Hiking food in import stores
Posted: Sun 16 May, 2021 10:59 amThere is already a great discussion about hiking food in supermarkets. But in Australia we tend to eat a lot of fresh food, so we have far less processed food than other countries. But I have found a number of great options in East Asian grocery stores, India grocery stores and European delis. Would love to hear of other people's finds.
I wanted to start the discussion with an interesting Sri Lankan find in an India grocery store.
It is soya meat. The photo is roast chicken and the flavour pack is delicious. Being a Buddhist country they often eat vegetarian on holy days, so the need for fake meat flavours. They have 2 vegetable flavours, 2 chicken, lamb and shrimp. The vegetarian I tried was a bit dull while the roast chicken is delicious.
One packet is 90 grams, but as they are dehydrated you only need about 1/3 of that to be the same as say a can of tuna or pouch of beans.
You are meant to soak them in hot water for 10 minutes, drain them, then add in the flavour satchel. I have tried cold soaking for the same amount of time with no problem, and you can eat them dry as a snack if you like (but will soak up liquid in your stomach, dehydrating you a bit).
The best bit is the lightness and the flavour satchels. The texture is okay, and if not soaked properly, the texture is al little chewie.
The method that seems to work the best for my tastes is to combine plain instant couscous, 1/3 of the soya meat balls from a packet, 1/3 of the flavour satchel today, then add hot or cold water and leave soak for 10 minutes. The result is easy to prepare, but getting the right amount of water is important, or the couscous is too soggy or the soya meat balls a little chewie. But made up for by the flavour satchels.
I can also imagine throwing these into an instant noodle soup or other meal.
Interesting in what other people have found in their local specialty grocery store.
I wanted to start the discussion with an interesting Sri Lankan find in an India grocery store.
It is soya meat. The photo is roast chicken and the flavour pack is delicious. Being a Buddhist country they often eat vegetarian on holy days, so the need for fake meat flavours. They have 2 vegetable flavours, 2 chicken, lamb and shrimp. The vegetarian I tried was a bit dull while the roast chicken is delicious.
One packet is 90 grams, but as they are dehydrated you only need about 1/3 of that to be the same as say a can of tuna or pouch of beans.
You are meant to soak them in hot water for 10 minutes, drain them, then add in the flavour satchel. I have tried cold soaking for the same amount of time with no problem, and you can eat them dry as a snack if you like (but will soak up liquid in your stomach, dehydrating you a bit).
The best bit is the lightness and the flavour satchels. The texture is okay, and if not soaked properly, the texture is al little chewie.
The method that seems to work the best for my tastes is to combine plain instant couscous, 1/3 of the soya meat balls from a packet, 1/3 of the flavour satchel today, then add hot or cold water and leave soak for 10 minutes. The result is easy to prepare, but getting the right amount of water is important, or the couscous is too soggy or the soya meat balls a little chewie. But made up for by the flavour satchels.
I can also imagine throwing these into an instant noodle soup or other meal.
Interesting in what other people have found in their local specialty grocery store.