Tex-Mex Couscous with Cheese Powder
Couscous, beans, and cheese powder in one premixed bag. Fast heat recovery after a long, rough day.
- calories
- 850
- weight
- 7.5 oz
- cal / oz
- 113
- protein
- 20 g
- serves
- 1, scales
- prep
- 2 min
- cook
- 6 min
- total time
- 8 min
- water
- 300 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
- Thru-hike
- Vegetarian
- Nut free
- One pot
- Pre-mix at home
- Shelf stable
- Dump and stir
Ingredients
| Couscous | 1/2 cup | |
|---|---|---|
| Instant refried beans | 1/2 cup | |
| Dried tomatoes | 1/4 cup | chopped fine if they are large pieces |
| Cheddar cheese powder | 1/4 cup | |
| Milk powder | 2 tbsp | |
| Powdered butter | 2 tbsp | |
| Chili powder | 1/2 tbsp | |
| Paprika | 1/2 tsp | |
| Salt | 1/2 tsp | |
| Garlic powder | 1/2 tsp |
Method
- At home, mix all dry ingredients thoroughly in a quart-sized freezer bag.
- In camp, bring 300 ml of water to a boil.
- Pour the contents of your bag into the pot and stir well.
- Remove from heat and let sit for 5 minutes, stirring once halfway through, until the couscous is tender and the water is absorbed.
- Stir again and eat directly from the pot.
Couscous was made for backpacking. It absorbs water in minutes and carries flavor better than rice. This version leans into the calorie density a hard day demands: cheese powder, powdered butter, and instant beans do the work of a full pot of beans-and-rice, but they cook in one pot and weigh less.
The dried tomatoes give the dish some sharpness that cuts through all the fat and salt. The spices are Tex-Mex basics—chili, paprika, garlic—kept mild so the cheese stays the main event. Premix everything at home in a bag so you’re not measuring five things by headlamp.
Packing
Mix the entire recipe into a single freezer bag at home. Carry a measuring cup or use your cookpot to measure 300 ml of water in camp.
Variations
- Add a packet of hot sauce stirred in at the end for a real kick.
- Serve alongside tortillas for a more complete meal.
- Stir in a handful of instant spinach powder for vegetables and color.
https://www.trailgroove.com/blogs/entry/420-tex-mex-style-backpacking-couscous-and-cheese-recipe