Hello! It’s Tanya, Tejal’s Veggie editor and eager understudy. While she’s on vacation this week, I’m diving into some reader emails. The question that is on so many of you right now: how are you eating well outside this summer?
Gather ’round the fire, campers, because it’s time to share some recipes and tips.
My partner and I have been camping lately (teardrop trailer with stove) and noticed the easiest meals were very heavy on meat and carbs: sandwiches, pasta, grilled sausage, burgers, etc. All good ideas for vegetarian dishes that wouldn’t do be a ton of preparation and also use ingredients that can be kept in a cooler for a few days? — Char B.
silk tofu, just prepared, is perhaps the easiest option of all. I haven’t stopped doing this either cold tofu salad since we published it last summer, and I think it suits you particularly well. The dressing is made with shelf-stable staples that you can mix in a jar ahead of time. From there, all you need is a packet of silken tofu, which can be stored in a cooler without any problem, and some tomatoes and peaches, which don’t require refrigeration. Wrap the mint in a damp paper towel for garnish, place in a zip-lock bag, and store on top of everything else in the cooler.
For summer themes, what about cold or room temperature noodle salads to take to picnics? Such as soba noodles with a soy or vinegar dressing and lots of vegetables, a kind of western pasta salad and a different cuisine. — Caitlin I.
Based on the comments below, this recipe for vegetable noodle salad with sesame vinaigrette is sure to be a hit. It has noodles (we ask for angel hair, but soba noodles would definitely work), both soy sauce and vinegar and lots of tender vegetables. Other options: a Basque-inspired barley salad that is even tastier at room temperature and a modern twist on macaroni salad that will rival anything you can pick up at a deli counter.
As a vegan with two vegan kids, I haven’t had much luck finding good recipes or ideas for vegetarian/vegan picnics or even campfires. Any posts in the Veggie about this would be great! — Allison
Especially for picnic salads, tahini is your friend! This one vegan potato salad is creamy and filling, and it only gets better as it sits. Ditto this slaw lemon tahini, which can hang out for hours without losing its shine. Each can be pre-made, packed and easily transported to a park or beach.