Cooking in a Caravan: Share Your Best Recipes
I hope you're all enjoying your journeys, wherever they may be taking you. Today, I wanted to start a discussion that combines two great loves of mine - caravanning and cooking.
One of the things I love most about caravanning is those evenings when we've whipped up something truly delicious. There's nothing quite like cooking (and eating!) in the caravan or motorhome.
I invite you all to contribute to this thread by sharing your favourite recipes to cook in a caravan, motorhome or campervan. Whether it's a quick and easy breakfast, a hearty dinner, or a sweet treat for dessert, I'm sure we can all benefit from some new meal ideas.
Looking forward to discovering some delicious recipes and learning about your caravan and motorhome cooking adventures!
Safe travels and happy cooking!
Comments
-
One of our favourite Winter meals, vegetarian, is a one dish, done in the oven treat. We take all sorts of veg, (shallots, carrots, small new potatoes, sweet potato, cauliflower florets, parsnips, etc….) something like veggie sausages, Quorn pieces or nuggets, or falafels, cut into small/ medium chunks depending on how things roast, drizzle with a bit of oil, optional sprinkle with some herbs or spices, roast veg until nearly done, add in sausages, Quorn, falafels according to cooking time, then last thing mix in a generous dollop of something like Mango Chutney or other flavoured chutney, back in oven until hot all through, serve and eat. Could add warm Ciabatta or breadsticks if needed. All done in a throw away foil roasting tin for ease if needed, or non stick easy clean tin if preferred. Tasty, warming, easy.👍😋 Smaller portion good as a side dish with fish, or meat if preferred. Nice cold as well with salad for lunch.
We cook meals when off site, make full use of our oven/hob all the time. Nothing nicer in Winter than heading out for day, either from home or from a site, pack a lunch, head off with bikes, back for a rest and then a nice meal in a lovely location, before heading either back home or back to site.
1 -
I did see on one of the Facebook Groups the other day that two families had got together to create a full roast dinner for 8/10 people which must have been quite a challenge even using the cooking facilities of two caravans?
For our own part we rarely cook from fresh these days whilst in the motorhome, preferring the convenience of Ready Meals. The likes of Waitrose and M&S, plus the other supermarkets have such a choice and tend to leave the culinary adventures to home these days. In days gone by we did cook outside on a two burner Camping stove but the rules was always no more than two pans, I seem to recall a lot of Pasta being consumed which is quick and easy to produce a quick and filling meal.
David
1 -
Pasta is always a good camping option😁
0 -
I cook a roast vegetables similar to takethedogalong at home, never thought of adding protien to it. Because I do it at home I tend to use all root vegetables plus butternutsquash and it easily fills 2 large roasting pans. Freeze in individual portions. Serve as veg or grate cheese over for quick bite.
Heddlo i have the same issues with OH and any pasta. Texture appears the issue, regardless of the shape..... Sad cos I like it.
2 -
That sounds delicious! Will definitely try this.
Yes, good idea about cooking off site. We often cook a one pot to take with us, like a chilli, on the first night. Something nice and easy after set up!
1 -
Now that’s a coincidence. My Mum would never eat pasta because of the texture. 🤷♀️ I shared a pasta meal with her one day, all disguised with a lovely tomato and cheese based sauce, telling her it was Italian noodles. Down it all went without any resistance. (Mum does love stir fry noodles) So a name changed worked for Mum🤷♀️
That veggie roast, we don’t add all the protein options, just one at a time, and change the herbs, spices chutney flavours to suit. Really is tasty.
I sometimes make something like a veggie lasagne to take with us for first night away, or if we have guests coming to MH that night as well. It’s not the cooking while away I don’t enjoy, it’s the washing up🤣
We have a fantastic pasta dish originally thrown together on our last night in Cornwall many years ago from bits and bobs we had left. It’s been refined down the years……….
