The ancient spice known as "red gold"
Instant noodles, or instant ramen, as a mass-produced product were introduced in Japan after World War II. Momofuku Ando was the man who introduced this frugal and practical food to the world.
Back in the 1930s, Americans were consuming Twinkies with a banana filling. There was, however, a scarcity of bananas during WWII, so Hostess came up with a marshmallow cream filling, and it was a hit.
The famous spread has been around for a long time. There was a shortage of cocoa after WWII, so Italian company Ferrero came up with a spread with hazelnuts and sugar, that required less amounts of cocoa. This is how Nutella was born!
This Southern food favorite was born during the Great Depression. Potato flour is added to a beef or pork patty, making it crispy, bigger, and cheaper to make.
This popular dish from Minnesota dates back to the 1930s, but it was during World War II that it became popular across the US. Tater tots, however, were not introduced to the casserole dish until the 1950s.
Oklahoma's onion burger can be traced back to the Great Depression. The extra onions were a cheap way to bulk up a meal containing a thin meat patty.
This frugal sweet treat dates back to the late 1920s, but it grew in popularity during WWII. Carrots are naturally sweet, so that meant that less sugar was used in making the cake.
This dessert was created in Quebec during the Great Depression. The Canadian "poor man's pudding" is essentially bread pudding with cream and maple syrup.
This popular salad makes use of stale bread by mixing it with tomatoes, onions, and olive oil. This Italian peasant favorite has been around since the Middle Ages.
This dish was created during the Korean War. South Koreans would buy leftover foods such as hot dogs, SPAM, and beans from US Army mess halls and cook them along with local ingredients to make this dish.
This traditional pudding can be traced back to the 17th century, but it made a comeback in 1940s Britain. The dessert was a perfect way to make use of old fruit and stale bread.
Pasta bakes gained popularity in 1950s America as a frugal way to make the most of leftovers and use an array of budget pantry items.
There are different versions of desperation pies, namely buttermilk, vinegar, and sugar cream pie, among others. They can be traced back to Indiana's Amish and Shaker communities of the 19th century.
Meatloaf is an American food staple. Back in the 1940s, Mixing cheaper cuts of meats with breadcrumbs was a great way to save money and feed the family.
Tinned hot dogs were a cheap way to add some protein to meals back in the 1940s. Potato and hot dog salad was therefore a good frugal choice in America during wartime.
Popular during the Great Depression, this dessert didn't need much and could feed the family. Tins of fruit cocktail mixed with egg yolks, cream, and honey, did the trick.
Story has it that during the Great Depression, a baker in St. Louis, Missouri, messed up the sponge cake ingredients and ended up with this one instead. No one seemed to be upset by the mistake in the end!
As the name indicates, this is not a goose dish. Popular in Britain during the two World Wars, a stuffed pork knuckle was used instead of goose or duck.
Dating back to the settlers of the Appalachian Mountains in the 19th century, this bread is made without any yeast. Instead, bacteria would develop by mixing milk, cornmeal, potato, sugar, and salt.
Britain's Woolton pie became a popular dish during WWII due to rationing and shortages. Meat was scarce, so a vegetable pie was the perfect answer.
City chicken was not actually made with chicken. It was mostly made of fried or baked cubes of pork or veal. The frugal dish was popular in the early 1900s among urban workers in American cities such as Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Pittsburgh.
This combo was actually popular in the 1930s and '40s and the trend continued over the following decades. This was an inexpensive way to consume a calorically dense high-protein snack.
A soup recipe that called for potatoes, leeks, celery, and onion was advertised by the British Ministry of Food during World War II. This was a great way to use local ingredients.
During WWII, meat was mixed with potatoes, onions, and sometimes other vegetables. These would make bulkier, more filling patties; perfect to feed American families.
These "potato" desserts are not made of potatoes at all. Instead, they are made with butter, condensed milk, cocoa powder, and biscuit crumbs. They became popular during the Soviet regime.
This Slavic treat, also known as Muraveinik, was popular during Soviet times. It called for basic ingredients and it was easy to make.
Wacky cake aka chocolate Depression cake, was made without butter and eggs. Instead, the dry ingredients are mixed with vinegar and vegetable oil.
This Southern dish can be traced back to the German settlers of the Appalachian mountains in the 1700s. It's also known as the "poor man's pate."
Dating back to the Great Depression, this stew mixed a number of ingredients, including elbow macaroni, tinned tomatoes, and beans. It was often served in soup kitchens in shantytowns known as Hoovervilles.
This old New England dish doesn't actually contain turkey. It is basically cod with potatoes, boiled eggs, and creamy sauce. It was popular among the early New England settlers.
Funeral potatoes are a casserole dish traditionally served at Mormon funerals.
Sources: (Love Food)
See also: How war changed the way we eat
"Necessity is the mother of invention," as Greek philosopher Plato once said. This couldn't be more true when it comes to food. During some of the toughest times in human history, we've come up with innovative ways to feed ourselves, some of them quite delicious. So much so, in fact, that certain frugal dishes invented in times of scarcity remain favorites to this day.
In this gallery, we remember some of the dishes that were invented in times of need and are still eaten to this day.
These food favorites were invented in times of need
These are still eaten to this day
FOOD History
"Necessity is the mother of invention," as Greek philosopher Plato once said. This couldn't be more true when it comes to food. During some of the toughest times in human history, we've come up with innovative ways to feed ourselves, some of them quite delicious. So much so, in fact, that certain frugal dishes invented in times of scarcity remain favorites to this day.
In this gallery, we remember some of the dishes that were invented in times of need and are still eaten to this day.