Maltese Baked Rice Recipe
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Maltese baked rice, or “Ross il-Forn,” is a classic Mediterranean dish packed with hearty ingredients and comforting flavors. A traditional Maltese recipe made with rice, beef, and tomatoes, this dish is rich in protein and carbs, making it perfect for family gatherings or a cozy dinner at home. The recipe blends simple ingredients like olive oil, garlic, and onions with tender meat, resulting in a delicious and filling meal that will have your taste buds singing.
Maltese Baked Rice (Ross il-Forn) Recipe Ingredients

To make this delicious baked rice dish at home, you’ll need the following key ingredients:
- 2 cups long-grain rice
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 600g ground beef
- 5 cloves garlic
- 1 onion (diced)
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 700 g tomato passata (or 1 can of crushed tomatoes)
- 1 tablespoon curry powder
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 1/2 cups grated cheddar cheese
- 4 eggs (lightly beaten)
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- Salt and black pepper
- Herbs and spices (1 teaspoon each of oregano, paprika, basil)
- 2 bay leaves
How to Cook Maltese Baked Rice (Ross il-Forn)

Experience traditional Maltese comfort food in the form of this scrumptious Ross il-Forn. Here’s how to cook this amazing dish using an oven:
- In a large frying pan, heat the olive oil and fry the onion over medium heat for a few minutes until translucent. Add garlic and fry for another minute until golden brown.
- In the same pan, add the curry powder, oregano, paprika, and basil, and mix well with the onion and garlic.
- Add the tomato paste and let it cook for about 3 minutes.
- Once done cooking, add the beef, and fry for a few minutes until browned. Season with salt and pepper.
- Add the tomato passata and the bay leaves. Simmer, then bring to a light boil.
- Once you bring it to a boil, cover the pan and let it simmer on low heat for about 1 hour, stirring occasionally so that the meat and tomato sauce mixture doesn’t stick to the bottom.
- Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C or 350 degrees F.
- Next, cook the rice. Place the rice into a saucepan with enough water to cover by one inch. Bring to a boil, and then simmer about halfway, then drain off the water and transfer to a large bowl.
- Stir in the eggs and half a cup of grated cheese into the rice. Mix well.
- Remove the bay leaves from the meat and tomato sauce mixture. Add the half-cooked rice to the meat sauce and stir to combine thoroughly.
- Butter a baking dish, then transfer the rice and beef mixture into it.
- Cover the top layer with the remaining grated cheese and sprinkle extra pepper over the top.
- Bake the baking dish on the middle rack of the oven for about 45 minutes.
- During the last 10 minutes, place the baking dish on a higher rack in the oven to get it crispier and the cheese turns golden brown.
- Sprinkle parmesan cheese all over the top of the baked rice dish.
- Let it rest for 10 minutes before serving.
Maltese Baked Rice (Ross il-Forn) Recipe Tips

- If you can’t find tomato paste, you can also use a can of tomato puree.
- Substitute tomato passata with canned tomatoes or pasta sauce.
- Other versions of Baked Maltese (Ross il-Forn) use hard-boiled eggs instead of beaten eggs.
- You can use a glass dish or a casserole dish to bake the rice dish.
- If you don’t have ground beef, you can also use corned beef in this recipe. Cook the corned beef in a pan over medium heat, stir, and break it into small pieces, then add tomato sauce and mix them thoroughly. Bake the corned beef and rice mixture in an oven just like the recipe.
- Other Maltese Rice recipes add bacon as well.
- Both brown and white rice works well with this recipe.
- Some Maltese Rice recipes instruct you not to cook the rice beforehand. You may do that as well and include the raw rice grains in the baking dish to bake with the rest of the ingredients.
- Many prefer to use half-cooked rice for Ross il-Forn.
- Check the rice occasionally throughout the baking process. If it looks like it’s getting too dry, drizzle a bit of boiling water over the top of the dish.
Final Note
One of the most well-known dishes hailing from Malta, this Baked Rice is a simple yet flavorful meal that’s perfect for any occasion. Combining simple ingredients with the warmth of the oven, this traditional recipe is sure to be a hit!
For more yummy rice dishes that you can make for your family, you can browse through our collection of recipes.