Dehydrated rice works well as a base for delicious trailside meals.
From main meal to dessert, rice acts as the carrier for many wonderful flavours. It is simply a matter of adding hot water or an alternative hot liquid such as water and a stockpot gel to your satchel of instant rice.
Nutty Pilaf
I have added a small tub of beef stock to the boiling water that I am using to rehydrate the rice. However, you could also use either vegetable or chicken stock. Try adding a portion of a satchel of ‘freeze-dried’ mince to the pilaf recipe. The instant mince can be added to the satchel of rice during the preparation process. This simply involves adding the packaged mince to the instant rice using the quantity of water or stock suggested on the satchel for the rice plus adding an additional ½ cup of liquid for each cup of mince used. If you prefer a vegetarian option, omit the mince from the recipe and substitute a similar amount of dehydrated/instant vegetables. All of the spices can be packed together in a small clip-seal bag, then added to the rice and mince as they rehydrate.
- 1 tablespoon cooking oil
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 1 clove garlic, crushed
- 1 carrot, grated
- 1 satchel instant rice
- ½ satchel instant mince (optional)
- Hot stock of your choice
- ½ teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
- ½ teaspoon ground cardamom (optional)
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- a handful of unsalted peanuts or cashews
Depending on your heating fuel situation during your walk, the onion and garlic can be sautéed to a crispy gold before leaving home and packed in a baggie for later use in camp. Alternatively, you could use the dried shallots that are found in the Asian section of most supermarkets.
In camp, bring the stock or water to the boil. Use the amount of water recommended on the rice’s packet. Open the satchel of rice, add mince (if using) and then pour in the required amount of boiling stock. Pop the onion/garlic mixture as well as the carrot and spices into the satchel and then reseal for the appropriate amount of time as stated on the rice packet. Fluff the rice pilaf with a fork and serve with some peanuts or cashews scattered over the top. The reason for grating the carrot is that it cooks quicker. Chunkier carrot will take longer to cook/soften – but some like it crunchy anyway.
Risi e Bisi
This is a classic Italian rice dish that is perfect for a trailside meal. You can add a splash of white wine (from a sachet) to the rice just before serving to add a touch of authentic flavour but this is optional.
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 1 satchel of dehydrated rice
- Boiling chicken stock
- 1 small packet of dehydrated peas
- 100gms cooked bacon, chopped (optional)
- ground black pepper
- ½ cup of grated cheese (either grated Parmesan or freeze-dried grated cheese)
As in the previous recipe, the onion can be prepared at home. Melt the butter in a pan and sauté the onion until softened. In camp, bring the stock to the boil. Open the sachet of dehydrated rice and add the onion, peas, bacon (if using), and the boiling liquid (stock or water). Close the sachet and allow it to rehydrate for the required time as stated on the rice satchel. Open the satchel and add the ground pepper and grated cheese and stir through. Your Risi e Bisi is now ready to enjoy.
Quick and Easy Rice Pudding
Here are a few options to turn your dehydrated rice into a delicious dessert.
Option 1: Instead of water, rehydrate your rice with hot UHT milk for a creamy texture. Try adding some sultanas and perhaps some lemon or lime zest to the rice.
Option 2: Rehydrate your rice with hot UHT milk and then allow to cool. Stir some of your favourite flavour of yoghurt and a chopped banana through the rice.
Option 3: Rehydrate your rice with hot UHT milk. Also rehydrate a satchel of freeze-dried fruit salad with cold water. Now mix the rice and the fruit salad together and perhaps add a small tetra pak of UHT custard to the mix.
Option 4: Rehydrate your rice with hot UHT cream and allow to cool. Stir some chopped walnuts through the rice and sprinkle a crushed Flake chocolate bar over the top. Trust me, the Flake will probably be crushed by the time you get to use it.
Option 5: Use a tetra pak of coconut milk as the liquid base for rehydrating the rice, and then add chopped apricot, shredded coconut and walnuts to the rice.