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Need a good 1-pot meal for 25 people


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  • #1300577
    Max Dilthey
    Spectator

    @mdilthey

    Locale: MaxTheCyclist.com

    Hi guys,

    I run a student camping trip several times a semester. All of our trips have been 2 nights, so it's been easy enough to do Wraps on the first night and a big pot of vegetarian chili the second night.

    The chili is awesome, we have it to a science. However, we're going to Acadia National Park next month one full day longer than usual, and I need an idiot-proof 1-pot meal that tastes nothing like Chili for the second or third night.

    Anyone have any ideas?

    #1966728
    Stephen M
    BPL Member

    @stephen-m

    Locale: Way up North

    Sausage Casserole would be good.

    #1966740
    Max Dilthey
    Spectator

    @mdilthey

    Locale: MaxTheCyclist.com

    It's gotta be vegetarian, since some of our group members are earthy-crunchy.

    How hard is it to make a quiche?

    #1966742
    Stephen M
    BPL Member

    @stephen-m

    Locale: Way up North

    Use veggie sausage.

    For quiche you need an oven.

    #1966751
    Cayenne Redmonk
    BPL Member

    @redmonk

    Locale: Greater California Ecosystem

    jambalaya, chana masala, daal, pizzas

    #1966759
    Madeline T
    Member

    @madscot13

    Any kind of soup or stew would be easy. You could buy a million of those Bear Creek Soup packets or try making something.

    THis potato soup is super hearty and you can choose not to add meat. I add some of the cheesy sauce from the box of scalloped potatoes. If you bought the generic stuff it would be pretty cheap and easy compared to everything else. Multiply by 12-13 though.

    Potato soup
    http://www.backpacker.com/may-2011-recipe-farmers-mash/skills/15693
    1 package white chicken in a pouch
    1 package Knorr Vegetable Soup Mix
    ½ of a 5.25-ounce box of scalloped potatoes
    ¹⁄8 cup instant potatoes
    ~1/4 cup dehydrated vegetables (this is an add on from the original recipe. I usually just buy frozen veggies I like from the store and dehydrate them up and divide into small bags)

    AT HOME
    Place the scalloped potatoes and vegetable mix in one zip-top bag and the instant potatoes in another.

    IN CAMP
    In a pot, stir the scalloped potatoes and vegetable mix into 2½ cups water. Boil for one minute uncovered. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer uncovered for two minutes. Add the chicken and the instant potatoes, stirring slowly and continuously to thicken the stew. Once the instant potatoes are dissolved, let simmer uncovered for one to two minutes. Serve hot. Tip: Crumble in crackers for crunch.

    Serves2

    curry is also a nice change. You would have to multiply this recipe by 3-4.
    curried vegetables
    1 ½ cup lentils
    7 cups water
    3 tbs vegetable oil
    1 cup fincely chopped onion
    1 fresh green chili pepper minced
    4 c peeled and finely diced sweet potato
    1tb curry powder
    1 tsp dried cumin
    2 tbs grated fresh ginger
    4 c diced cauliflower
    2 c diced bell pepper
    10 oz spinach
    3 tbs fresh lemon juice
    1 tsp salt
    3 ½ couscous or instant rice
    1 ½ c water to rehydrate

    rinse lentils and cook in water for 30 minutes
    in a separate wok cook onions and chili peppers
    add sweet potatoes curry, cumin, and ginger and sauté for 2-3 minutes
    add 2 cups of water with the cauliflower and bell peppers
    cover and simmer for 10 minutes or until cauliflower is tender
    drain the lentils and blend the lentils for 2-3 minutes (be careful here. I burned out the motor on my mom's blender. be sure to have enough liquid in it.)
    when cauliflower is tender stir in the spinach lentil puree, lemon juice, and salt and simmer for a few minutes
    pour 1 ½ cup of vegetable mix into plastic wrapped trays (7 trays)
    each tray hss one serving
    deyhydrate and separate into plastic bags
    add ½ cousous into each bag
    boil 1 ½ cup water and then add mix
    cook for 5 minutes

    wt 2 lb 2 oz
    7 servings

    I do not know where I found this recipe and I hope I am not in the wrong by sharing it.

    Have you ever tried daal? probably one of the most fiberlicious and protein heavy foods around. You could either make this ahead and dehydrate (more work on your part) or make it at camp (more weight)
    For 4 servings. I think you might need 1-2 bags of lentils for this)
    1 T. sesame oil or, alternatively, olive oil
    1 cup finely chopped white onion
    2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
    1 T. finely chopped fresh ginger
    4 cups water or vegetable broth. I like vegetable boullion from knorr. but I think I am going to try another poster's vegetable broth next time).
    1 cup dried red lentils, rinsed and picked over
    1 t. cumin (if easier just substitute curry powder or use tumeric and cumin for all of these spices )
    1 t. coriander
    1 t. tumeric
    ¼ t. cardamom
    ¼ t. cinnamon
    ¼ t. cayenne pepper
    1 t. salt, or to taste
    2 T. tomato paste
    1 Lime
    1 can optional diced tomatoes.

