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Backpackers' Bolognese
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items There is nothing like a great home-cooked meal have a day or more's walk in the bush. While there are a lot of light-weight pre-packaged options, cooking the meal from scratch allows you to tailor the meal to your taste buds. My dad was sceptical when I first showed him this dish, but he changed his mind as soon as he tried it.
Note: some of the items in this list contain affiliate links from which I may receive a small commission.
Note: some of the items in this list contain affiliate links from which I may receive a small commission.
Sections
4
Equipment - Preparation
Bolognese Recipe
Equipment - Cooking to Eat
Spaghetti & Bolognese Recipe
Equipment - Preparation
All the equipment you will need to pre-cook and dehydrate your meal at home.
A knife for cutting the vegetables. If you purchase one with a sheath you can also take it camping with you without risking a finger trying to find it in your backpack.
Kitchen Knife
A cutting board for preparing the vegetables. You may prefer to use a grater.
Cutting Board
The grater can be used instead of the knife to get small pieces of grating carrot and onion. It is also useful for grating the cheese. My family like single sided graters as they are easier to clean. You may also like to take a small grater with you for freshly grated cheese with your meal.
Grater (Optional)
To stir the bolognese sauce and ensure everything is cooked evenly and the mince is broken up.
Spatula
A large non-stick fry-pan to pre-cook the bolognese sauce.
Teflon Coated Frypan
This is the same brand as my 30+ year old dehydrator. I love this one because you can add to it over time. For this recipe you'lll use it to remove the moisture from the bolognese sauce so it won't be as heavy and it will last in your pack.
EziDri Snackmaker FD500 Digital Food Dehydrator ...
I recommend purchasing some solid sheets for your dehydrator. They enable you to use your dehydrator as they will stop your bolognese sauce seeping through the gaps in the trays and are easier to clean than the alternatives. (They are also handy if you want to make fruit leathers - and you do).
Food Dehydrator Solid Sheets
Bolognese Recipe
The secret sauce. The ingredients are listed in the order they are used. The notes describe what to do. All the activities associated with a step should be done at approximately the same time. For examples, the ingredients in Step 1a-1d should be added at the same time.
Step 1a. Add a dash of oil to the frying pan.
Oil
Step 1b. Add finely chopped or grated onion. Tip: cold onions are easier to grate and make your eyes water less.
Onion - Finely Chopped or Grated
Step 1c. A teaspoon or two of garlic.
Garlic
Step 1d. And the carrot. Stir constantly over medium heat for about 5 mins or until the onion is soft.
Large Carrot, Grated
Step 2. Add mince to pan, stirring continuously until meet has browned.
Extra Lean Beef Mince 500g
Step 3a. Add crushed tomatoes including all the liquid in the can
Crushed Ripened Tomatoes - 400g
Step 3b. About ¼ a cup of tomato paste.
Tomato Paste
3c Stock powder and about ¼ cup, or ¼ cup concentrated liquid stock. Season to taste. Bring to boil, then reduce heat and simmer until most of the liquid is absorbed.
Vegetable Stock
Steps 4 and 5. Spread thinking over the flat sheets in the dehydrator and dehydrate for approx 6-8 hours.* Bolognese is ready to pack into containers - I like ziplock bags for backpacking as they are light and flexible - when it is approximately ⅓-½ its originals. *Check recommended times for your dehydrator.
Ziploc Large Freezer Bags, 14-Pack, BPA Free
Equipment - Cooking to Eat
For favourite products for cooking when you need to bring your own stove. However, they are not suitable for use when there is total fire ban.
I have both a small and a large trangia for travelling with 2 and travelling with 4. They are a compact method of bringing a cooking device with you.
Trangia Stove 25-1 UL
The safest way to store the fuel for your trangia. Make sure it is fully closed before putting it in your pack.
Trangia Fuel Bottle
Waterproof matches are a must unless you can guarantee a cooking spot out of the elements. Then you can bring normal matches.
20 Waterproof Stormproof Matches with Case
Spaghetti & Bolognese Recipe
Most of the hard work has been done before you got to your campsite. You just need to reconsitute your bolognese sauce with some spaghetti and top with cheese.
Step 1. Divide your spaghetti (or your favourite pasta) up into groups small enough to fit in the largest bowl of your trangia with the bolognese. Fill the bowl with water and bring it to the boil. You may want to add a little salt. Add the spaghetti. You may need to feed the spaghetti in as it softens. Do not strain. Add dehydrated bolognese mix. Cook until bolognese mix is rehydrated.
Spaghetti
Step 2. Top with your favourite cheese to serve.
Perfect Italiano Parmesan Cheese Grated Shaved 125g | Woolworths