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 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 oil (1 sachet) 50g sachet of Vietnamese curry paste 60g sachet coconut milk powder (makes 1 … Continue reading Recipe: Vietnamese coconut curry – ultralight dinner for camping
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. 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 3-4 cloves of fresh garlic 1 vegetable stock cube 2 tart apples, dried (Granny … 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! Serves 2. Ingredients 200g spaghetti (quick-cook or angel hair vermicelli can save you fuel) 10g dried garlic flakes 100g tomato paste (2 sachets) 36 ml olive oil (3 sachets) large pinch of dried basil salt dried parmesan to taste Steps First, make the sauce. … Continue reading Recipe: trail spaghetti with tomato & basil
Stuck for ideas for campsite meals? Want to reduce weight and increase the yum factor in your camp food? Want to stop paying a fortune for store-bought camping meals? Here are 5 ultralight camping meal ideas to inspire you! Add your favorites in the comments. Continue reading 5 camping meals you can prepare at home
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
