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What to eat while camping? Simple recipes and tips

Camping and staying in nature is an increasingly common form of vacation. A large number of tourists every year decide to take a vacation away from the hustle and bustle of cities and noise. In Croatia, there are a handful of campsites all over the Adriatic coast that offer everything you need for a pleasant stay. One of them are Terra Park campsites on the island of Pag, where you have all the necessary infrastructure and plenty of pitches where you can to set up your tent or caravan. Although camping itself is mostly a fun and wonderful experience, it can also be challenging if everything needed is not prepared in time. In this blog we will focus on meal preparation and the ingredients we need. When camping, it is important to prepare them in advance to ensure you have enough food. Moreover, an adequate kitchen equipment should be provided in time.

Cooking equipment. What to bring?

Whether you're camping with a personal car, camper van, or just a tent for cooking, you need to have a few essential items.

Drinkable water is necessary for cooking and washing dishes. If you have a camper van, you have drinkable water from the tap just like at home. However, if you're camping in another way, then a portable water container is a good thing to have. It will take up very little space in transport, but when unfolded, its 15-liter capacity with a built-in tap and two hanging attachments will create the impression of running water. Thanks to its large capacity, you'll reduce the number of trips for water, and the tap will make consumption and washing easier.

A gas stove is one of the essential pieces of equipment. It can come in smaller or larger variants, and you'll need to bring gas canisters for cooking or frying pans with it. An electric grill can also be useful if you have access to electricity. Most campsites have it, so if you have space in your car, feel free to bring it along. Everyone loves to barbecue outdoors. You can buy eating utensils in camping stores that are designed for outdoor use and are not heavy to carry, or you can bring utensils from home. A portable cooler can be electric, which is always a safer option because it lasts longer. However, a regular cooler with ice can last for half a day if kept in the shade or if the outside temperature isn't too high.

Food During Camping

When planning the food to take camping, it's always important to consider its shelf life and how long it can last without spoiling. For example, if we're staying at a campsite with a refrigerator, dairy products, eggs, and similar items can be stored there. 

Here are some basic foods you can take camping:
  • Non-perishable food: Such as canned food, dried fruits, nuts, energy bars, and jerky.
  • Long-lasting vegetables: Like carrots, potatoes, onions, bell peppers, zucchini, or tomatoes. They can last for several days without refrigeration.
  • Quick food: Such as instant soup, pasta, rice, and instant oats.
  • Easy-to-prepare food: Such as canned beans or lentils that you can quickly heat up for a nutritious meal.
  • Grilling utensils: If possible, you can prepare meat, fish, or vegetables on the grill.
  • Non-refrigerated food: Like bread, canned spreads, and cheeses that don't require refrigeration.
  • Spices and basic ingredients: Salt, pepper, oil, and spices of your choice to enhance the flavor of food.
  • Sweets: For a mood lift and extra energy. Avoid chocolate bars if it's hot and you don't have a refrigerator.
  • Dehydrated food: While not the healthiest option, dehydrated food is very convenient to use and is great to have in case you don't have certain utensils or much time for preparation. To prepare this meal, you just need to pour hot water over it, stir, and wait for 5-10 minutes to let it sit.

Drinks during camping

Water is available almost everywhere, and you can always make tea or coffee from it. If you are camping in the summer months, it is recommended to drink 2-3 liters of water per day. If you have access to a refrigerator, you can also enjoy various other juices and a glass of good wine...

Recipes and examples of some simple camping dishes

At the end of the blog, we bring several interesting and always delicious dishes that you can prepare without much effort:
  • Grilled chicken with vegetables
Ingredients: Chicken breast or chicken drumstick, bell pepper, onion, zucchini (or other vegetables as desired), salt, pepper, olive oil.
Preparation: Cut the chicken into pieces and the vegetables into rings. Season the chicken with salt, pepper and olive oil. Fry the chicken and vegetables on the grill or pan until they are soft and lightly browned.
  • Grilled tuna sandwiches
Ingredients: Can of tuna, bread for toasting, cheese, tomato, salad (optional)
Preparation: Squeeze the excess liquid from the can of tuna. Put pieces of tuna, cheese, tomato and salad on the bread. Place the sandwiches on the pan and bake until the bread is crispy and the cheese is melted.
  • Pasta with tomato sauce and sausages
Ingredients: Pasta, sausages (you can use regular or spicy), can of chopped tomatoes, onion, garlic, olive oil, salt, pepper, spices of your choice (oregano, basil)
Preparation: Put the water in a pot to boil, add the pasta, salt and cook according to the instructions on the package. While the pasta is cooking, heat olive oil in a pan. Add chopped onion and garlic and fry until soft and slightly golden brown. Add sliced sausages and fry them until done. Add a can of chopped tomatoes to the pan with the sausages and onions. Season with salt and pepper and, if desired, add oregano or basil. Let the sauce cook for a few minutes to allow the flavors to meld. Drain the cooked pasta and add it to the pan with the sauce. Mix well and serve warm.

Enjoy camping and delicious meals!
Good apetite!
vrh stranice