What Did
Ancient Egyptians
EAT
When They Got Hungry?
Ancient Egyptians ate many foods that we still eat today. They grew crops like cucumbers, onions, garlic, lettuce, celery, and melons and harvested fruits like dates, figs, and grapes. They hunted wild animals and fished in the Nile River, Red Sea, and Mediterranean Sea. Pharaohs and high officials could even afford to get crops from places outside of Egypt. Things like salt, honey, and spices were harder to get and more expensive. But everyone in ancient Egypt ate one thing all the time: BREAD.
Archaeologists have found bread in tombs that are thousands of years old! Bread in ancient Egypt was made from grains called barley and emmer. The breads were baked into a variety of shapes, from circular loaves to triangles and cones. Sometimes things like honey, dates, or coriander seeds were added to bread to make it taste better.
The ancient Egyptian word for bread is “t.” The word is written out with just the hieroglyph of a bread loaf. Try writing it out yourself!
Melissa in De Nile’s Ancient Egyptian Garlic and Onion T-Bread
Ingredients
• 2 cups of flour
• 1 teaspoon of salt
• ¾ cup of milk
• 1 tablespoon of olive oil
• 1 quarter of an onion,
finely chopped
• 2 tablespoon of minced garlic
• Butter for taste
STEP 1
Preheat the oven to 375°F and put a piece of parchment paper on a baking sheet. Mix the flour and salt together in a bowl. Add in the chopped onion and garlic to the center.
STEP 2
Pour the milk and oil into the center and mix with a spoon. Mix until it starts to form a dough.
STEP 3
Pour the dough out onto a well-floured surface and knead the dough. Put your hand down on the dough and push forward. Then flip the dough over and do it again! Knead the dough until it becomes smooth. Let the dough rest for 15 minutes.
STEP 4
Divide the dough into four pieces and roll out the dough into triangles, about one-quarter of an inch thick.
STEP 5
Put the pieces on the parchment paper and baste the bread in a little melted butter, then sprinkle it with salt for added flavor.
STEP 6
Bake in the preheated oven for about 10 to 15 minutes until golden brown.
Eat your bread with your favorite dip, or even a little more butter!
Optional: To replicate the tall cone-shaped bread that the ancient Egyptians made, you can make a cone out of tinfoil and wrap the rolled-out dough around it! Make sure the dough is a little thinner for this version and add about five more minutes to your baking time.