dehydration stations: moroccan couscous
a new series! dehydrated meals that aren't spag bol!
welcome to my new series: dehydration stations!
readers may be surprised to learn that i do occasionally leave my kitchen and the world of sweet baked goods for the great outdoors
i transform into a hiker with a passion for big days, ultralight equipment, and over-optimised nutrition (see my previous post on big newtons here)
i’m a huge fan of dehydrated meals for their convenience and weight but i’m not such a huge fan of the flavours (why always spag bol?) or the price tag (adds up)
i’ve been experimenting with my dehydrator non-stop, trying to perfect my trail recipes and bring some of my favourite meals out hiking with me (mapo tofu / beef pho / pad kee mao) while also making sure they’re energy dense, balanced, and require no real cooking or washing up when on the trail
here is part one: moroccan couscous
couscous is god’s gift to hikers as it readily hydrates with hot or cold water, making it a super versatile meal
i’ve written this with your choice of protein, either dehydrated chicken (if serving hot) or cured meats like salami, bresaola, or jerky (if using cold water)
serves one hungry hiker
ingredients
at home
50g couscous, dry
15g slivered almonds
5g dried currants
1 tsp harissa powder
0.25 tsp ground cinnamon
0.25 tsp salt
1 tbsp dehydrated mushrooms
1 tbsp dehydrated carrots
~40g dehydrated chicken breast (equivalent to 100g poached chicken) or 50g cured meats like salami, bresaola, or jerky
on the trail
100mL water (hot or cold as required)
2 tsp olive oil
method
at home
add the couscous (50g), almonds (15g), currants (5g), harissa powder (1 tsp), cinnamon (0.25 tsp), salt (0.25 tsp), mushrooms (1 tbsp), carrots (1 tbsp), and your protein (chicken breast / cured meats) to an airtight container (e.g. a tupperware, mylar bag, or heat-safe ziploc bag)
note: if using cured meats it’s best to store this chilled and then eat on the first day of a hike
on the trail
add the water (100mL) to the container and stir thoroughly
cover and let sit for 30 minutes (cold water) or 10 minutes (boiling water)
uncover and add the olive oil (2 tsp) and stir through
best eaten with spork
nutrition
per serve, assuming chicken breast
calories: 516
weight: 125g dry (including olive oil)
calories / gram: 4.13
protein: 40g
fats: 21g
carbs: 40g
see you out there!