Campground Cooking: Beyond Burgers & Dogs

Camping
is all about adventure and discovering new things, but when it comes to food,
campers tend to stick to the basics. Give your taste buds something new to
enjoy with these ideas that will take your next camping trip to a new
culinary level.

1.Fancy
Toasts
When you think about a gourmet meal,
toast is probably not the first thing that comes to mind. But with hardly any
cooking required, this option lets you enjoy a fresh, healthy,
restaurant-worthy meal in no time. Plus, creating your own take on this trend
is as easy as knowing what you like because fancy toasts are
completely customizable.

Start with a hearty
bread, one with whole seeds is great for added texture. Toast any way you
have available – on a skillet, in a toaster inside your camper, on the grill
– anything works. Then move on to toppings. Right now, the most popular
version of this simple meal is avocado toast. A simple combination of smashed
avocado slathered on warm bread (often topped with salt and/or red pepper
flake), this toast can be topped with a fried or hard-boiled egg as well for
an added boost of protein.

Hate avocado? Skip it and
slather on your favorite nut butter, then top with an in-season fruit. Or go
savory with a combination of soft cheese and a fresh, sliced veggie (radishes
and peas are tasty choices that hold up well when camping). The possibilities
are truly endless, and trying new, unexpected combinations is part of the fun
when playing with fancy toast.

2.Pasta
Break
up the camping routine with a filling pasta dinner. The key here is that the
pasta can be cooked at home ahead of time, cutting way down on prep time and
making this meal a cinch at the camp site. Simply cook the pasta in heavily
salted water for about 2 minutes less than you would for a typical al dente
result so you don’t end up with pasta-mush. Drain, rinse with cold water to
prevent sticking, then store cooked pasta in a Tupperware or sealed plastic
bag and toss in the cooler (use within 1-2 days). Whole wheat pasta is a
great choice because it will make for a filling meal, no meat needed.

Now
that you’re ready with a stash of cooked pasta, what can you make? Instead of
spending time simmering sauce (a task that’s not so easy if you’re cooking
over a grill or campfire), keep it simple and fresh with this rule of thumb: one
cheese + one veggie + olive oil + salt & pepper. Fresh
herbs also always make a great addition to this
equation.

Here’s where you can let your inner chef shine.
Like things traditional? Go with parmesan (which, like many hard cheeses, can
stay good for days with no refrigeration) and diced tomatoes. Feeling funky?
Try tangy goat cheese, thinly sliced zucchini and mint. All you need to do it
throw all the ingredients into a large pot and toss until heated through. No
matter what, you’ll feel like you’re dining al fresco in Italy right in your
own campsite.

3.Charcuterie
The
word “charcuterie” originally referred to meats that had been cured in order
to preserve them before refrigeration was easily accessible. But what started
as a necessity is also just a really tasty way to enjoy different varieties
of meat – plus with no need to take up precious cooler or refrigerator space,
charcuterie is the perfect partner for camping.

To create a
gourmet charcuterie board that can rival any restaurant, you need to start
with the star of the show: the meats. Many salt-cured meats can last
up to a month without refrigeration when stored in a cool, dark
spot. Salami, summer sausage, pepperoni, and Spanish chorizo all make for a
flavor-packed spread. Next up is the cheese. Hard cheeses like aged cheddar
and parmesan will keep just fine if wrapped and stored away from the sun.
Finally, make a pit stop at your local olive bar and stock up on pickled
veggies like a variety of olives, marinated artichokes, peppers, carrots,
onion, and cornichons.

This no-prep option is ideal for an
easy mid-day lunch. Plus, you can have fun arranging your selections for an
impressive presentation. Feel free to add any additional accoutrements (jams,
nut butters, mustards, fresh fruit, etc.), then grab some bread or crackers
and enjoy!