I am always on the search for old fashioned recipes — I always have been, since I was a little kid. I enjoy trying different recipes, especially nostalgic ones. When I saw this recipe for potato soup from the Great Depression, on Timeless Family Recipes, I knew I would have to try it!
“My mom would make a soup that my dad would ask for. Growing up in the depression, my dad lived in the Canadian plains of Saskatchewan. They grew most of their own food. Winters were hard and cold. My dad was one of 12. He loved the days that grandma would make cellar soup. Basically potato soup. This is the recipe he grew up on: 8 cups of diced potatoes, 1 cup tiny diced onion, 1 cup grated carrot, and 1/4 cup butter. Cook onion until tender in the butter. Add the potato and carrot along with salt and pepper. Cover with water just over potatoes. Simmer 45 mins. My dad always mashed some to thicken after cooked.”
— Timeless Family Recipes
Sounds easy enough! And it’s a hearty soup that’s affordable — especially if you are able to grow your own vegetables.
This also fits in great if following the World War 2 Rations like we currently are. Five pounds of potatoes were allotted per person per week during rationing, and of course you had access to more if you had a garden. Potatoes were considered an important carbohydrate since it’s a high-energy food source, nutritious because of the vitamins and minerals and because they were readily available since they didn’t need to be imported. Potatoes were encouraged to be eaten in place of wheat. Sounds good to me — my family loves potatoes!
Let’s get started!
Cook onion in butter until tender. I also added the shredded carrot to the onion for added flavor. Season with salt and pepper.
Once the onion is tender, we are ready to add the potatoes.
Add the potatoes. I added dill as well. I’m only using 5 cups of chopped potatoes which is about 2lbs of whole potatoes. This soup used half of one person’s rations.
Cover with water just over potatoes. Simmer 45 minutes.
Mash some of the soup to thicken after cooked. I decided to mash it all. I added 1/4 cup of milk to it as well. Stir. Reheat for a few minutes.
This soup was actually really delicious. It has a good potato flavor and is great with soda crackers & some shredded cheese. To impart more flavor, cook onion in saved bacon grease.
Depression Potato Soup
1/4 cup butter
1 cup diced onion
1 cup grated carrot
8 cups of diced potatoes
1 tsp salt
fresh cracked pepper
water to cover vegetables
Cook onion in butter until tender. Add the potatoes and carrot along with salt and pepper. Cover with water just over potatoes. Simmer 45 minutes. Mash some of the soup to thicken after cooked.
enjoy from Our City Homestead to yours