The Retro Middle Class Meal That Was Beloved In The '60s

Cheese fondue, onion soup dip, and Quisp corn cereal are just a few old-school foods from the '60s you might still remember if you grew up in the Kennedy era. But aside from the snacks and party-pleasing appetizers, there was also a retro middle-class meal that was beloved by American households during the swinging sixties: salmon hash.

This convenient meal was made with fresh or canned salmon, diced potatoes, butter, seasonings, and any other root veggies available at the time. Prepared in the same way as other varieties of hash, such as corned beef or sausage hash, the ingredients were diced and pan-fried altogether until tender. The dish was filling due to the carbs from the taters, while the butter and herbs elevated the overall flavor and aroma. Meanwhile, the canned salmon (versus fresh) provided satiating protein and plenty of extra nutritional benefits in the form of the calcium from the bones.

The beauty of salmon hash was that it could go a long way with a handful of cheap fresh ingredients, ensuring there was enough food to feed the baby boomer generation that came after World War II. Better yet, canned salmon had a long shelf life and could be easily pulled from the pantry as the foundation for a hearty meal for those on a tight budget. It was even described as the "familiar stand-by of the home cook" by the New York Times in the decade prior, highlighting its versatility.

One of the best things about salmon hash was that it could be combined with any other leftovers from the fridge to bulk it out, or perhaps even be fried up with leftover bacon grease for extra flavor. There wasn't a specific recipe to follow, so it was easy for home cooks to cobble something together that was both nutritious and delicious. The only rule was likely adding the salmon at the very end to prevent the fish from overcooking and turning dry. As the entire dish was cooked in one pan, it reduced the washing up too.

Nowadays, salmon hash is often prepared with fresh or smoked salmon because they're readily available. That said, there are plenty of high-quality canned salmon brands on the market that can stand up to the fresh stuff and are more affordable. Plus, you can upgrade canned salmon leftovers by turning them into sandwich fillings, mousses, or even salmon patties. Indeed, in one Reddit thread discussing food from the '60s, one commenter remembered how canned salmon was combined with eggs, breadcrumbs, green onion, salt, and pepper before it was shaped and fried in butter or Crisco to make fish patties.