Three Vegetarian Backpacking Recipes

The following vegetarian backpacking recipes are easy and inexpensive. They reflect my own preference for less cooking and cheaper foods. You might also want to see the page Vegan Backpacking Food for options that have no animal products in them.

Pasta With Parmesan

I don't do exact quantities for these recipes. Mix it up to suit your tastes. For this one start with pasta that is easy to cook. Angle-hair spaghetti, for example, cooks fast.

When your pasta is drained, mix into it some olive oil, garlic powder, and Parmesan cheese. In all but the hottest weather Parmesan is a great cheese to bring, because it can last a long time without refrigeration. You can also add oregano or other herbs and spices to taste. This is a delicious dish to have while camping.

For a special treat add some wild mint if you can find it. And if you are really lucky and backpacking in the southwestern deserts at the right time of the year (autumn), you can add freshly collected pinon pine nuts. Of course you can bring some of these with you as well.

Potato Flake Soup

Instant mashed potatoes are one of the easiest things to cook on the trail. All you have to do is add boiling water and stir them up. With a little olive oil, garlic and salt you have a delicious vegan dish, but non-vegan vegetarians can also add that Parmesan cheese.

But for a simple meal that is even more filling and varied, just add the flakes to instant soups. Thicken up a good instant onion soup with the flakes, for example. Or create your own soup with wild onions and potato flakes.

The Easiest Vegetarian Backpacking Recipes

Now a confession. Though I have tried the recipes above, I just don't like to cook when backpacking. In fact, I can't remember the last time that I even brought a stove with me. I truly prefer to go light and skip the trouble of cooking and then cleaning pans and dishes. So most of my backpacking food is vegetarian simply because most ready-to-eat foods are.

Plain old trail mixes are my favorite vegetarian backpacking recipes. Mix any of the following in any proportions that you like: Raisins, dark chocolate chips, almonds, peanuts, mixed nuts, sunflower seeds, dried cranberries, dried papaya pieces, cooked and dried oats, and pumpkin seeds. This is one of the highest-calorie foods for the weight, and totally convenient.

The Ultralight Backpacking Site | A Few Vegetarian Backpacking Recipes