The '60s and '70s were not just about bell-bottoms and disco - they brought some unforgettable dishes too. Many of these recipes have faded into obscurity, replaced by modern trends. This list revisits 12 retro dishes that were all the rage back then, offering a nostalgic taste of the past you won't find today.
AUTHOR: Veronica Booth
Table of Contents
- 1. Creamed Vegetables
- 2. Spam
- 3. Aspics
- 4. The Ladies' Special
- 5. Canned Chinese Food
- 6. Liver and Onions
- 7. Cheese Logs
- 8. Mincemeat Pie
- 9. Chicken a la King
- 10. Ambrosia Salad
- 11. Fondue
- 12. Pineapple Meatballs
- 12 Things Old People Wish Were Still Around
- 10 Priceless Life Secrets From 70-Year-Olds
- 12 Products That Were Once The Best But Aren't Anymore
- 12 American Foods That People From Other Countries Find Gross
1. Creamed Vegetables
Sure, you might see creamed spinach on a menu occasionally, but creamed vegetables used to be a staple at most meals. People used to cream every veggie they could get their hands on, including carrots, broccoli, peas, corn, Brussels sprouts, and more. It was probably a decent way to get kids to eat their greens.
2. Spam
Spam hasn't necessarily vanished, but many people turn their noses up at this canned ham product nowadays. But people in the '60s and '70s used it for everything. They'd add chopped Spam to salads, and bread slices and fry them, add it to chili, mix it into peach cups, and other atrocious uses.
3. Aspics
Aspics were a dark time in culinary history. They're a meat jelly or savory gelatin dish that can consist of anything from oysters to ground beef to carrots to boiled eggs, all disgustingly encased in gelatin. This dish seems abhorrent, but they were common because they were a great way to use leftovers or food that was about to spoil.
4. The Ladies' Special
This dish was often featured on diner menus throughout the US, and it sounds terrible. It's a meal featuring a grilled hamburger patty, a small bowl of cottage cheese with some type of canned fruit, and a sad side salad. I suspect this depressing and strange meal has something to do with the many weird diets of the time.
5. Canned Chinese Food
We should all be grateful to be living in a time free of canned lo mein. Apparently, canned Chinese food used to be the main way people enjoyed this cuisine. Everything from chow mein to orange chicken to spicy beef could be found in a can, but this unappetizing product is practically nonexistent now.
6. Liver and Onions
In the '60s and '70s, people tended to utilize more organs than we do today, and liver and onions was one of the most popular dishes. It's simply a piece of liver, grilled or sauteed, topped with caramelized onions. It looks like a steak, but it has a much softer texture and gamier flavor.
7. Cheese Logs
You can sometimes find cheese balls or logs at the grocery store, but they are not nearly as popular as they once were. A zesty cheese log or flavorful cheese ball would be made of soft cheese coated in nuts or other crunchy ingredients, and people would dip crackers or bread into it. This used to be the equivalent of a cheese platter or charcuterie board at parties.
8. Mincemeat Pie
Mincemeat pie, a peculiar remnant from the culinary past, is a sweet pie filled with a mixture of dried fruits, spices, and – surprisingly – minced meat. Though it's rooted in medieval times, mincemeat pie was quite popular in the '60s and '70s, especially around holidays. But as times changed, the idea of mixing meat with sweet dried fruits in a pie became less appealing, and its popularity dwindled.
9. Chicken a la King
Chicken a la King is like a culinary time capsule to the '60s and '70s. It's a dish consisting of diced chicken in a cream sauce, often with mushrooms, and served with rice, pasta, or bread. Once a symbol of elegance and fine dining, it's now rarely seen. This decline in popularity might be due to its heavy cream sauce and somewhat mundane flavor profile compared to today's more vibrant, diverse cuisine options.
10. Ambrosia Salad
Ambrosia salad was often considered a luxury dish reserved for special occasions, as the ingredients were rather exotic and pricey. It's a "salad" typically made with canned fruit, marshmallows, cream (sour or whipped), and coconut. This strange dish has essentially been erased from American cuisine, thank goodness.
11. Fondue
Fondue is definitely still around, but in the '60s and '70s, people were positively obsessed with it. Both cheese and chocolate fondue were all the rage, and people would dunk anything they could get their hands on into the yummy goop. Nowadays, fondue is a rare treat, and most people don't own a fondue pot or plan fondue nights with their neighbors.
12. Pineapple Meatballs
Frankly, people in the '60s and '70s were all about pineapple. It's been available in the US for centuries, but an interest in Hawaiian culture in the mid-20th century made this sweet, acidic fruit wildly popular. Pineapple meatballs were a sweet and savory meal that, honestly, sounds delicious. But they would also often add pineapple to chicken and pork dishes!
Source: Quora.
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Love the post and the old foods.
great to know the food of yester year but would be nice to have recipes to make them again
agree! the commentary on these food items is depressing as it makes it sound like people were eating offal instead of making efforts to create foods within their culinary means. you can't compare food from yesteryear to what we can make today simply because we did not have access to some ingredients as well as having to depend on commercially canned/package items which changes the flavor of any food.