27 mighty snacks that will see you through any apocalypse

The food you need when you're a plucky survivor forced to team up after an apocalyptic extra-terrestrial strike... or just requiring fuel for binge-watching.

Salt and vinegar potatoes Source: Heidi Sze

As recent events have proven, it's not just extraterrestrial life we need to watch out for. Turns out, nano-tiny viruses have always been lurking, waiting to take us down by stealth. It's very clear: we need to be prepared for anything, anytime.

 

As we live through unprecedented times, we've got your next binge-worthy series at the ready. With every movie or series we've cued up, you better believe there is also an array of snacks that form the perfect partnership. To. make sure your snacking game is up-to-scratch for this War of the Worlds binge-watching bonanza, let us cue up your snacking potential just in case you have to take them on the road with you to hunt down extraterrestrial life forms anytime soon...

Manakish three ways

Man'oushe (singular to the plural manakish) is a popular Levantine flatbread topped with anything from za'atar to ground meat, or Hoda's Australian take featuring Vegemite and cheese. Typically enjoyed for breakfast or lunch, they also make excellent comfort food and viewing fodder.

Source: May Rizk

Egg and bacon sambo

A bacon and egg sambo makes EVERYTHING better. Source: China Squirrel

Eggs last for weeks if you buy them fresh enough, even longer if you get them straight from the hen. You can cure your own bacon Matthew Evans-style (if anyone is surviving an apocalypse, it's that guy), bake your own bread, and you've got yourself a bacon sarnie, no matter what's going on in the world.

Peanut mochi

Mochi needs lots and lots of chewing - which is surely the perfect activity while watching your favourite TV show. Source: China Squirrel

You can make these delightfully chewy, mellow little pillows from four pantry ingredients: glutinous rice flour, sugar, roasted peanuts and peanut butter. Sure beats peanut butter on a spoon...

Biscotti

Just quietly, this almond and lemon biscotti will keep longer than two weeks if you keep it in a dark, dry place. Source: SBS Food

Loved by Italians for centuries, it often feels like a batch of biscotti lasts about a century as well. It actually keeps for up to two weeks in an airtight container on the bench - even longer if you put that airtight container in the freezer. That's assuming the entire batch isn't scoffed in one sitting, of course. Be warned: this will happen.

Meat scone rolls

"Meat scone roll" sounds exactly like the kind of food you want in your belly when you're taking on the zombies. Source: Secret Meat Business

Cured meat is an apocalypse essential and a meat scone roll is surely the best way to eat it. A light dough that's easily made with butter and UHT milk is wrapped around thick slices of always-ready-to-eat salami. Tasty, meaty, portable.

Brittle

Bushfood Brittle Source: Warndu Mai (Good Food)

Crunch into bushfood brittle (pictured above), seed brittle or this luscious peanut brittle. All kinds of brittle can be made using ingredients straight from the pantry. You can freeze brittle, but it's unlikely to last that long. Just remember to give your teeth a good scrub afterwards - dental hygiene is so important, even during apocalyptic times.

Salt and vinegar potatoes

What is it about fried potatoes that makes us instantly hungry? Source: Heidi Sze

For centuries, potatoes have been keeping vast populations alive during very hard times. They keep an exceptionally long time, are extremely versatile and potato-growers would have us believe they are a 'complete food' (which is not exactly true, but close). Start your snacking with these ridiculously-good salt and vinegar potatoes, then move onto sweet potato fries, and finish with croquettes.

Granola

Eating granola straight from the jar is just as good as slathering it in yoghurt or milk. Source: Donna Hay

You can pack a kitchen-sink worth of nutrition into a bowl of granola and it's just delightful to eat any time of the day or night. Dried fruit, nuts, seeds and glorious oats - granola will probably be the only thing left standing after the alien-invasion.

Rice bars

Watching War of the Worlds: "So THAT'S what all the ultra-marathoners have been training for all this time..." Source: Velochef, Hardie Grant Books

This recipe is a favourite among ultra-marathon runners and cyclists, so no doubt it's suitable to have in your pocket when running from aliens. It's quick to make and you can pack as much nutrition in there as you like. Chocolate chips would also be rather yummy...

Apple cake

Apples plus pantry ingredients = she'll be right, mate! Source: Ashley Rodriguez

If you've ever had to clean out a child's school bag after six weeks of school holidays, you'll know that apples last a very, very long time. When all other fruits have perished, apples will still be crunchy-fresh and ready to munch - and we can all agree they are at their best when eaten in cake-form.

Spiced maple nuts and seeds

Aromatic nuts and friends get along together like a world on fire. Source: Brett Stevens

The world's gone nuts, and you're okay with that. For you, clever, resourceful you, can turn a handful of nuts into something frankly life-changing. Start with these spiced maple nuts and keep going from there:

Taralli

Make no mistake: taralli are completely, utterly, totally delicious. Source: Cook like an Italian

Officially, taralli keeps for a couple of weeks in an airtight jar, but most Italian nonnas wouldn't bat an eyelid offering you one from a jar going back several months. Which makes taralli a particularly good snack to have around during any kind of apocalyptic disaster. If all else fails, you can lob them at the enemy like grenades.

War of the Worlds double episode will premiere at 8.30pm Thursday 9 July on SBS and will continue weekly at 9:30pm from Thursday 16 July. Episodes will be available on SBS On Demand each week on the same day as broadcast. The series will be subtitled in Simplified Chinese and Arabic for SBS On Demand, available immediately following its premiere on SBS. Watch the trailer here: