Eating good in the backcountry can present a bit of a challenge. Prepping meals at home gaurantees that they will be delicious, but dehydrating and prepping can take a lot of time. Plus, those meals are always a bit more difficult to prepare in camp. Freeze dried meals are my go-to choice for camping dinners, but after a long season they all start to taste the same: salty flavored pasta or ricey mush. Plus, if you’ve ever read the ingredients list on many of the big brands, you might be wondering just how much actual food is contained in those pouches. Bushka’s Kitchen believes there shouldn’t be a compromise when it comes to ease of prep and quality of meal when you’re out in the wild. They are a company that promises “mouth watering meals for your outdoor life”, and I was eager to give them a go. I tried all four of their meal offerings during trips this summer, and here’s the scoop.
Citrus Chia Morning Bowl
This was the first Bushka’s Kitchen meal that I tried, and I ate it in the pouring PNW rain. Needless to say, I was stoked at how fast this breakfast was ready to consume. All the Bushka’s Kitchen packs are ready in three minutes or less after adding boiling water; a much faster time than many of their competitors. The Citrus Chia Morning Bowl had chunks of real pineapple and kiwi, and coconut flakes atop a bed of chia pudding. The chia pudding is the real deal. It is made with chia seeds, orange juice and coconut milk and it’s delish. There is also some banana and vanilla beans in the mix that add to the flavor. My only complaint is that it wasn’t sweet enough (I’m a problematic sugar junkie), but a little dash of sugar in the raw took this dish to the next level. It was hearty enough to fuel a ten mile hike through the rain thanks to all the fiber and fat. They say the proof is in the pudding, and well, they are correct.
Unstuffed Italian Pepper
Sounds weird, tastes great. The Unstuffed Italian pepper package is a combo of bison meat, red peppers and quinoa topped with a slow-cooked tomato sauce. If that sounds fancy, you’re right! As a proud 25% Italian (50% if you consider my last name), the ingredients list had me grinning: San Marzano whole peeled tomatoes, puree, basil leaves, black pepper, oregano and parsley. Now that’s a good sauce! Again, I was impressed by the consistency of the red peppers, and the quinoa still had some crunch to it. The bison meat is a great compliment to everything listed above, and overall I rate this as a highly enjoyable dinner for the trail.
Zesty Zoodles in Avocado Sauce
Zoodles, you say? My wife tried this vegan meal during a trip to the Uinta Mountains, and she gave a good report. She said this pasta was right on the money. The avocado sauce is made with all honest-to-goodness real ingredients, and has a nice citrus flavor to it. The elbow pasta is made from quinoa, which will fill you up without the carbo-bloat of average noodles. Overall, she liked the taste and consistency, and was happy to be able to enjoy a vegan meal that didn’t rely on salt as the main flavor.
Hearty Harvest Bowl with Wild Boar
Full disclosure: I made this for lunch at home one afternoon, and I have no regrets. Honestly, it was about a 1000% upgrade from my usual PB&J. The dish has a very savory flavor, and the boar meat is tender and perfectly matched with oven-roasted brussels sprouts and carmelized onions. There are also diced apples and ginger in the mix, combined with wild rice. A very tasty treat! Can you serve this up as a home-cooked meal? Well, check out the photos and decide. For me, it’s an easy “yes”.
Final Verdict on Bushka’s Kitchen meals
I am a man who likes to eat, and after a long day in the mountains I want to eat good. These Bushka’s Kitchen meals not only filled my belly, they did it in a flavorful fashion. I am very impressed with BK’s ability to craft what taste like home-cooked meals into easily rehydrated trail food. Currently, the meals reviewed here are the only offerings from the company, but I hope they add more in the future. Seriously, if these guys make it, I’m going to give it a try. They heat up fast, taste great, and I didn’t feel the least bit bad about eating every bite. If you’re sick of the same-old backpacking meals and want to kick it up a notch, I highly recommend throwing them in your bag the next time you gear up for an adventure.