7 Easy Recipes for DIY Dehydrated Backpacking Meals

Hiking can be a daunting task, especially when it comes to packing food that is easy to carry and doesn’t spoil quickly. Dehydrated backpacking meals are the perfect solution for those who want easy to make, lightweight and non-perishable food for their hikes. In this article, we will share seven easy recipes for DIY dehydrated backpacking meals that you can easily make at home.

1. Spicy Mango Curry:
Ingredients:
1 cup quinoa
1 cup chopped mango
1 can coconut milk
1 tsp cumin powder
1 tsp turmeric
1 tsp chili powder
Salt to taste

Instructions:
Cook quinoa as per instructions. In a large pot, add quinoa, mango, coconut milk, cumin powder, turmeric, chili powder and salt. Let the mixture boil for 10 minutes. Puree the mixture in a blender and pour the puree onto a dehydrator sheet. Set the oven to 135°F and let it dehydrate for 10-12 hours.

2. Lentil Stew:
Ingredients:
1 cup red lentils
1 can diced tomatoes
1 onion
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp cumin powder
Salt to taste

Instructions:
In a pan, sauté onion and add red lentils, diced tomatoes, garlic powder, paprika, cumin powder, and salt. Cook the mixture for 15 minutes or until lentils are cooked. Blend the mixture in a blender and add it to a dehydrator sheet. Set the oven to 135°F and let it dehydrate for 8-10 hours.

3. Veggie Chili:
Ingredients:
2 cans kidney beans
1 can diced tomatoes
1 onion
1 bell pepper
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp cumin powder
Salt to taste

Instructions:
In a pan, sauté onion and bell pepper. Add kidney beans, diced tomatoes, garlic powder, chili powder, cumin powder and salt. Cook the mixture for 15 minutes or until beans are cooked. Puree the mixture in a blender and add it to a dehydrator sheet. Set the oven to 135°F and let it dehydrate for 10-12 hours.

4. Mushroom Risotto:
Ingredients:
1 cup Arborio rice
1 cup dehydrated mushrooms
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp thyme
1 tsp sage
Salt to taste

Instructions:
Cook Arborio rice as per instructions. In a pan, add dehydrated mushrooms, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, and sage. Let it cook for 5-7 minutes or until mushrooms are re-hydrated. Mix the cooked rice with the mushroom mixture and add it to a dehydrator sheet. Set the oven to 135°F and let it dehydrate for 8-10 hours.

5. Pasta Bolognese:
Ingredients:
1 cup pasta
1 can diced tomatoes
1 onion
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp cumin powder
Salt to taste

Instructions:
Cook pasta as per instructions. In a pan, sauté onion and add diced tomatoes, garlic powder, paprika, cumin powder and salt. Let it cook for 10-15 minutes or until sauce thickens. Mix the cooked pasta with the sauce and add it to a dehydrator sheet. Set the oven to 135°F and let it dehydrate for 10-12 hours.

6. Lentil and Rice Bowl:
Ingredients:
1 cup brown rice
1 cup brown lentils
1 can diced tomatoes
1 onion
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp cumin powder
Salt to taste

Instructions:
Cook brown rice and brown lentils as per instructions. In a pan, sauté onion and add diced tomatoes, garlic powder, cumin powder, and salt. Let it cook for 10-15 minutes or until sauce thickens. Mix the cooked rice and lentils with the sauce and add it to a dehydrator sheet. Set the oven to 135°F and let it dehydrate for 10-12 hours.

7. Potato and Vegetable Stew:
Ingredients:
2 potatoes
1 carrot
1 onion
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp thyme
1 tsp rosemary
Salt to taste

Instructions:
Peel and dice potatoes and carrots. In a pan, sauté onion until golden brown. Add the diced potatoes and carrots, garlic powder, thyme, rosemary and salt. Let it cook for 10-15 minutes. Add water and bring to a boil. Let it simmer until vegetables are cooked. Puree the mixture in a blender and add it to a dehydrator sheet. Set the oven to 135°F and let it dehydrate for 8-10 hours.

In conclusion, dehydrated backpacking meals are a great way to ensure that you are consuming nutritious, non-perishable and lightweight food while hiking. The above-mentioned recipes can be easily made at home and dehydrated to take along on your next hike. Be sure to experiment with various combinations of ingredients to find the perfect fit for your taste buds.