We have tried to compile a list, from around the world, of hiker’s favorite dishes. We know it’s unrealistic to be carrying bulky food items so we have tried to make this list easy to follow, light to carry, non-bulky and using ingredients that don’t need refrigeration or have an extended use by date.
1. Cheese and Tomato Pitta Pizza
Ever had the craving for Pizza on the trail? Well now you have a way to solve that craving. The simple easy to make pitta pizza is a trail favorite.
Ingredients:
- Pitta bread.
- Tomato paste.
- Block of your favorite mature cheese.
- Water.
- Heating stove/camping fire.
- 1 pan with a lid.
Preparation:
- Slice open the Pita bread.
- Squeeze in some tomato puree.
- Slice your cheese into shapes think enough to melt and fit in your pita bread.
- Place the Pita bread into the heated pan. Leave to heat for two minutes.
- After two minutes pour a few drops to cover the base of the pan.
- Place the lid over the pan and leave for two minutes.
This meal works well with a range of different ingredients of your own choice. Add onions, pepperoni or many other ready to eat pizza ingredients you can think of to make your perfect Pita pizza.
2. BBQ Noodle Tortilla
Nothing says quick hiking food like packets of noodles, but you may also hate the thought of noodles all by themselves. So, try this meal for a delicious BBQ treat.
Ingredients:
- Packet of dried noodles.
- Can of tinned tuna BBQ sauce.
- Tortilla wraps.
- 1 pan with a lid.
Preparation:
- Boil the dried noodles till cooked then drain away the water (water can be saved for drinking water or a soup if the noodles are flavored).
- Place the pan back over the stove with the noodles, throw in the tuna, stir in your desired amount of BBQ sauce and heat till warm.
- Sprinkle some water onto the Tortilla wraps and place over the lid of the pan.
- Wait till the tortilla wraps are warm then serve your noodles wrapped inside the tortilla wraps.
For added taste, place some sliced cheese inside the wraps at your own leisure. Or switch the bbq sauce out and try some of your own choice hot sauce.
3. Ham and Cheese Potato Patties
Need some energy but want it to be tasty? This dish will have you running up that trail before you now it.
Ingredients:
- Packet of instant mash.
- Bit of oil.
- Bit of flour.
- Packet of pre-cooked ham (or a meat you prefer will work fine).
- A block of your preferred mature cheese.
- Water.
- 1 pan.
Preparation:
- Prepare instant mash following the guidelines from the packet.
- Rip open your packet of ham and shred it into the mashed potato.
- Slice up your cheese into small chunks.
- Add a handful of flour the pan Mix mash, ham, cheese and flour together.
- Remove mixture from pan and create small round patties.
- Quick clean of the pan and add some oil.
- Fry the patties till golden brown.
This dish can be as creative as you wish. Add spices, different meats, cheeses or vegetables to mash and create your own trail pattie. Simple stuff.
4. Hot Turkey Pasta
This one may hurt the tongue but it’s quick to make and great for the energy. This is an Ultimate Hikers guide favorite.
Ingredients:
- Packet of cooked cut cold turkey.
- 1 can of sweet corn.
- Your choice of pasta.
- Little oil Water.
- Your favorite hot sauce.
- 1 pan.
Preparation:
- Cook the pasta.
- Remove pasta and place to one side.
- Add a little oil to the pan.
- Add the turkey and the sweet corn to the pan and stir fry for 2 minutes.
- Stir in a fair amount of your favorite hot sauce.
- Add the pasta and stir the ingredients till well mixed.
- Add a little more hot sauce to coat all the pasta and heat for 2 minutes.
This meal also works well with a selection of sauces. You can use oyster sauce as a sweet alternative to the hot sauce.
5. Chorizo Cous Cous
Everyone knows how good cous cous is surely? Packed full of energy and a real tasty treat. Follow this recipe for a quick and easy meal.
Ingredients:
- 1 chicken stock cube.
- A packet of cous cous.
- Packet of sliced chorizo.
- Water.
- 1 pan.
Preparation:
- Add the cous cous and water to a pan with a 2 part cous cous to 1 part water ratio.
- Bring pan to boil then simmer.
- Add the chicken stock cube to the pan and stir thoroughly.
