Backpacking Recipe: Everyday Chana with Surekha Rice and Cashews

This post is sponsored by Maya Kaimal Foods

My biggest frustration with many pre-packaged backpacking meals is that they are often overly processed and filled with tons of ingredients I’m not familiar with. So personally, I love to stick to whole food backpacking recipes that I make myself or buy products that are healthy right out of the bag.

This is one of the big reasons I love Maya Kaimal Foods. Their products are created with quality, wholesome ingredients and are super easy to grab and go since they are shelf-stable.

I’ve talked about this before extensively in my review of their Everyday Dals as a perfect vegan backpacking meal.

And this month, I’m super excited to review their newest product, the Maya Kaimal Everyday Chana , and share with you all a super easy, and delicious recipe you can make using them on your next backpacking trip.

The Maya Kaimal Everyday Chana Packets come in 4 different delicious flavors that are a spin on different Chana curries. They are shelf-stable, which makes them perfect for short backpacking trips, long day hikes, road trips, and camping trips. 

EVERYDAY CHANA WITH SUREKHA RICE AND CASHEWS

The recipe we created with the Chana packets in this post is just one of MANY ways you can enjoy the Everyday Chana from Maya Kaimal, but first, let’s take a closer look at why we love these Chana Packets and this recipe for backpacking.

4 DELICIOUS EVERDAY CHANA FLAVORS 

The Maya Kaimal Everyday Chana Packets are based off the popular Indian dish made from Chana (which is the Indian word for Chickpea). Chickpeas are protein-rich which is one of the reasons the Everyday Chana Packets make the perfect backpacking meal, especially if you’re vegan or vegetarian and relying on plant-based protein for recovery after a long day on the trail.

There are four different, delicious Everyday Chana flavors.

1) Tomato + Onion – This Everyday Chana is a based off the flavor profile of Chana Masala, which is built with onion, garlic, and ginger, with bright tomato notes and bursts of warm cumin seed.

2) Coconut + Green Chili - This Everyday Chana is inspired by the Indian dish call Kadala which is made with black chickpeas cooked in a coconut sauce infused with black pepper and green chili.

3) Coconut + Kale – This Everyday Chana is like a delicious, satisfying curry. It features chickpeas, creamy coconut, turmeric, kale and carrots.

4) Tamarind + Sweet Potato – This Everyday Chan also features black chickpeas (which are richer and earthier in flavor than the tan variety) as well as sweet potato and tangy tamarind.

WHY WE LOVE THIS CHANA RECIPE FOR BACKPACKING

In the recipe we’ve created below for backpacking, you can use any of the above Everyday Chana Packet Flavors. The recipe works well with all of the different flavor profiles. 

This recipe also features the new Maya Kaimal Surekha Rice Packets to give it some more carbs which are essential after a long and active day outdoors.

Here are some of the reasons we love this particular recipe which features both the Maya Kaimal Everyday Chana and Surekha Rice Packets.

• There is pretty much no prep required for this recipe, which makes things super simple as you get ready for a backpacking trip.  

• The Everyday Chana Packets are super delicious. You don’t have to sacrifice flavor when you hit the trail when you bring one of these meals along with you. I’ve tried all 4 flavors now, and I love all of them!

• Not only is it delicious, but it is a good, healthy backpacking food option. I mentioned this above, but spend some time looking at their labels. Maya Kaimal Everyday Chana Packets are packed with quality, wholesome, and organic ingredients.

• These Everyday Chana Packets provide an excellent option for plant-based backpackers looking for more protein in their backpacking diet (without always having to get it from protein powders or high-sugar protein bars). All of the Chanas are packed with delicious plant-based protein from chickpeas and have no added sugar. Oh and even if you aren’t vegan or vegetarian, you’ll also love these Chana Packets!

• Plus, you only need one backpacking stove to cook this recipe with.

EQUIPMENT NEEDED

As I mentioned above, there’s practically no prep involved with this recipe, so you really only need to bring a few things with you (which you’ll likely already have packed with your backpacking gear).

