Chicken, pumpkin and coconut curry

A good hiking recipe needs to tick a few boxes. It should taste great, provide a satisfying meal after a day on the trail and, ideally, be easy to prepare and pack.

This one ticks all the boxes!

Tasty enough to put on regular rotation at home, it can also be successfully dehydrated, making it a great option to prepare ahead for an overnight or multi-day hiking adventure.

With chicken, pumpkin, coconut milk, peas and warming curry flavours, it's a simple and comforting meal that's particularly welcome when the walking is finished and it's time to settle in at camp.

The recipe serves 4 to 6 when enjoyed fresh, or follow the additional steps below to turn it into individual dehydrated hiking meals.

Ingredients

500g chicken mince

500g pumpkin, diced into 1cm cubes

1 onion, finely diced

2 cloves garlic, crushed

1 tablespoon grated ginger

1 tablespoon mild curry powder

1 can light coconut milk

1 cup frozen peas

Salt and pepper

Jasmine rice (1 cup dry makes approximately 3 cups cooked)

Cook the rice while preparing the curry.

Method

Cook the chicken mince and onion until the chicken is browned and the onion is soft. Don't use any oil if you're planning to dehydrate the meal.

Add the garlic and ginger and cook for one minute, then stir through the curry powder.

Add the pumpkin and coconut milk and simmer until the pumpkin is very soft.

Stir through the peas and cook for a few more minutes.

Lightly mash some of the pumpkin to create a thicker consistency.

Serve with the cooked jasmine rice.

Taking it on the trail?

To dehydrate

Add the cooked rice to the curry and mix well.

Spread the mixture thinly, approximately 5–10mm thick, across your dehydrator trays.

Dehydrate for 8–12 hours, or until completely dry.

Once fully dehydrated and cooled, divide into individual portions and pack securely for your adventure.

To rehydrate

For one serving:

Pack approximately 150g of the dried meal.

Add 250–350mL of boiling water.

Stir well.

Leave to stand for 15–20 minutes, or until fully rehydrated and heated through.