Rice Noodles with Broccoli and Chicken
Thin noodles and freeze-dried broccoli with dehydrated chicken in a sweet-savory soy broth. One pouch, ten minutes sitting.
- calories
- 780
- weight
- 7 oz
- cal / oz
- 111
- protein
- 20 g
- serves
- 1, scales
- prep
- 5 min
- cook
- 10 min
- total time
- 15 min
- water
- 415 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
- Backpacking
- Nut free
- One pot
- Pre-mix at home
- Shelf stable
- Dump and stir
Ingredients
| Thin rice noodles | 4 oz | Thai Kitchen brand or similar; look for 0.5 mm noodles |
|---|---|---|
| Soy sauce | 2 packets | use tamari if you need gluten-free |
| Sugar | 3 tsp | |
| Garlic powder | 1 to 1.5 tsp | |
| Black pepper | 1/4 to 1/2 tsp | |
| Corn starch | 2 tsp | thickens the broth slightly |
| Freeze-dried broccoli | 1/2 cup | |
| Cayenne pepper | dash | |
| Mountain House Chicken & Mashed Potatoes Dinner | 1 package | use only the chicken pouch for this meal; save the mashed potato packet for another night |
| Olive oil | 1 tbsp | or 1-2 packets |
Method
- At home, combine rice noodles, sugar, garlic powder, black pepper, corn starch, and freeze-dried broccoli in a quart-size freezer bag.
- Pack the soy sauce packets and olive oil separately; keep them dry.
- In camp, open the Mountain House package and remove the sealed mashed potato packet. Save it for another meal.
- Pour the noodle mixture from your bag into the Mountain House pouch with the chicken.
- Add both soy sauce packets and the olive oil to the pouch.
- Boil 1.75 cups (415 ml) of water.
- Pour the boiling water into the pouch and stir well.
- Seal the pouch and let it sit for 5 minutes.
- Stir again, seal it back up, and wait another 5 minutes.
- Stir once more and eat directly from the pouch.
The Mountain House chicken and mashed potatoes base provides protein and salt in a single packet. The rice noodles add bulk and calories without a separate pot. The freeze-dried broccoli contributes texture and color without requiring any work.
The method here is soaking, not cooking. Two five-minute waits let the noodles and broccoli rehydrate completely while you sit, which beats standing over a burner and makes cleanup trivial. The sweet-savory flavor comes from sugar balancing soy sauce; garlic and cayenne add depth without fussiness.
Packing
Mix the dry ingredients at home into a quart-size bag. Pack soy sauce and oil separately so they stay dry. The Mountain House package stays sealed until camp. You are combining three components: your noodle bag, the chicken from the Mountain House pouch, and the condiments.
Variations
- Replace cayenne with lime powder or citric acid for brightness.
- Add dried shrimp for more umami and protein.
- Use the saved mashed potato packet to thicken or flavor a soup on a later night.
- Substitute fish sauce for 1 tsp of the soy sauce for deeper Thai flavor.
https://www.trailgroove.com/blogs/entry/565-sweet-savory-noodles-with-broccoli-backpacking-recipe