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
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
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
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
Fruits and vegetables contain lots of water. But they also make your camping meals delicious and varied. This is why every hiking foodie knows all about dehydrating (drying) fruit and vegetables. Take my eggplant example. Eggplant makes a great Greek stew, Italian pasta sauce, or Indian curry. But, weighing in at almost 500g, it would be much too heavy and delicate to carry on a … Continue reading How much does an eggplant weigh?
This sophisticated one-pot meal provided a gourmet end to our hike up Mt Kohukohunui. It is rich and satisfying and tastes much more luxurious than anything you’d expect from a camp stove! Porcini are the king of Italian mushrooms and are usually easy to find dried in delis. Don’t be alarmed at the price tag – you only need a little and they’re well worth it. … Continue reading Recipe: hiker’s porcini mushroom risotto
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
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
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
This is Italian homemade goodness – but with some preparation beforehand, you can take mamma’s cooking on the trail with you! The base recipe is suitable for vegetarians and vegans (excluding the optional parmesan). Meat lovers can add salami for extra protein. Kids love this spaghetti too – it’s great for families. Serves 2. Ingredients 200g spaghetti (quick-cook or angel hair vermicelli can save you … Continue reading Recipe: trail spaghetti with tomato & basil
Best Camping Meals 