If you’re looking for a true Depression-era comfort dish, this one fits the bill: Poor Man’s Potato Soup. Cheap pantry ingredients, filling, and surprisingly delicious.
Depression-Era Potato Soup
Ingredients
5–6 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
1 onion, chopped
4 cups water or inexpensive broth
2 tablespoons butter or bacon fat
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
Optional: a pinch of dried thyme
Directions
Melt the butter or bacon fat in a large pot.
Add the onion and cook for 3–5 minutes until softened.
Add the diced potatoes, water or broth, salt and pepper.
Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 15–20 minutes, until the potatoes are very tender.
Mash some of the potatoes directly in the pot to thicken the soup while leaving some chunks intact.
Stir in the milk and warm gently for another 3–5 minutes. Don’t let it boil hard.
Taste and adjust the seasoning.
Serve with cornbread, biscuits, or homemade bread for an inexpensive, filling supper.
Why it works: potatoes provide the bulk, onion adds flavor, and a little fat and milk turn very humble ingredients into something creamy and satisfying. For an authentic budget-friendly version, you can use water instead of broth and bacon drippings instead of butter.