Here’s what you’ll need: 

1) A backpacking stove + fuel – I’m a big fan of the MSR Reactor Stove or the MSR Pocket Rocket for backpacking, and both of those options work well for this recipe.

2) Eating Utensils and Bowls – You’ll want a bowl for each person and a spoon or fork (or maybe a spork) to eat it with.

And that’s pretty much it.

If you’re new to backpacking and wanting to know what other gear is essential for a backpacking trip, be sure to check out our backpacking packing checklist.

EVERDAY CHANA AND RICE – RECIPE

So, let’s dive into this super-easy, Everyday Chana and Surekha Rice backpacking recipe. We’ve listed out all the ingredients and steps needed below, and we’ve also created this fun recipe video below for the backpacking meal, so be sure to check it out!

Serving Size: Serves 1-2 people (Michael and I found this the perfect size to share)

Prep & Cook Time: About 15 minutes total 

 Ingredients:

1) 1 packet of the Maya Kaimal Everyday Chana (any flavor)
2) 1 packet of the Maya Kaimal Surekha Rice Packet (Perfectly Plain or Turmeric)
3) 3-4 handfuls of cashews (put this into a small Ziplock bag)
4) 1-2 small Ziplock bags filled with pita chips (one bag per person)

Other Variations: You can also swap cashews for any nut of your choosing. We just loved that this added some extra calories and healthy fats to our meal after a long day of backpacking. You could also swap the pita chips for pita bread or tortillas, but personally I like the texture of the pita chips with the Surekha Rice and Everyday Chana.

Directions:

The first thing you’ll want to cook is the Surekha Rice.

Put 3-4 tablespoons of water in your backpacking stove, turn on the stove, and then add the Surekha Rice to the stove. 

The rice will cook quickly. You’re mostly just heating up the rice. Cover the stove and cook the rice for roughly 5 minutes. 

However, keep a close eye on the rice and make sure to stir the rice frequently (and add more water if needed) in order to keep the rice from burning to the bottom of your stove. If it burns a little, it’s not a huge deal. You’ll just want to boil some water in your stove after your done cooking to clean it up.

Once the rice is heated through, then add them to your bowls.

Next, add the Everyday Chana Packet to your (now empty) backpacking stove and heat up (covered) for another 5 minutes or so until cooked through.

Once the Chana is heated through, then add this to your bowls next to the rice.

Top your Everyday Chana and Surekha Rice Bowls with cashews and serve with pita chips! We used our pita chips like spoons for this recipe, and it was SO GOOD.

The whole cook/prep time should really take no more than 10-15 minutes. Keep an eye on the stove so that you don’t burn anything. We find that backpacking stoves cook things up really quickly most of the time.

Quick Sidenote: Michael and I love to bring Everyday Chana Packets or Everyday Dals backpacking with us, and especially if we are looking for an easy, healthy backpacking meal option. However, this recipe below is probably best suited for 2-3 day backpacking trips versus longer 5-10 day trips since the packets will take up more space in your bear can or bear sack.

We loved this easy backpacking recipe and I can’t wait to make it again on our next backpacking trip. It’s filling, full of so much flavor, and super easy to make on the trail. You’ll make all your backpacking buddies jealous with this meal! 

We hope you love this recipe and the new Maya Kaimal Everyday Chana Packets just as much as we do.

Be sure to let us know in the comments below if you get the chance to try them!

For More Maya Kaimal Inspired Recipes for Camping & Backpacking, be sure to check out these posts:

• 9 Easy & Delicious 5-Ingredient (Or Less!) One-Pot Camping Meals

• Insanely Delicious Vegan Backpacking Food with Maya Kaimal’s Everyday Dals

• 10-Minute Turmeric Grain Bowls for a Healthy Meal on the Road

• Camp Cooking: Easy One-Pot Chicken Tikka Masala Tacos

• Camp Cooking Comfort Food: One-Pot Sweet Potato Goan Coconut Turkey Soup

Cheers,

Allison - She Dreams of Alpine

---