12 Dishes From The '70s That Vanished From History

The '70s brought some unique dishes that are mostly gone today. This list of 12 meals shows what people used to eat, from jello salads to fancy meatloaves. Take a look back at these old favorites and see what made them special during those decades.

AUTHOR: Veronica Booth

Table of Contents

1. Creamed Vegetables
2. Spam
3. Aspics
4. Canned Chinese Food
5. Liver and Onions
6. Cheese Logs
7. Mincemeat Pie
8. The Ladies' Special
9. Chicken a la King
10. Ambrosia Salad
11. Fondue
12. Pineapple Meatballs
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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 '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. Canned Chinese Food

Canned Chinese food chop suey — Image Credit: Shutterstock.

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.

5. Liver and Onions

In the '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.

6. 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.

7. 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 '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.

8. The Ladies' Special

Woman eating and enjoying food — Image Credit: Shutterstock.

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.

9. Chicken a la King

Chicken a la King is like a culinary time capsule to the '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

Cheese Fondue — Image Credit: Shutterstock.

Fondue is definitely still around, but in the '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 back then 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.