Crispy diamond-shaped pastries filled with a spiced date paste perfumed with anise and citrus, deep-fried to golden perfection.
Nutrition & Info
Allergen Warnings
Equipment Needed
Presentation Guide
Vessel: paper-lined basket
Garnishes: powdered sugar, orange zest
Accompaniments: vanilla ice cream
Instructions
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1
Simmer dates with water, orange zest, anise, and honey until soft and paste-like. Mash and cool.
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2
Make pastry: rub butter into flour and salt until crumbly. Add cold water to form a firm dough. Rest 15 min.
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3
Roll pastry thin into a long rectangle. Spread date paste along one edge in a log shape.
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4
Roll pastry over the filling, forming a long tube. Cut into diamond shapes.
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5
Deep-fry at 180°C (350°F) until golden and crispy, about 2-3 min per batch.
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6
Drain on paper towels. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Did You Know?
Imqaret vendors are a beloved sight at every Maltese village festa, frying batches to order in huge pans set up on the streets.
Chef's Notes
Equipment Tips
- saucepan
- rolling pin
- deep fryer or heavy pot
Garnishing
powdered sugar, orange zest
Accompaniments
vanilla ice cream
The Story Behind Imqaret
Imqaret are Malta's most beloved street sweet, a direct legacy of Arab rule over the islands from 870-1091 AD. The use of dates, anise, and honey reflects the culinary traditions the Arabs brought to Malta, which persist over a thousand years later.
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