Back in the days, camping was a necessity, not a fun activity. Sleeping under the stars was something that people would do, because they had to travel, hunt or trap. It was a part of tough life, dominated by males. And their food, based on meat and beans, was meant to satisfy hunger and be easy to prepare.
But today, camping is a beloved activity of many of us. It is something that we do, because we enjoy being in nature, want to escape from everyday life and relax. And, when I say “we”, I mean everybody – both carnivores and vegans. Unfortunately, the way most of us cook, hasn’t changed that much. Sausages, bacon, fish – those are the staples on many camping trips.
Luckily for vegans, more and more companies now produce plant-based freeze-dried meals that require no more than adding hot water or some simmering. Personally, I really like cooking from scratch, but I also understand that there are times when one is just too tired to do more than put water into boil – or too busy to prepare meals in advance. And that’ s when store bought dishes come in handy!
Harvest Foodworks products are my go-to when I’m looking for freeze-dried camping food. Their meals are mostly vegetarian but vegans can find something for themselves too. For my previous canoe trip, we brought Mulligan Stew – a combination of pasta, veggies and TVP in “goulash sauce”. The dish was really filling – and surprisingly tasty. We had troubles identifying some of the ingredients (after reading a label, it turned out that mysterious white cubes were potato pieces) and I am not sure if Hungarians would approve the goulash sauce, but overall we were pleased with the meal. It requires at least 10 minutes of cooking (a little bit more in reality), so keep it in mind, if you are in a hurry!
Our second pick for the trip was Natural High Freeze Dried Caribbean Black Bean and Rice. I must say I was pretty excited for this (as a huge fan of beans and rice) but the dish didn’t meet my expectations. It wasn’t bad – just bland. Not salty enough, not spicy enough and not really Caribbean tasting. But it was also easy to prepare: all you have to do is to poor some boiling water into the pouch and let it sit for few minutes – no sticking to the pan or dirty dishes involved. Just remember to bring some spices with you, add them to the pouch, and enjoy!
Another meal from Harvest Foodworks that I’ve tried was Chili Mexicana – a blend of beans, TVP and tomato sauce. Although it was a two portions size, we shared the package among three of us – and it was enough after the whole day of hiking! The food was tasty, could be a little bit more spicy – but if you are a fan of mild dishes, you should be fine. Again, the meal needs to be simmered for at least 10 minutes – beware, hungry campers!
There are many more vegan meals available now in outdoor stores and online, and I encourage you to try different brands. It could be quite a project, but, hey, it’s a good pretext to go camping!