Always searching for flavor-packed recipes, I've modified this slightly to align with how I might prepare the "home food" version of this one. It's a good one to add in every now and then for variety.
INGREDIENTS:
1/2 cup Instant Rice
3/4 cup Freeze Dried Chicken
1/4 tsp Toasted Sesame Seeds
1 1/2 tsp Chicken Bouillon
1/2 tsp Butter Powder
1 Tbsp Unflavored Collagen Powder
1 pkt True Orange
1/8 tsp Red Pepper Flakes
1/4 tsp Salt and Pepper
2T Olive Oil
1/2 cup Chow Mein Noodles
2 Tbsp Olive Oil added when preparing on the trail with boiling water
Top prepared meal with chow mein noodles
DIRECTIONS:
Put chow mein noodles in a separate baggie.
Combine the remaining ingredients (excluding olive oil) in a meal pouch or prep bowl.
Remove as much air as possible and seal.
PREPARATION:
Add 1 1/4 cups boiling water and 2 Tbsp olive oil to the meal pouch.
Let sit in a meal cozy or other insulated container for approximately 9 minutes.
Stir well.
Top with chow mein noodles and dig in.
A Word or Two About the Ingredients
A lot of trail food recipes out there use ingredients that I think are less than ideal. Sometimes it's because a recipe needs thickening. Sometimes it's to boost a nutritional component (i.e., calories, fat, protein). I get it. I mean, I use fritos, chow mein noodles (in this recipe), and I swear there's a place for crushed potato chips out there, too!
What I try to avoid are things like flour, cornstarch, and other similar thickeners. I just think there are better options with more nutritional value. So why not use those instead? Plus, raw cornstarch and flour just don't do ANYTHING for the flavor of a recipe and, frankly, just add things you don't want or need.
One ingredient that I see fairly often is chia seeds. Now, I am all in favor of chia seeds from a nutritional perspective, but unfortunately, I just can't personally get past the texture. The "crunch" part is probably manageable, but the "slimy" part, which is really where the thickening happens, is just not something I can handle. And since Jamie is (after 32 years of marriage and eating food I prepare) essentially aligned with my tastes, I don't use them. But if you like them, and the texture works with whatever you're making, you should TOTALLY go for it!
ENTER, COLLAGEN POWDER. I have found that collagen powder is a great, nutritional alternative to other, less desirable thickeners in hiker foods. Obviously, it doesn't need to be cooked, since its frequently stirred or blended into drinks and smoothies. It also packs a relative nutritional punch, especially when compared to flour or cornstarch. Be sure to use the unflavored variety. Nobody wants Chocolate Sesame Orange Chicken, even if it's topped with chow mein noodles.
Let me know what you think!
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