The sailor's biscuits (gallette del marinaio) is a very old traditional product, which was already used in the local cuisine several centuries ago. It was in fact the bread of Genoese sailors, who on their long sea voyages loaded them on board because they are one of those foods that can be eaten even after a long time. In addition to this daily maritime consumption, galettes have since become part of the gastronomic culture ashore. Ever heard of cappon magro? Here one of the main ingredients is precisely the sailor's galette.

Characteristics of sailor's biscuits (gallette del marinaio)

Sailor's galette from the historic Panificio Maccarini in San Rocco di Camogli are still made in the traditional way. Those made by Panificio Maccarini are even stronger gallette than those made by other bakeries, which still remain crisp after soaking them with water and vinegar, a mandatory step to enjoy them at their best. Gallette del marinaio are dry flatbreads that are pierced by hand with an iron brush before baking to prevent them from puffing up: with too many bubbles, the gallette would lose their characteristic texture. The flavor of the galettes is typical of bread, and in fact we also use this ingredient as a base to be flavored as desired: for example, fresh garlic is rubbed on top of the galette before use and in this way it takes on the flavors.

Another quality of sailor's galette is definitely the ease of storage, because they can be kept in the pantry in their packaging for months without spoiling and always remaining ready to use (if a last-minute appetizer pops up for you, they are a godsend... galette, some tomato, olives, and you're done)!

How to use sailor's biscuits

To use sailor's crackers in a recipe, you first have to soften them a bit so they break down more easily. They are usually soaked for a few seconds in water and vinegar. In a proportion of about half a cup of water and two tablespoons of vinegar, depending on the acidity of the vinegar used. How long they should be soaked in the water always depends on the recipe in which they will be used. In general, beyond 25 to 30 seconds the galettes start to get soft; for example, if we want to eat them in salads, we recommend soaking them in water and vinegar for about 20 seconds, so they still remain crispy. In addition to water and vinegar, traditionally the galettes are seasoned before softening by rubbing a clove of fresh garlic on the crust.

In cappon magro, a Genoese festive dish, softened sailor's galettes serve as the base for a feast of ingredients that create from vegetables to fish. In the capponadda, on the other hand, we find the gallette broken into chunks, accompanying tomatoes, tuna, anchovies, olives, capers, all dressed with oil, salt, oregano and basil: although it is a salad, there is no need to season with vinegar because the gallette itself acts as an acidic and aromatic element, having been soaked in water and vinegar. Another Ligurian salad in which we can find the crunch of the sailor's galettes is the cundijun (or condiglione) which is similar to the niçoise salad with hard-boiled eggs, and like all salads the list of ingredients is up to personal taste.

In addition to traditional Genoese and Ligurian recipes, sailor's galettes are especially good for appetizers and aperitifs. Gallette can be used like crostoni or frise pugliesi, thus keeping the whole galette and topping it with ingredients to taste (remembering, however, to always soften it).

Sailor's biscuits (gallette del marinaio) where to buy them: from selling online to buying in Genoa

The sailor's galette we sell on our e-commerce Molo modo21 are those produced by Panificio Maccarini, the most famous bakery for this very specialty. You can recreate at home typical Ligurian recipes containing this ingredient such as cappon magro and capponadda. We ship sailor's galettes throughout Italy and Europe, with no minimum order. You'll also find many other Ligurian specialties on the site, from our homemade Genoese pesto to the local wine with which to accompany your dishes. If you're in Genoa, you can buy sailor's galettes on Molo modo21 and then decide whether to have them delivered or choose free pickup at our Trattoria in the city's historic center, on Piazza Cavour.