    If making this in camp I would wash the lentils at home first and pull out any funny things. dry it and rebag it.
    at camp:
    1. saute the onion and garlic in oil
    2. add the spices to the oil and heat them up. right now you should have your camp salivating
    3. add the water or broth and lentils.
    4. cook until lentils are done. red lentils cook very fast about 20 minutes
    5. While it is cooking add tomato paste and if you had diced tomatoes I would add them here

    I have never cooked this for a very large group. If I had my druthers, I would cook it at home first and then do that cozy thing you do for the chili. I have a tough time cooking grains for large groups and I am imagining lentils provide the same frustrations. I think you have done this enough to do ok though.

    #1966762
    Madeline T
    Member

    @madscot13

    This is a post by Sarah. I have not tried it yet but it screams delicious to me. Broth is meant to add that salty umami taste anyways so I don't think making a veggie broth will be much different than chicken broth to meat lovers. http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/forum_thread/70513/index.html?skip_to_post=603099#603099

    It wouldn't be hard to start with this broth, add noodles, any veggies you had laying around. throw in some white beans and call it delicious

    Oh and speaking of umami. I regularly bring soy sauce packets with me on to the trail to really give things flavor. I throw it in soups and have even made a steak marinade on the trail.

    #1966767
    rOg w
    BPL Member

    @rog_w

    Locale: rogwilmers.com

    deleted

    #1966793
    Konrad .
    BPL Member

    @konrad1013

    Zatarains jambalaya is very cheap ($1-$3 a box, and easily serves 4 per box), can be found at any supermarket, really really delicious but requires that you have water simmering for 25mins after reaching a boil. If you got the fuel and the time, it's a good solution. You can even add tofurkey or some other kind of bean-based protein to keep it veggy friendly. Keep in mind it's all carbs and very little calories…but then again, that's what olive oil is for. Either way, it serves as a great foundation for you to add other ingredients to.

    #1966855
    Madeline T
    Member

    @madscot13

    +1 for glopping on the olive oil. fat is satisfying

    #1966864
    Sarah Kirkconnell
    BPL Member

    @sarbar

    Locale: Homesteading On An Island In The PNW

    I'd love to hear how you do for 25, do you do it all at once? In one pot? Just wondering :-) That is a lot of thinking…lol!

    You could do a burrito table….rice, beans, canned and drained kernel corn, cheese, sour cream, olives, tomatoes, lettuce and so on. That way everyone could have what they want. It sounds like you will have coolers? Serve with lots of chips and salsa….cheap and filling.

    #1966883
    Paul Magnanti
    BPL Member

    @paulmags

    Locale: Colorado Plateau

    (This sounds more like car camping than backapacking given the numbers?)

    Quick, simple, yummy, filling and nutritious…macaroni and beans. Perfect for feeding the masses on the cheap. If it dry pasta, generally the dish is not only vegetarian but is VEGAN friendly, too. Bonus points for the hippie-dippy tree-hugging crowd. ;)

    INGREDIENTS

    White kidney beans (canned is fine)
    Diced tomatoes (ditto)
    Olive Oil
    Onions
    Garlic
    Some appropriate spices and herbs (basil, oregano, salt pepper, etc).
    A little balsamic vinegar
    Add in some veggies for variation and to make a one pot meal
    Grate some cheese over it when serving (or use that stuff sold in a green can. ;) )

    DIRECTIONS:

    Saute the garlic and onions in the bottom of the pot with the olive oil
    Throw in beans *UNDRAINED* once the onions start getting glassy
    Add pepper, salt, red pepper and stir
    Add tomatoes and stir
    Add in herbs and some balsamic to taste
    Add in some fresh veggies (spinach? squash zucchini? )
    Let simmer

    Get your pasta going (small shells work great)
    When it is al dente, drain. (Save some of the pasta water if you want more of soupy type dish vs a stew-like dish. )
    Add the above mix you had simmering.

    ..and yer done. Add grated cheese to taste.

    With a some good sized stock pots and Coleman two burners stoves you can feed the masses. :) There are many variations to this recipe…

    (And, if you open a fancy restaurant in Boulder, CO you can charge $40 for a very small plate of this dish. I sh** you not. :O )

    #1967156
    Max Dilthey
    Spectator

    @mdilthey

    Locale: MaxTheCyclist.com

    So many great ideas! I think I'll do a little combining. Going to do a vegetable soup with potatoes and pasta shells. Good stuff in, good stuff out! I'm sure it's a hard recipe to botch, as long as you remember a little salt.

    I'm bookmarking this for future trips. Seriously- thank you guys!

    It's a car camping trip, 2 pots on a Coleman gas stove. The trips are always a blast, it's mostly just to get college kids out into the woods!

    #1967260
    Nick Gatel
    BPL Member

    @ngatel

    Locale: Southern California

    Gosh… 25 people? I don't even know 25 people.

    Don't invite me, I like meat. I hate it when people try to force vegetarian fare on me.

    However… how about some sort of chili? On second thought, why not have each group of 5 cook their own chili and then have a contest to see whose is best. That sounds like fun… something Ken would do at GGG.

    If I was in charge, I would tell everyone to bring a MH meal of their choice and I would provide boiling water.

    On third thought, if I was in charge there would only be 24 people, and I wouldn't show up :)

    Have fun, whatever you decide to do :)

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