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AIBU?

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Original poster

To ask what you think food would be like if tomatoes and potatoes had never arrived in Europe from the new world

35 replies

Fragmentedbrain · 30/07/2025 17:24

What sort of stuff would we be eating? Would your dinner be totally different?

OP posts:
Original poster
Fragmentedbrain · 30/07/2025 18:01

RumJerrySailorRum · 30/07/2025 17:59

I only eat British tomatoes or potatoes so id be none the wiser probably.

If I cook a roast, there are no potatoes on it as I prefer to fill up on veg.

Yes I eat mince based dishes, but my favourite ones are not tomato based.

I do like the odd packet of crisps, but I'd rather have nuts!

But... They came from the Americas.

OP posts:
RumJerrySailorRum · 30/07/2025 17:59

I only eat British tomatoes or potatoes so id be none the wiser probably.

If I cook a roast, there are no potatoes on it as I prefer to fill up on veg.

Yes I eat mince based dishes, but my favourite ones are not tomato based.

I do like the odd packet of crisps, but I'd rather have nuts!

Els1e · 30/07/2025 17:45

Wheat/Oat gruel type thing, I guess as our carbohydrates. Then protein, either fish and meat, added. Plus, if course, root vegetables, ie carrots, swede, turnips etc

Sux2buthen · 30/07/2025 17:36

I’d be skinnier 😂I’m a potato gal
boil em fry em stick em in a stew

soupyspoon · 30/07/2025 17:29

Incredibly I think a lot of people often focus on the 'newness' or 'foreigness' (not sure if these are actual words) of British food. If you say for example spag bol or curry or fish and chips someone will be along to remind you that these arent 'British' even though we have been eating them for donkeys years (dont start about Bologna either)

But of course Italian, Spanish, Indian, Middle Eastern, all those cuisines that we might think are 'traiditional' are also made up of new world foods. Where would most european dishes be without the tomato or aubergine? What about Indian subcontinent foods without potatoes, tomatoes etc chillis etc
What about Italy without the introduction of noodles from the far east

So what we would all be eating probably is meat and indigenous veg, various grains and pulses. Lots of flavourings would be different although again, many of our spices like nutmeg and cinnamon were from the spice trade areas.

Pottage and gruel on the menu I think

Wednesdaysotherchild · 30/07/2025 17:29

A lot more swede and turnip, bleurgh!

CynicalSunni · 30/07/2025 17:29

Probably be a lot of stews and pies.
And pickled food i would say.

You should look up tasting history on youtube. He cooks a lot of old recipes with the history of the food etc

Original poster
Fragmentedbrain · 30/07/2025 17:28

BMW6 · 30/07/2025 17:28

Well I'd think the same as now but without those ingredients.......

I suppose pasta sauces would be very different and fish 'n rice might be a Thing, crisps obviously non existent, but who knows what foods don't exist now that could have been totally different.?

Fish and rice is a nice idea actually - had a great fish and rice thing in Portugal!

OP posts:
Tryingtokeepgoing · 30/07/2025 17:28

I rarely eat potatoes, but I would miss tomatoes!! Though I guess before their arrival the Mediterranean diet was more garlic, onion, olives and herbs based? So not all bad 😀

BMW6 · 30/07/2025 17:28

Well I'd think the same as now but without those ingredients.......

I suppose pasta sauces would be very different and fish 'n rice might be a Thing, crisps obviously non existent, but who knows what foods don't exist now that could have been totally different.?