Cooking with limited ingredients during wartime was a necessity, but these 9 recipes prove that creativity never takes a break.
I am amazed at how delicious these meals actually taste. You might just find a new favorite among these thrifty classics.
1. Spam Fritters
You might think making fritters out of canned meat sounds strange, but this recipe was popular because it was cheap and packed with protein.
I honestly believe they taste pretty good, especially if you add the optional cheese or Dijon mustard. You get a savory meaty center surrounded by a crunchy deep-fried batter made from beer and flour.
2. The National Wheatmeal Loaf
If you are looking for a simple bread recipe, this World War II staple is a fantastic choice. You only need basic ingredients like wholemeal bread flour, water, yeast, salt, and honey. It takes some time to rise, but the actual baking time is only 30 minutes.
I love that the result is dense and filling while remaining soft and nutty.
3. Homity Pie
I am here to tell you that this savory pie is incredible.
The shortcrust pastry is phenomenal, and the filling features a creamy mix of potatoes, onions, leeks, and thyme. It is an herb-filled comfort food that I think no one would ever turn down.
4. Anzac Biscuits
These sweet cookies originated in Australia and New Zealand during World War I and come together in under 20 minutes.
While the ingredient list is a bit longer than others here, the combination of almonds, coconut, butter, and syrup creates a truly marvelous flavor. I adore the gooey and chewy texture that comes from the oats and coconut.
5. Victory Borscht
Since cooking oil was hard to find during the war, this vegetable-packed soup became a popular dinner option.
You start with a broth base and load it up with fresh veggies like beets, carrots, onions, and tomatoes. The addition of garlic and lemon juice makes it zesty, and a dollop of sour cream on top really seals the deal.
6. Condensed Milk Cake
Desserts were rare treats during hard times, so clever cooks invented this recipe using the barest of pantry staples. This cake comes together with just condensed milk, marmalade, raisins, and a few other basics like flour and butter.
The texture is surprisingly tender and crumbly, proving you do not need a fully stocked pantry to bake something tasty.
7. War Cake
This recipe relies heavily on spices to create flavor since it uses basic staples like water, flour, and raisins. While the ingredient list might sound plain, the secret weapons here are cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and ground ginger.
All those warm fall spices make this dense cake smell absolutely amazing while it bakes.
8. Chocolate Crispy Cakes
Although these bite-sized treats date back to 1941, they exploded in popularity as a celebration food on V-E Day. They require only a few simple ingredients like butter, cocoa powder, golden syrup, and your choice of rice cereal.
I love that they take just 10 minutes to prepare and deliver a perfect crispy chocolate crunch.
9. Woolton Pie
This British World War II dish is similar to a vegetable pot pie but features a unique crust made from mashed potatoes and shortening. The filling is a simple mix of vegetables with some oatmeal added in for texture and nutrition.
If you enjoy mashed potatoes and hearty veggies, I think you will really like this one.