Backpacking recipes: an old stand-by makes a delicious dinner

With the introduction of The Wide Mouth Hydro Flask, a world of possibilities has opened up for the backpacker who would prefer to do some of the cooking at home. Say you plan to only spend one night at your destination – the thought of lugging a stove and various other cooking supplies does not always make sense. Why not prepare a healthy meal before you go, heat it up, and put it in your Wide Mouth Hydro Flask, so it is piping hot and ready to eat right after you set up your tent?

One of the camping classics is rice and beans. This combination makes a complete protein containing all nine of the essential amino acids, which means you can get the same amount of protein as meat, fish, poultry and eggs with half the hassle.

Andrea Chesman wrote a sweet book called, 366 ways Delicious Ways to Cook Rice, Beans, and Grains, assuring that one could go for a year and a day without ever tiring of this age-old combination.

Check out her recipe below for Brown Rice and Lentils, and consider the possibility of cooking this up before your next big hike, adding a little water and storing it in your Wide Mouth Hydro Flask for the afternoon. It would be comforting to know at least the first meal was taken care of.

Brown Rice & Lentils:

(4 – 6 servings)

2 tablespoons of olive oil

1 small, diced onion

4 cloves of garlic, minced

1 finely chopped carrot

2 teaspoons ground cumin

1 teaspoon of ground coriander

1 ¼ cups uncooked brown rice

¾ cup dried brown or green lentils, rinsed

4 cups of water

1 teaspoon of salt

1 scallion, chopped

¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro

In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the onion, garlic, carrot, cumin and coriander. Sauté until the onion is limp; about three minutes. Add the rice and lentils and sauté for another two minutes. Add the water and salt, cover and bring to a boil. Then reduce the heat and simmer until the rice and lentils are tender, about 40 minutes. Fluff with a fork. Stir in the scallion and cilantro. Dry the lid, place a paper towel over the rice, replace the lid, and let stand for five minutes before serving.

We recommend adding a cup or two of hot water to this recipe before pouring it into your Hydro Flask to assure that is has more of a soupy consistency.