Cooking in a camper van

Oh, how nice it is. Finally back on the road with the motorhome. After weeks of applying the coronavirus handbrake, we can feel the tires on the asphalt again.
However, there will still be one or two restrictions along the way. Closed or fully booked restaurants will certainly be with us on our next few trips. Cooking for ourselves is a great alternative. You avoid having to wear a face mask and can enjoy your meal in a familiar, relaxed atmosphere. Without restrictions. Except for the distance to your pitch neighbors, of course.

Have you never really cooked in your motorhome before or are you traveling in a motorhome for the first time? Then you are certainly asking yourself a crucial question. How does cooking in a motorhome actually work?
This question is easy to answer. Cooking in a motorhome works in exactly the same way as at home. But with some minor differences.
First of all, you cook on gas, which shouldn't scare you. The hobs are lit using an electronic igniter. This makes operation child's play. Do I now have to eat ready meals from tins? Of course not. You can prepare great dishes with little effort. However, another difference to cooking in the kitchen at home is that most motorhomes are equipped with 2 hobs as standard. It is therefore better to save more elaborate dishes for after your vacation.

The equipment of motorhome kitchens naturally varies depending on the type and size of the chosen vehicle. You should therefore consider the requirements of a motorhome before renting or buying one.

Read our blog article on this: Which motorhome suits me?

What you should absolutely pay attention to!

The most important thing when cooking in a motorhome is cleanliness and order. Since the available space is quite limited, a chaos quickly arises in case of non-compliance.

You should therefore ensure that the work surfaces are kept clean while cooking. Even dropped vegetables should be picked up quickly and disposed of in the bin. This is particularly important to avoid annoying vermin. You should also use as few utensils as possible for cooking, which will also reduce the amount of washing up. You should do this immediately after the meal and put the dishes away safely in the cupboard after drying.

What foods are suitable for cooking in a motorhome?

Of course, your own taste is also important here. Just because it's easy doesn't mean your stockpile has to consist exclusively of canned ravioli. You can make a normal stockpile, but there are a few things you should bear in mind. Let yourself be inspired by regional recipes - not just when cooking in your motorhome - and try something new.

For this purpose, it is particularly important that the food brings some properties.

These include long shelf life, easy storage and multiple uses.

As far as fresh fruit and vegetables are concerned, you should use regional produce from the weekly market. Rather smaller quantities and process them directly and above all fresh.

In addition, choose dishes that also taste good reheated or make a good side dish for meals the following day. Potatoes can be made into a hearty farmer's breakfast with bacon and egg the next morning.

To prevent cans and packaging from sliding around during the journey, food should be stowed in baskets or plastic boxes. Sponges and tea towels can be used to fill in the gaps.

The ultimate grocery list:

• Oil: For frying and refining dishes.
• Onions and garlic: the basis for all dishes.
• Spices and spice pastes: For that certain pep.
• Noodles: The must-have in every camping kitchen.
• Rice: Stores great and is a great alternative to pasta.
• Potatoes: The all-rounder in the kitchen. And is great for storage.
• Instant Couscous: The quick preparation is ideal for on the go.
• Canned tomatoes: The perfect accompaniment to pasta.
• Flour: For delicious pancakes.
• Baking soda: Can be used against ants or for baking.
• Great canned food: corn, chickpeas, kidney beans, etc. are great for storing and are really filling.
• Pesto: The perfect accompaniment to tortellini or simply baguette and cheese.
• Fresh fruit: Solid fruit varieties such as apples and pears are suitable here. The long shelf life speaks for itself.
• Seasonal vegetables: Always fresh from the regional weekly market.

Would you like to find out more about renting a motorhome?

Favourite route selected and want to start spontaneously? Then book your motorhome quickly and easily here. Simply find your Ahorn Rent rental partner in your area and book your motorhome experience now. We wish you lots of fun on your next trip!

Cooking in the RV - With the Ahorn Camp Recipe Ideas.

One Pot Macaroni with Salmon

Ingredients:

• Onion / Garlic
• Olive oil
• 2 cans tomato pieces
• ½ L water
• 400g macaroni (or other short pasta)
• 500g salmon fillet

Finely chop the onion and garlic and sauté with the oil in a large pan.
Add the canned tomato pieces and ½ liter of water. Now add the pasta and bring to the boil. Stir occasionally. Finely dice the salmon and fold into the pasta. Continue to simmer for approx. 2-3 minutes. Season to taste with spices such as salt, pepper or chili powder. When the pasta is firm to the bite, it can be served. Finally, a little grated Parmesan cheese can be added to the pasta.

Chicken curry with rice

Ingredients:

• Onion / Garlic
• Olive oil
• Chicken breast (1 per person)
• 1 can chickpeas
• 1 can coconut milk
• Curry paste
• Broccoli

Finely chop the onion and garlic and sauté with the oil in a large pan.
Cut the chicken breast into small pieces and fry. Season with a teaspoon of curry paste and salt/pepper. Now add the broccoli florets and chickpeas. Deglaze with the coconut milk and a little more water if necessary. Now add a cup of rice and simmer everything together until the rice is cooked. It is best to cover the pan with a lid.

Couscous pan with feta cheese

Ingredients:

• Onion / Garlic
• Olive oil
• Instant couscous
• 1-2 courgettes
• 1-2 peppers
• 1 package feta cheese

Place the desired amount of couscous in a bowl. Bring the water to the boil in a pan and pour over the couscous (prepare according to the packet instructions). Cover with a lid and set aside.
Finely chop the onion and garlic and sauté in a large pan with the oil.
Finely chop the zucchini and bell pepper (or other seasonal vegetables) and sauté in the pan. When the vegetables are cooked, add the swollen couscous. Depending on your preference, season with spices such as salt (not too much, as the feta cheese is usually marinated in brine), pepper or curry.
The pan-fried dish is refined with delicious feta cheese. Simply cut it into small pieces and sprinkle over the dish.

Leftover tip: If there is any couscous left over, simply enjoy as a salad the next day. Fresh tomatoes and some arugula go perfectly with it.

Great one-pot recipes are also available at lecker.de

Now nothing stands in the way of your motorhome adventure.
We hope you enjoy cooking and bon appétit!