Pilot bread with seal oil
Pilot bread with seal oil is a traditional Alaskan snack combining hardtack-style crackers with rendered seal oil. The dish features pilot bread (a dense, long-lasting cracker) dipped in or topped with rich, dark seal oil, often seasoned with salt or pepper. It originates from Indigenous communities in coastal Alaska and the Arctic regions.
🍽️ Nutrition at a glance
This dish is high in fat and calories, primarily from the omega-3-rich seal oil, while providing moderate protein and minimal carbohydrates. A typical serving offers significant amounts of vitamins A and D, along with essential fatty acids, with a calorie range of 200-300 kcal per serving.
Nutrition breakdown
| Calories | 250 kcal |
| Protein | 4 g |
| Carbs | 30 g |
| Fat | 14 g |
| Fiber | 2 g |
| Sugar | 1 g |
| Sodium | 400 mg |
| Vitamin D | 3.5 mcg |
| Vitamin A | 120 mcg |
| Omega-3 (EPA+DHA) | 1.2 g |
| Selenium | 12 mcg |
| Iron | 2 mg |
| Vitamin B12 | 1.5 mcg |
| Phosphorus | 80 mg |
| Zinc | 1.2 mg |
Per 2 pilot bread crackers (60 g) with 1 tablespoon (14 g) seal oil · estimated, varies by recipe
💡 What's interesting
Culturally, this food represents a traditional method of preserving nutrients and energy in harsh Arctic environments. Nutritionally, seal oil is exceptionally high in omega-3 fatty acids, which are linked to cardiovascular and cognitive health benefits.
