Retro 1980s recipes to send your dinner back to the future
If you grew up in the 1980s, chances are you’ve eaten at least one of these 14 retro recipes. Take your taste buds on a retro journey with our 1980s classic dinners.
Because we all loved the apricot chicken, tuna mornay and shepherd’s pies of the 80s so much, they’re back – bigger and better than ever.
As a child, when my parents would go out, for a special treat my sisters and I were given chicken Kyiv (or Kiev as it was spelt before we knew better) accompanied by pommes noisettes. I felt so European eating it at my table in rural Australia. It was the taste of being a grown up. When cooking this chicken kyiv recipe it all comes flooding back. Cutting into the crisp golden crumb, hitting the tender chicken breast and then seeing the pool of garlicky butter flood onto my plate. While preparing chicken Kyiv may seem intimidating, this recipe proves otherwise. It has the perfect ratio of butter to garlic and foolproof instructions. Once you’ve prepared chicken kyiv from scratch there’s no turning back.
Retro is back, baby! At last, I can make my shameful curried sausage love public. As a meal, it has enough kick to know you’re alive, but it’s not too spicy for kids, making it an ideal midweek dinner for families – and it’s pretty easy on the budget too! When craving curried sausages, this is the recipe I always use. The natural sweetness of carrots coupled with the fruity chutney is a perfect match for the piquant curry powder and hearty sausages. Curried sausages can be served with rice (as a nod to curry) or mashed potato (hello bangers)! My guilty pleasure, however, is serving it with the sausage already cut up, in a bowl, with thick slices of buttered bread, on the couch!
Toad in the hole with quick onion gravy
Pop this timeless dish in the oven for a fuss-free way to satisfy the hungry hordes.
Made in the slow cooker, this old-fashioned family-favourite casserole uses chicken thigh cutlets so it’s budget-friendly and with only 15 minutes of meal prep, it’s easy, too!
Create classic fried rice at home with flavoursome Chinese sausage.
If Italians are famous for their lasagne, then the Greeks are famous for moussaka. A classic family-friendly dish from the Mediterranean, moussaka is classic comfort food, but we happily eat it all year round. It consists of layers of pan-fried eggplant, a thick, rich lamb-tomato sauce, and a topping of deliciously creamy bechamel sauce. Hot tip: many recipes call for eggplants to be salted and rinsed to draw out any bitter juices, but this shouldn’t be necessary if they’re fresh. If the seeds are too defined or feel hard, the eggplant may be old and should be salted.
Crepes with creamy seafood and dill
This light and lovely seafood dish is sure to become a family favourite.
Few dishes evoke nostalgia and comfort more than meatloaf. When done properly it warms the heart, with flavourful juicy meat licked with a sweet and tangy topping, demanding to be served with a creamy mash. For those who may have had a disappointing experience, this is the recipe to change your mind. We’ve swapped dry breadcrumbs for fresh and added pork and veal mince to the beef mince to ensure this meatloaf is soft and tender yet firm enough to slice without crumbling. And, while the sweet tomato sauce glaze adds extra juiciness, serving it with gravy takes it to another level. What’s more, leftovers get a new life in a sandwich with fresh white bread and loads of butter. To get the absolute best from your meatloaf (with moist, juicy results every time), read the tips in our Notes section below.
Veal marsala with rosemary and garlic potatoes
Take veal cutlets to new heights with this creamy marsala sauce.
Who doesn’t love a recipe using beef mince? This classic dish is not only budget friendly, it’s always a winner with the family
Try this favourite Chinese takeout recipe at home and turn it into a family classic.
The spicy relish that is served with this wonderful old-fashioned bacon and egg pie, will keep, covered in the fridge, for five days.
This old-fashioned favourite shows that you don’t need to go all out to create satisfying family dinners.
Potato, corn and salmon chowder
If you’re looking for comfort food, it’s hard to go past this chowder. With potato, salmon and corn, it’s perfect for lunch or dinner.
For more recipe ideas, go to taste.com.au or check out the Taste Test Kitchen now.
Originally published as Retro 1980s recipes to send your dinner back to the future
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