Turkey, Bean and Corn Skillet Bowl
Freeze-dried turkey, beans, corn, and salsa over instant rice. One pot, one boil.
- calories
- 690
- weight
- 5.5 oz
- cal / oz
- 125
- protein
- 38 g
- serves
- 1, scales
- prep
- 2 min
- cook
- 10 min
- total time
- 12 min
- water
- 600 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
- Liquid fuel
- Backpacking
- Basecamp
- Car camping
- Gluten free
- Nut free
- One pot
- Pre-mix at home
- Shelf stable
- Basic
Ingredients
| Instant rice | 3/4 cup | the parboiled kind that rehydrates in five minutes |
|---|---|---|
| Freeze-dried ground turkey | 1.5 oz | freeze-dried ground beef works the same way |
| Instant black bean flakes | 1/3 cup | canned beans are mostly water and glass; flakes are not |
| Freeze-dried corn | 1/4 cup | |
| Salsa powder or dried salsa mix | 2 tbsp | tomato powder plus chili flake also works |
| Onion powder | 1 tsp | |
| Garlic powder | 1/2 tsp | |
| Cumin | 1/2 tsp | |
| Shelf-stable cheddar | 1 oz | waxed or vacuum-sealed, not shredded |
| Olive oil | 1 tbsp | |
| Salt and pepper | to taste |
Method
- Boil 600 ml of water. Drop in the corn and freeze-dried turkey first and let them sit two minutes off the flame. They take the longest.
- Bring it back to a boil, stir in the rice, then cover and kill the heat.
- Wait five minutes. Do not lift the lid to check.
- Stir in the bean flakes, salsa powder, and the spices. It will thicken fast.
- Cut in the cheese and pour the oil over. Stir, salt, and let it sit one more minute.
The original was a family skillet dinner built on canned beans, canned corn, a jar of salsa, sour cream, and a pound of ground turkey. Almost none of that carries. The beans and corn are water in metal, the sour cream is a fridge item, and the raw turkey needs real cooking time and a real pan. Freeze-dried meat, bean flakes, and freeze-dried corn get you to the same bowl at a fifth of the weight, and salsa powder replaces a 16 oz jar with two tablespoons.
Order matters more than technique here. The corn and the turkey rehydrate slowest, so they go in first and get a head start while the water is hottest. Bean flakes go in dead last because they thicken on contact and will glue the rice to the bottom of the pot if you add them early. The cheese and oil are not garnish; without them this is a lean, dry bowl that will not hold you through the evening.
Packing
Rice, turkey, corn, bean flakes, salsa powder, and spices all go in one quart bag at home. Cheese and oil ride separately. In camp you open one bag and pour.
Variations
- A pouch of chicken instead of turkey saves the rehydration wait but costs you fat.
- Wrap it in tortillas if you are carrying them and want to eat with your hands.
- Half a packet of instant refried beans in place of the flakes makes it thicker and heavier.
https://mealswithmaria.site/cheap-family-meals-under-10