This simple recipe is a version of pasta with tomato sauce that is as easy to make and cold soak as simple rice-and-beans. It is 100% vegan, rehydrates fast, and tastes great! It makes a perfect lunch with simple preparation steps before and during your trip.
For lunch while thru-hiking the PCT in 2018 we mostly cold-soaked store bought prepared foods (Near East couscous or Knorr rice sides) that we had supplemented with additional dried beans and/or greens. By the end of the hike we were absolutely sick of our lunches. The store-bought pre-made foods were full of sodium and preservatives that tasted fine at first, but over time they became extremely noticeable and disgusting. In summer 2019, while hiking the German countryside, we started experimenting with our own backpacking lunch recipes. Cold soaked rice and beans is cheap, simple, and easy to prepare both on and off trail. And it doesn't taste like chemicals!
Cabbage, lentils, and rice. Yum! This recipe was inspired by an Ethiopian restaurant we went to in Sacramento, California during our PCT thruhike. It was also influenced by our move to Germany, as our consumption of cabbage has gone through the roof.
Pasta, veggies, and beans in a tomato sauce flavored with taco powder and topped with nutritional yeast. Vegan taco pasta is a tasty and filling meal on the trail.
Homemade ramen is sooo much tastier than store bought ramen! And it's really easy to make. It can also be cold soaked.
Having breakfast already made when you wake up in the morning is so convenient on the trail. Simple cinnamon sugar overnight oats is tasty but easy to prepare both before and on the trail!
Ingredients (Serves 2 People): Before the Trail: Dehydrating: Dehydrate your favorite cooked chili at 135°F until it is crispy (~8+ hours, flipping once). See below for our favorite vegan chili recipe. Assembly: Combine macaroni noodles and dehydrated chili in a…
Having breakfast already made when you wake up in the morning is so convenient on the trail. Chocolate coconut overnight oats is so tasty. It is almost like eating dessert for breakfast. The coconut flakes add a nice crunch.
Curry rice has been a staple backpacking meal for us for many years. It is tasty, filling, and simple to prepare.
Colorful bell peppers give this meal a sweet, fresh taste. Tomato sauce, rice, and kidney beans are a hearty, filling combination. Top with some nutritional yeast for extra flavor.
We compiled everything we’ve learned from thousands of miles of hiking into this guide and recipe book! We hope you enjoy it!
-Renee and Tim
