Asian cuisine involves fast, fresh cooking techniques that can produce bold flavors—perfect for camping. Our dinner menu includes an appetizer of easy grilled satay and a simple pad thai, both of which are largely made ahead of time.

How to Make It

Step 1
1

AT HOME:

Step 2
2

Buy pad thai sauce, or make your own. Pour vegetable oil in an 8- to 10-inch frying pan over medium heat. When hot, add shallots and garlic and stir until limp, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in tamarind concentrate (or substitute 1 tablespoon dark molasses and increase lime juice to 1/4 cup), brown sugar, Asian fish sauce, chili powder, and lime juice; cook 1 minute. Let cool; chill airtight up to 1 week.

Step 3
3

Seal carrots, bean sprouts, cilantro, green onions, and peanuts in separate plastic bags; chill vegetables and cilantro.

Step 4
4

Purchase rice noodles, lime, and shrimp (pack frozen) or tofu (cut into 1-in. chunks; seal in a bag and chill).

Step 5
5

Pack a large pan; a pasta insert or a strainer; a medium pan for sauce; and tongs for combining noodles and sauce.

Step 6
6

IN CAMP:

Step 7
7

Halve and slice lime.

Step 8
8

In a large pan over high heat, bring 3 quarts of water to a boil. Add noodles and cook until barely tender to bite, 3 to 4 minutes. Drain noodles and rinse well in cool water. Return noodles to pan.

Step 9
9

In a medium pan over high heat, heat sauce and shrimp or tofu. Add to noodles with carrots, sprouts, cilantro, green onions, and peanuts; mix to coat. Accompany with lime slices.

Ingredients

 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
 1/3 cup minced shallots
 2 teaspoons minced garlic
 1/4 cup tamarind concentrate
 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
 2 tablespoons Asian fish sauce
 2 teaspoons chili powder
 2 teaspoons lime juice
 1 cup shredded carrots
 1 cup rinsed bean sprouts
 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
 1/4 cup chopped green onions
 1/2 cup chopped roasted peanuts
 1 package (14 oz.) dried rice noodles
 1 lime
 1 pound frozen cooked shelled shrimp or 1 pound firm tofu

Directions

Step 1
1

AT HOME:

Step 2
2

Buy pad thai sauce, or make your own. Pour vegetable oil in an 8- to 10-inch frying pan over medium heat. When hot, add shallots and garlic and stir until limp, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in tamarind concentrate (or substitute 1 tablespoon dark molasses and increase lime juice to 1/4 cup), brown sugar, Asian fish sauce, chili powder, and lime juice; cook 1 minute. Let cool; chill airtight up to 1 week.

Step 3
3

Seal carrots, bean sprouts, cilantro, green onions, and peanuts in separate plastic bags; chill vegetables and cilantro.

Step 4
4

Purchase rice noodles, lime, and shrimp (pack frozen) or tofu (cut into 1-in. chunks; seal in a bag and chill).

Step 5
5

Pack a large pan; a pasta insert or a strainer; a medium pan for sauce; and tongs for combining noodles and sauce.

Step 6
6

IN CAMP:

Step 7
7

Halve and slice lime.

Step 8
8

In a large pan over high heat, bring 3 quarts of water to a boil. Add noodles and cook until barely tender to bite, 3 to 4 minutes. Drain noodles and rinse well in cool water. Return noodles to pan.

Step 9
9

In a medium pan over high heat, heat sauce and shrimp or tofu. Add to noodles with carrots, sprouts, cilantro, green onions, and peanuts; mix to coat. Accompany with lime slices.

Camp Stove Pad Thai

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