Good morning! It's a rainy June day here in SF and we've got sunny camping escapes on the mind. One of our favorite things about heading into the great outdoors for a night or two is that everything, and we mean everything, tastes a hundred times better when cooked over a campfire. There's something about the extra oxygen in the air, the possibility of bears stealing your food, and that special sort of hunger that comes after a day of hiking that's kind of impossible to beat.
Good morning! It's a rainy June day here in SF and we've got sunny camping escapes on the mind. One of our favorite things about heading into the great outdoors for a night or two is that everything, and we mean everything, tastes a hundred times better when cooked over a campfire. There's something about the extra oxygen in the air, the possibility of bears stealing your food, and that special sort of hunger that comes after a day of hiking that's kind of impossible to beat.
To kick off camping season, we've rounded up a dozen classic, innovative, and downright delicious recipes to inspire your next campfire dinner. And, since we're pretty sure you've got the burgers and hot dogs part of this topic covered, we're sticking to a totally vegetarian menu. Yum!
1. Skewer Smashed Potatoes: Whether you're cooking up a morning scramble or slow roasting baked potatoes over the fire, potatoes are always a camping staple. Skewer 'em up and smash 'em down for a quick dinner side. (Recipe and photo: Serious Eats)
2. Chili Lime Corn on the Cob: Another classic, this corn on the cob twist adds in spicy chili and refreshing lime, and keeps corn husked. If you prefer to husk before grilling, wrap in foil and add a little cotija cheese or feta. (Recipe and photo: My Recipes)
3. Grilled Pizza with Pears, Fresh Pecorino and Walnuts: You don't need a fancy pizza attachment to make pizza on the grill (though we totally endorse buying one!). Make a non-rising dough, grill it on one side, flip it over and add any toppings you like. Go even more simple by using pita bread or flatbread. (Recipe and Photo: Epicurious)
4. Caramelized Tomato Tarte Tatin: Who knew you could cook pastry over a campfire? This recipe, from Campfire Cookery, employs puff pastry or pie crust to create a savory take on tarte tatin. (Recipe and photo: Fake Food Free)
5. Campfire Breadsticks: Another ingenious use of skewers, these campfire breadsticks are fancy! (Recipe and photo: Family Kitchen)
6. Grilled Tofu & Soba Noodles: Noodles are a great make-ahead move and get an extra dose of oomph when paired with a grilled slab of tofu. We recommend letting tofu marinate overnight before cooking for a more robust flavor. (Recipe and photo: 101 Cookbooks)
7. Campfire Nachos: One of our anytime snacks gets a little outdoorsy when cooked over a campfire. This is a great move on the last day of a camping trip when you need to use up all those bits of veggies, spices, and leftovers. If you don't feel like lugging a cast iron pan around, find a few flat rocks, place over the fire, and cook nachos in a piece of aluminum foil. (Photo: Flickr)
8. Salad with Grilled Radicchio & Knob Onions: Possibly our favorite new way to prepare radicchio, this is a good way to get your greens on while camping. Toss together with grilled onions and potatoes for a healthy but satisfying dinner. Also goes great with grilled sausage. ;) (Recipe and photo: Serious Eats)
9. Campfire Quesadillas: When camping, tortillas are a great companion because they take up very little room and are perfect for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and even dessert! (Recipe and photo: Dirty Gourmet)
10. Dutch Oven Stuffed Peppers: Stuffed peppers are a great make-ahead if you've got time, but also come together nicely at your campsite if you don't have time. Veggies, rice, a can of tomato sauce, and a bit of cheese are all you need. (Recipe and photo: Dirty Gourmet)
11. Campfire Cakes: As soon as we saw this, we fell in love. We've been brainstorming fun new ways to make self-contained sweets (stay tuned!) and this little recipe is totally inspiring! Can't wait to try it out. (Recipe and photo: Bread and Honey)
12. Marshmallow Chip Fluffs: You didn't think we'd leave out a twist on s'mores did you? Take chocolate chips, stuff a few inside of a marshmallow, and roast. So good. (Recipe and photo: Dirty Gourmet)
What are your favorite foods to cook when you go camping? Let us know in the comments below, or say hi on Twitter. And stay tuned for a few campfire-inspired recipes you can cook without a campfire later this week!
