THE BEST SPICES TO PACK WHEN GOING CAMPING
SPICE OF CAMP LIFE
A cleverly-organised camp kitchen will be your saviour for creating delicious flavours. It also
means more time for your ultimate holiday task: relaxing. Here’s what to include in your
pantry, and how to keep your mobile kitchen organised while on the go.
PANTRY PALS
You might be living a magical minimal lifestyle by the seaside, but that doesn’t mean you can’t
eat maximum flavour meals. Sort your pantry out with these versatile cooking spices so you
can quickly up your campfire flavours:
Cinnamon. Sprinkle on your morning granola or your evening apple crumble. It’s a great
substitute for a sugar fix, and can also help to lower blood sugar and cholesterol.
Turmeric. Adds instant richness and depth to curries and stir fries, and is excellent for
reducing inflammation.
Paprika. Combine this with garlic salt and black pepper for a quick and easy yet delicious meat
rub. And it’s not only tasty. Rich in antioxidants, including carotenoids, it can also help the
body fight disease.
Thyme. Use in your pastas, roast potatoes and soups for a herby lift. It’s also a great natural fix
for sore throats and coughs.
Chilli flakes. These will add a quick boost to your omelettes and heat to an otherwise ordinary
salad dressing. Their line-up of antioxidants, including vitamin C and carotenoids, can also
play a helping hand in improving insulin regulation.
Show us how you use your spices by submitting your favourite camp recipes for our Eat,
Camp, Cook cookbook. You’ll also go into the draw to win a week’s free accommodation in a
Kiama Holiday Park of your choice. Now that’s food for thought.
GO GREEN
Green thumbs might also consider an on-site herb garden. As well as producing your own
fresh goodies, the garden will act as a natural humidifier and keep your caravan’s interior
aerated. Start by planting your herbs in medium pots, then pack them together in a foam box
for watering and easy transportation in and out of the van. Good growing options that are
sure to pack a flavour punch are chives (for your eggs and salads), basil (for your pizza and
pasta) and mint (for your roast and afternoon gin).
SAVE SPACE
Combine convenience and space-saving with a few organisational hacks. Add a magnetic strip
to your splashback and use to store knives (remember to take them down while on the road),
screw your spice rack to the back of your pantry door and consider adding more shelves to
your cupboards to boost your storage space. Another way to save space while storing camp
spices? Use pill boxes to divide them, as demonstrated in this photo by Rugged Life.
TOOLS
Chances are you’re not going to need your Thermomix for your camp creations. Stick to the
basics to save space – you can always add more utensils on for your next trip. Start with a non-
stick frypan and saucepan to save you clean-up time, and invest in a sharp knife, silicone
spatula and slotted spoon. Whether you use them or not, a can opener and corkscrew will
inevitably be in demand by one of your neighbours.