Backcountry Chicken Soup
Freeze-dried chicken, couscous, and vegetables rehydrated in broth. Fifteen minutes, one pot, no simmering.
- calories
- 420
- weight
- 3.5 oz
- cal / oz
- 120
- protein
- 25 g
- serves
- 1, scales
- prep
- 2 min
- cook
- 20 min
- total time
- 22 min
- water
- 500 ml boiled
- cost
- $$
Calorie and protein figures are my own estimates, good enough for planning a food bag and not meant as precise nutrition data.
- Dinner
- Canister stove
- Alcohol / Esbit
- Backpacking
- Thru-hike
- Dairy free
- Nut free
- One pot
- Pre-mix at home
- Shelf stable
- Dump and stir
Ingredients
| Freeze-dried chopped chicken | 1/4 cup | or diced |
|---|---|---|
| Couscous | 1/4 cup | |
| Freeze-dried corn | 1 Tbsp | |
| Freeze-dried peas | 1 Tbsp | |
| Dried diced carrots | 1 Tbsp | |
| Freeze-dried diced onion | 1 Tbsp | or dried |
| Freeze-dried or granulated garlic | 1 tsp | |
| Italian herb blend | 1 tsp | |
| Low-sodium chicken broth powder | 2 tsp | |
| Ground black pepper | a pinch | |
| Olive oil | 1 Tbsp | carry in a small dropper bottle |
Method
- Heat oil and 500 ml water to boil.
- Pour in all dry ingredients and stir well.
- Cover and remove from heat.
- Let sit 15 minutes to rehydrate.
- Stir and eat.
Fifteen minutes and one pot give you a complete hot meal. Freeze-dried chicken and vegetables rehydrate completely in broth with no simmering needed. Couscous swells in the same water.
The speed is built into the ingredients: everything is pre-cut and dried, so boiling water is enough. Broth powder carries all the flavor in two teaspoons. If you travel with a freezer bag and insulated cozy, you can boil water and oil at camp, pour into the bag with dry ingredients, seal it, and let it rehydrate while you pitch your tent.
Packing
Mix all dry ingredients in a freezer bag at home. Carry oil separately in a small dropper bottle.
Variations
- Make it a freezer-bag cook: boil water and oil, pour into a freezer bag with all dry ingredients, seal, and place in an insulated cozy to rehydrate hands-free.
- Replace couscous with instant rice (extend wait time to 20 minutes) or small pasta like orzo.
- Double the broth powder for more broth; use 1 tsp for a pilaf-style consistency.
https://trailcooking.com/2023/03/22/instant-meals-chicken-soup