- Add the sliced chorizo to the pan.
- Once all the ingredients are in the pan it should take 10 minutes for the water to be absorbed by the cous cous.
This dish can be enjoyed with a range of vegetables such as peas or carrots but with this dish we have gone for simplicity at its best.
6. Caramel Banana Heaven
A dessert but we all need some sweet heaven on the trail. Plus you don’t need to worry about bashing that banana about a bit.
Ingredients:
- 1 banana.
- Cinnamon.
- Vanilla flavoring.
- Wonton Skins (picked up at any supermarket).
- Caramel sauce.
- Frying oil.
- 1 Pan.
Preparation:
- Chop the banana up or if completely mashed just add to a bowl.
- Add a bit of ground cinnamon and some vanilla flavoring and mix together till mush.
- Take your wonton skins and carefully roll up some of your banana mix.
- Lightly fry the wraps in a little oil till golden brown.
- Top the wonton wraps off with a little caramel sauce.
Wonton wraps are usually used for an easy way to make Ravioli. Finding them in any large supermarket should not be a problem or you can use Filo pastry.
7. Spaghetti Puttanesca
An Italian classic but really easy to make and something a bit out of ordinary when on the trails. As easy and flexible dish as you can imagine.
Ingredients:
- Spaghetti pasta.
- 2 chopped garlic cloves.
- A tin of chopped tomatoes.
- 1 tbsp. capers , chopped if large.
- Handful pitted green olives , sliced.
- Pinch of dried chili flakes.
- 1 Pan.
Preparation:
- Cook the Spaghetti pasta in a pan according to the packet instructions.
- Remove Spaghetti from the pan and quick clean the pan.
- Heat a little oil in the pan and add the garlic, chopped tomatoes, capers and olives and simmer for 10 minutes.
- Add Spaghetti into the pan, mix well and serve.
Never try and mess with a timeless classic dish. If you can make it better, let me know.
8. Simple Thai Green Curry Noodles
They call it simple because it really is. 10 minutes and you have a delicious meal. This meal also has so many variables that depending on your taste can be made different in so many different ways.
Ingredients:
- Packet of (quick) cook rice.
- Thai Green curry paste.
- Packet of chosen cooked meat (we prefer cooked chicken).
- Coconut milk.
- 1 pan.
- A little oil.
Preparation:
- Cook the noodles according to packet instructions in a pan.
- Remove the noodles from the pan and quick clean.
- Add the Thai green curry paste, cooked meat and coconut milk to a pan.
- Simmer the ingredients in the pan for 5 minutes.
- Add the noodles and mix well.
Like I said above, you can use a ton of different ingredients. Add vegetables that are less perishable on the trail or different spices. Make it or hot or even sweet. It’s up to you.
9. Corned Beef Bean Pie
A cheaters shepherds pie. We said we wanted to replace the tin of beans on the trail but this recipe is too delicious to leave out.
Ingredients:
- Instant mash.
- A tin of beans.
- Tin of corned beef.
- Cheese (optional).
- 1 pan.
Preparation:
- Make the instant mash according to the packet.
- Heat the tin of beans and corned beef in a pan for 5 minutes.
- Set the bean and corned beef mixture in a shallow dish or bowl.
- Cover the dish with instant mash.
- Add cheese to the top if desired.
This meal can be enjoyed in a variety of different ways. You could use vegetarian burger mix, cous cous or mince as a replacement for the corned beef.
10. Merlot Garlic Mushrooms on Toasted Bread
A little twist to the toasted meal on the trail. Quick to make and a real treat. Almost as if you are dining in a French restaurant this evening.
Ingredients:
- 2 tbsp. of Merlot red wine.
- Chopped mushrooms.
- Chopped garlic.
- 2 pieces of bread.
- 1 nob of butter.
- Onion relish.
- A little oil.
- 1 pan.
Preparation:
- Heat the butter in the pan.
- Throw the mushrooms in the pan and heat till soft.
- Add the chopped garlic and red wine and stir for 2 minutes.
- Add the onion relish and heat for a further minute.
- Toast the bread.
- Serve mushrooms over toast.
Using a cheese to top this dish off is a good way to get some added energy.