Pasta, sliced mushrooms (plenty of these), frozen peas or tinned sweetcorn. Cook these together for appropriate times (I boil in large fry pan) when all cooked to how you like, drain thoroughly, add a jar of pasta sauce (you want it slightly sloppy), add in some tomato purée for extra yummy taste, sliced/diced mozzarella, and plenty of grated Parmesan. Sliced black olives optional. Reheat until all the cheese has melted through, serve with extra Parmesan and black pepper. Known as Midgia Modgia in this household🤣 We do a version with prawns known as Splodgia. Trust me, you will need a bib🤣 One pan, utterly delicious. (At home, with a dishwasher, I fry mushrooms and sweetcorn, cook pasta separate and then all into fry pan) Ro, children usually love this, and got 3 veg built in👍 Takes 15 mins as well.
0 -
In the very early days of CT there was a couple, Sam and Richie, who started a thread running about recipes for caravanning. Wonder if this thread is still around, I seem to recall quite a few good suggestion on it.
We take our small Lakeland slow/rice cooker everywhere with us. So versatile curries, stews, stroganoff, goulash, bean and lentil soups etc.. We just plan ahead of a trip and take small quantities of spices, herbs, sauces needed so we only have to buy the ordinary/fresh items whilst out on tour. Farm shops can provide some excellent quality meat and other goods.
Oh, and we have made a lasagne in ours too, it works and I like the very slightly crispy on the edge pasta.0 -
Here’s the lasagne slow cooker recipe
There are so many meals, some you wouldn’t consider possible, the slow cooker can make and many are well worth exploring.
1 -
I think Richie passed away years ago Micky. Before the last update to CT in 2016 I think, so might be hard to find.
There have been some great foodie tips passed on down the years. We don’t BBQ (we don’t eat meat) so most of our cooking is done on our hob or oven. Our outfit doesn’t have a microwave either, but I did used to take a small lightweight tiered electric steamer away in our caravan when we spent weeks at a time away in Cornwall in Summer. When we got MH with oven, we did try a few ready meals just slapped in oven for convenience, but didn’t really enjoy them, and they’re just not for us. I can cook a simple one pan curry as well, couple of Naan breads warmed in oven, that’s an easy do.Bit more summery idea…….boiled new potatoes, (hot or cold) tins of tuna, chopped sun dried tomatoes, chopped celery, sliced olives, shred a small lettuce, tin of sweetcorn, then just enough sauce of some kind (lemon mayo, seafood) to bind it together in the bowls, black pepper….yummy😋
0 -
Sadly I was aware of Richie’s passing, just wondered if his and Sam’s legacy was still available. I think she did a bit of other work with CaMC on cookery and also a Club Sandwich offering.
As RMEs (reduced meat eaters) we sometimes substitute the meat in lasagne with a mix of Haricot and kidney beans. Sometimes half bean/half meat if daughter and family eating with us. They never seem to notice this !😉
0 -
I have to admit I do not have any Caravan Specific recipes. I've never had a microwave, oven or grill in the caravan, but still manage to cook everything that I would at home. I'm one of the boring Remoska addicts who has found himself using it a few times a week at home and most days in the caravan.
One fool proof recipe for home or away is a Torte.
I cut two or three small to medium potatoes into about 20mm pieces, place in the Remoska with salt & pepper, and a light drizzle of oil and cook for about 25 minutes.
Into this I then fold any cooked vegetables, but usually mushrooms, peppers or green beans.
Add 6 beaten eggs, a couple of handfulls of grated cheddar, more seasoning and top with a sliced tomato.
Put lid back on and cook for about 20 minutes.
We usually have this warm with salad, coleslaw and ham.
It has never failed me, but the only thing I've found it does need is one strong taste. For this I'll add either about 90g of Chorizo crumb or substitute some blue cheese for the cheddar.
Colin
1 -
Home or away I wouldn’t be without my slow cooker, especially in winter or if we have guests coming to the caravan. Beef stews, chicken casserole, I just put meat in, any veg we fancy, a stock cube and herbs, always a lovely meal to come back to and don’t need to put the oven on. BBQ in summer with fresh salad, potato salad and couscous with grapes and pomegranate seeds. Although I admit on the first night, after travelling and unpacking etc. I do usually buy a ready meal and just pop it in the microwave.
