20 Surprising Foods People Ate During The Great Depression

Amidst the hardship of the Great Depression, culinary creativity flourished. Scarce resources led to inventive dishes, transforming humble ingredients into surprising meals. Join us as we dive into this era of resilience, exploring 20 of the most unexpected foods that sustained families through challenging times.

Coffee Soup

Coffee soup, a concoction born out of necessity during the Great Depression, was a simple yet hearty dish made by combining brewed coffee with whatever ingredients were available, such as stale bread, sugar, and sometimes even a hint of fat. This humble meal provided sustenance and warmth at a time when food shortages and poverty were rampant. Coffee soup’s popularity stemmed from its affordability and versatility, offering a comforting and filling option that could be easily customized based on what ingredients were on hand.

Dandelion Salad

Dandelion salad gained popularity during the Great Depression due to its accessibility and nutritional value. As traditional greens became scarce and expensive, dandelion greens, abundant in fields and backyards, offered a free and nutritious alternative. Packed with vitamins and minerals, dandelion greens provided essential nutrients at a time when food options were limited. Additionally, their bitter flavor could be complemented with simple dressings made from inexpensive ingredients like vinegar or oil, making them a cost-effective and satisfying addition to meals.

Vinegar Pie

Consisting primarily of vinegar, sugar, eggs, and sometimes flour, this pie provided a sweet and tangy flavor profile with a custard-like texture. Its popularity during the Great Depression can be attributed to its minimal ingredient list, which made it a cost-effective option when traditional dessert ingredients were scarce or too expensive. Vinegar, a pantry staple, served as a key ingredient, offering both flavor and acidity to balance the sweetness of the pie.

Peanut-Butter Stuffed Onions

This unconventional recipe involved hollowing out onions and filling them with peanut butter before baking or frying them. While the combination might seem unusual, it provided a surprisingly tasty and filling meal option at a time when ingredients were scarce and budgets were tight. Onions were readily available and inexpensive, while peanut butter offered a rich source of protein and flavor.

Prune Pudding

Made primarily from stewed prunes, sugar, and sometimes flour or bread crumbs, this pudding provided a sweet and comforting treat amidst economic hardship. Prunes were readily available and inexpensive, making them a practical choice for families looking to stretch their food budget. Plus, prune pudding offered a source of natural sweetness and fiber, which was especially valued when traditional dessert ingredients were scarce or costly.

Bologna Casserole

Consisting of sliced bologna, noodles or potatoes, and often a creamy sauce or canned soup, this casserole provided a hearty meal that could stretch limited resources to feed a family. Bologna, being an inexpensive and shelf-stable meat, served as the main protein component, while the addition of starches helped bulk up the dish.

Jell-O Icecream

This Great Depression dessert is made by combining prepared Jell-O gelatin with whipped cream or whipped topping and sometimes condensed milk. This easy-to-make dessert offered a refreshing and creamy texture with the fruity flavors of Jell-O. It gained popularity due to its versatility, as it could be customized with various Jell-O flavors to suit individual preferences.

Hoover Stew

Hoover stew, named after President Herbert Hoover, was a simple and economical dish that gained popularity during the Great Depression. This stew typically consisted of whatever ingredients individuals could gather or afford, often including vegetables like potatoes, onions, and carrots, along with scraps of meat or beans if available. Water or broth was used as the base, and seasoning was added sparingly due to limited resources.

Potato Candy

Potato candy is made by mixing mashed potatoes with powdered sugar to form a dough-like consistency, which was then rolled out and spread with a layer of peanut butter or other fillings such as chocolate or coconut. The dough was then rolled into a log and sliced into bite-sized pieces, creating a delicious and satisfying candy.

Peanut Butter and Pickle Sandwich

With resources scarce and budgets tight, individuals sought out inexpensive yet filling meal options, and peanut butter and pickles fit the bill perfectly. Peanut butter provided a rich source of protein and healthy fats, while pickles offered a tangy and crunchy contrast, creating a flavorful sandwich that could be enjoyed with minimal expense. Additionally, both peanut butter and pickles were shelf-stable items, making them practical choices for households looking to stretch their food supplies.

Water Pie

To make water pie, individuals would combine water, sugar, and sometimes a small amount of flour or cornstarch to create a thin filling. This mixture would then be poured into a pie crust and baked until set. Despite its lack of traditional pie ingredients like fruit or eggs, water pie provided a sweet and comforting treat during a time when resources were scarce and budgets were tight.

Boiled Cake

This cake was made by boiling together ingredients such as sugar, water, dried fruits, and spices to create a thick syrupy mixture. Flour and leavening agents were then added to the syrup and mixed to form a batter. The cake was typically boiled in a cloth bag or pudding mold rather than baked in an oven, as baking supplies and fuel were often scarce during the Depression.

Road Kill

While the idea may seem unpalatable by today’s standards, during this era of extreme hardship, resourcefulness was paramount. Roadkill provided a free and often protein-rich option, albeit one that required careful inspection and preparation to ensure safety and palatability.

Cold Milk Soup

Cold milk soup was a simple and refreshing dish that gained popularity during the Great Depression for its affordability and ease of preparation. Typically made by combining cold milk with ingredients such as sugar, vanilla extract, and sometimes cinnamon or other flavorings, this soup provided a cool and creamy treat, especially during the hot summer months.

Creamed Chipped Beef

This dish is made of thinly sliced dried beef, often referred to as chipped beef, cooked in a creamy white sauce made from flour, butter, and milk or cream. Creamed chipped beef could be served over toast, biscuits, or potatoes, providing a hearty and comforting meal that stretched limited resources.

Spaghetti with Boiled Carrots

Spaghetti with boiled carrots became a popular meal during the Great Depression due to its affordability and simplicity. Spaghetti, made from flour and water, was one of the most affordable staples available, while carrots were plentiful and inexpensive vegetables. Boiling the carrots and serving them alongside spaghetti provided both bulk and nutrients to the meal, making it a satisfying option for households facing economic hardship.

Vegetable Loaf

Vegetable loaf was essentially a vegetarian alternative to meatloaf, made primarily from inexpensive and readily available ingredients such as vegetables, grains, and legumes. Common components included cooked rice or oats, chopped vegetables like carrots, onions, and celery, along with ingredients such as beans or lentils for added protein and texture. These ingredients were typically bound together with eggs or a starchy binder like breadcrumbs or flour, then seasoned with herbs and spices.

Fried Peeled Potato Sandwich

In an effort to minimize waste and make the most out of limited food supplies, people would thinly slice potato peels, fry them until crispy, and then sandwich them between two slices of bread. While the peels themselves were not traditionally considered edible, frying them transformed them into a crunchy and flavorful filling for sandwiches.

Stewed Gopher

As traditional meat became increasingly scarce and expensive, individuals turned to unconventional protein sources to feed themselves and their families. Gophers, small rodents found in many parts of the United States, were abundant and easily trapped or hunted, making them a practical option for supplementing diets. Stewing gopher meat with basic seasonings and vegetables provided a hearty and nourishing meal.

Oatmeal with Lard

Oatmeal, made from oats and water or milk, was one of the most economical staples available, offering a source of carbohydrates and fiber. Adding lard, a cheap and readily available fat, enhanced the flavor and richness of the oatmeal, while also providing additional calories for energy.