Sailors Hardtack Biscuits

Recipe Sailors Hardtack is a hard, traditionally square-shaped biscuit  2 cups flour that was eaten on ships as it lasted a very long time. Recipes differed between regions, but they all were made from basic flour  1 cup water and water. The biscuits were baked four times to ensure that they  1-2 tsp salt would last for many years on the ship, but this meant that the biscuits were extremely hard to eat. Because of this, sailors often dunked them in brine, water or any liquid available so that it was easier to eat. Hardtack was part of the navy diet, until the introduction of canned foods made preserving food far easier. Have a go at baking your own Sailors Hardtack Biscuits!

Pre-heat oven to 190º C. When ready, roll the dough out in Using a fork, poke holes in both Mix flour and salt together in a to a flat square, roughly half a sides of your squares, or all the bowl. Add the water and the centimetre thick. With adult way though, to allow air and knead the dough until you have a supervision cut the dough into moisture through while cooking. ball. At any desired flavourings squares 3 inches by 3 inches. at this stage.

Place the biscuits on a lined Be careful when eating as they © Southampton Cultural Services baking tray, and bake for one are incredibly hard. We hour, turning half way through. recommend having some liquid on After an hour, remove and cool hand to soften it (just like the on a cooling rack. sailors in the past did!).