ricotta filling | Egg | Often added to bind |
| Mushy peas | None | Peas, onion |
| Curry powder in pea filling | Possibly mustard or celery | Depends on the blend |
Variations that change the allergens
Some pastizzerias offer chicken, anchovy or Nutella fillings, each with its own allergens: anchovy brings fish, Nutella-style spreads bring hazelnuts and milk. Qassatat are related round pastries with shortcrust pastry and similar fillings, also containing gluten and often milk and egg.
Frozen pastizzi sold for home baking are common, and their labels list the fats and fillings used.
Restaurant and bought-in versions
Pastizzerias bake pastizzi in large batches on shared trays and handle all fillings in the same small space. Allergen information may be on a sign or available by asking. Cafés and bars often buy pastizzi from wholesale bakeries, so the allergen information comes from the supplier.
Pastizzi allergen by allergen
| Allergy | What to know |
|---|---|
| Gluten / coeliac | Not suitable. The pastry is wheat-based. |
| Milk | Ricotta pastizzi contain milk; pea pastizzi may contain milk in the pastry fat. |
| Egg | Ricotta filling often contains egg; check pea pastizzi for egg wash. |
| Mustard, celery | Possible in the curry spices of pea pastizzi. |
| Nuts | Not in traditional fillings, but sweet fillings may contain hazelnut spread. |
Ordering it with an allergy
Ask whether the pastry fat contains butter or milk, whether the ricotta filling contains egg, and what spices are in the pea filling. Guests with coeliac disease should avoid pastizzi. Tourists can ask for 'pastizzi tal-piżelli' (pea) or 'tal-irkotta' (ricotta).
Sources
This guide is general information, not medical or legal advice. Guests with an allergy should follow their doctor's advice. Operators should confirm their own setup with their food safety adviser or local authority.