

Easy lentil and squash dal with rice
This is a fantastic hearty option for instant camping dinner. Make a big batch and bag them up for the hiking season. I adapted the Dirty Gourmet’s excellent recipe to my taste and what I had on hand, then paired it with instant rice for a quick backcountry dinner. Makes 6 serves. Ingredients 1 cup red lentils Half a butternut squash, chopped finely 2 large … Continue reading Easy lentil and squash dal with rice

Recipe: Couscous with Mediterranean vegetables
This is one of the simplest staples of hikers – couscous is ready in minutes with just the addition of boiling water. But that doesn’t mean it has to be a boring meal! Try this recipe with delicious Mediterranean vegetables and add grilled halloumi for added flair. Serves 2 hungry hikers. Ingredients 1 cup / 190g couscous (fine, not pearls) 10g dehydrated zucchini 10g dehydrated … Continue reading Recipe: Couscous with Mediterranean vegetables

5 great camping breakfast ideas
Make sure you get your slow-release energy from the most important meal of your outdoor day! Freeze dried scrambled eggs Oatmeal porridge Muesli and powdered milk Breakfast rice and cherries Instant baked beans and tortilla breads Not sure how much muesli to pack? I like a hearty portion of 75g / half a cup of muesli, premixed with about 10g / 2 tbsp of milk … Continue reading 5 great camping breakfast ideas

Mash, gravy and peas
This may be the ultimate in hiking comfort foods. I’ve even had it for breakfast on hikes. It’s satisfying, energising, warming, ultralight, great for the family and also cheap to put together. Instant potato flakes need only boiling water to turn them into mash (though they’re even better with some milk powder included – see my recipe below). Same goes for dehydrated peas, and for … Continue reading Mash, gravy and peas

Recipe: Vietnamese coconut curry – ultralight dinner for camping
Curries are deliciously full-flavored and satisfying after a hike in the backcountry. This one uses rice “glass” noodles, which require only soaking, no cooking. It’s suitable for most diets being gluten-free and vegan (check your curry paste to be sure). It’s ultralight without compromising on taste. Serves 2. Ingredients 100g-120g fine rice noodles (break the bundles apart to get a close amount) 12 ml vegetable … Continue reading Recipe: Vietnamese coconut curry – ultralight dinner for camping

Recipe: breakfast rice and cherries
Give this rice pudding a quick cook this at the end of your dinner, then seal and leave overnight. You’ll be treated to the perfect breakfast to keep you going on your hike. For each hungry hiker include: 75g short grain rice (e.g. Thai sticky, arborio) 30g almond milk powder 1 tsp chia seeds Water to cover Dried fruit to taste Continue reading Recipe: breakfast rice and cherries

Recipe: apple & parmesan risotto – family-friendly camping food
The sweet-sharp taste of this northern Italian risotto makes for a delicious dinner while camping. It’s popular with kids and difficult-to-please adults alike, and it’s suitable for people with different dietary requirements, like vegetarian, vegan or gluten-free. Serves 2. Ingredients 25 ml olive oil (2 sachets) 130g arborio or carnaroli rice (“risotto rice”) 1/4 cup of dried onion and garlic, or 1 fresh onion and … Continue reading Recipe: apple & parmesan risotto – family-friendly camping food

Recipe: Curried no-cook rice
This easily digestible form of raw rice is very popular across India, Nepal and Bangladesh, and is normally used to prepare snacks or light and easy fast food. It is known by a variety of names. The dish which I’ve adapted below is often a morning snack in India! Crucially to outdoors enthusiasts, it doesn’t need to be cooked! That’s right – you can simply add … Continue reading Recipe: Curried no-cook rice

How much powdered milk?
Instant milk powder. It’s a camp essential. Cups of tea and coffee, oatmeal, creamed rice, pasta sauces, muesli… lots of camp foods need milk. Powdered milk is not only protein-rich, and light to carry, but it also won’t go off on a hot day like fresh dairy produce. How much milk powder do you need for the amount of milk you want? Use this handy … Continue reading How much powdered milk?

When a hike goes wrong…
Luck isn’t always on your side. Here’s what I learnt from a hike that went wrong. Continue reading When a hike goes wrong…