0 -
Good to use whatever works for you. We use our slow cooker at home, storing it would be a bit of a chore when away, as we are out every day, moving on. I looked at a Remoska last year, but might be same thing, storage in MH. Both great gadgets though👍
0 -
This one is small but big enough to produce a meal for two. Very easily stored in any of our cupboards. Will also fit in the oven, cold and turned off of course for travelling. That’s if you’ve got an oven! Can also use with an inverter when travelling. When cooking strong smelling recipes we put it outside under the van. Just find that right safe place but very little heat is created on the outside, certainly far less than the engines exhaust, only a tiny bit of steam.
https://www.lakeland.co.uk/31822/lakeland-mini-multi-cooker-18l
0 -
One pan Paella………
I usually boil plenty of veg (broccoli/cauli florets, onions, mushrooms, celery, courgette, sugarsnap peas, sweetcorn, whatever you fancy really) par boil, add rice, tin of chopped tomatoes, turmeric to taste, let rice absorb most of moisture then we add lots of seafood, or tinned tuna, crab sticks. Loaded with veg of course, an easy five a day👍 This is nice cold as well if you have any leftovers, with some salad.
0 -
I was looking through our Cookbook shelf the other day a came across a small recipe book entitled "Favourite Caravan and Motorhome Recipes" compiled by Cindy Thompson. By the look of the graphics and the photographs I imagined it was quite old but an internet search established that it was published in 2009, so not that old.
I have put some photos of book pages below. If you right click on a photo you will have the option of opening it in a new window to get a larger view.
David
0 -
I think we have that somewhere as well DK.
0 -
Try Shakshuka or Shakshouka. Lovely North African dish, spicy or not as you prefer with cooked onions tomatoes red peppers (we sometimes add sliced chorizo) with eggs on the top poached in the oven. Google Shakshuka; BBC Good Food have a good basic recipe you can modify easily.
0 -
Now that sounds delicious Cartledge and simple to make, must try it.
Here’s a similar Mexican dish, traditionally a breakfast but great for a supper. also cooks in the slow cooker.https://www.delicious.com.au/recipes/huevos-rancheros-beans/7WDKzQe3
We also enjoy an all day full English for supper too, on the very odd occasion.😉
1 -
Whether we are away for a few days or 10 weeks I always cook.
On long trips I tend to cook and freezer thing like curry, lasagne, chilli, bolognase etc. before going away. That way if we have a long days drive there is something home made ready in a jiff. I also cook a chicken and quarter it so its ready for a salad. Potato salad and coleslaw is always made and ready in the fridge.
I don't like ping meals but I have on the odd occasion bought a nice curry from M&S and enjoyed it. I like cooking and don't find it a chore, the MH has a smallish oven/grill but its enough for the 2 of us I can easily cook a roast dinner in it. I also have a Remoska which lives in the MH. Its excellent for when we are abroad as it works fine on 6 amps. Its also good for all kinds of meals many can all be done in the one pot.
I don't have recipe's for the MH I just cook as I would at home, toad in the hole, casseroles, stews, curries, stir fries, roasts etc can all be done easily. We do have a Cadac BBQ but its rarely we use it.
1 -
We tend to use the microwave quite a bit in the caravan, but unfortunately it has stopped working and we are waiting for a replacement, under warranty. We recently purchased an air fryer which we intend to take with us on our next trip. Does anyone have a good recipe or two that we could try in it while away in the caravan?
0 -
I don’t have any recipes for the air fryer as such Nellie, we just use it in place of the cooker, in fact these days I tend to only use our big Rangemaster if all the family are coming for a roast. I find most things that are cooked in the oven are fine in the air fryer. I especially like new potatoes cut in half and roasted, so quick. I cook sausages, pies, chops and most other things in it. Casseroles etc are cooked in the slow cooker. Our son has purchased the silicone baskets and cooks a full English breakfast in his. All of this saves using the expensive gas bottles at our static van.
0 -
Thanks, Debs, will give the roast spuds a try. We've done chips, pork steaks, pies, chicken drumsticks, sausages and sausage rolls, and bacon & eggs so far. We do have one of the silicone baskets which make the cleaning of it easier.
0
