3 Easy & Warming Winter Meals to Make in Your Camper

Picture this: You’re curled up on the seat of your cozy campervan. The air is delightfully crisp, and leaves are slowly drifting toward the ground as you enjoy a hot cup of tea while you reread your favorite comfort book.

What could make this scene even comfier? How about some delicious food prepared in your compact, convenient kitchen?

You stand up, take a few steps away from your relaxing seat, and find yourself in the kitchen. Now, what do you cook?

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Recipes That Can Be Cooked in a Campervan

You don’t have to settle for convenience foods or worry about braving treacherous roads to drive to the nearest restaurant when spending the autumn and winter months traveling in your campervan. You can easily prepare tasty, filling meals from your home on the go.

Even better, you can use a low-wattage slow cooker for some of these- nothing could be easier.

Here are three authentic European recipes worth trying:

Dish 1: Meatballs in Tomato Sauce

When you want something comforting and satisfying, you can’t go wrong with meatballs in tomato sauce. This meal is simple and versatile and comes together in no time, perfect for days when you want a home-cooked meal but don’t want to spend hours preparing one!

Ingredients

• 400 grams of minced meat
• 1 egg
• 1 cup of breadcrumbs or ground oats
• 1 tablespoon of basil
• 1 tablespoon of oregano
• 1 pinch of salt
• 1 teaspoon of pepper
• 1/2 medium grated courgette
• 1 medium grated carrot
• 1 tin of tomatoes
• 1 diced onion
• 1 clove of garlic
• Basil and oregano to taste
• 1 vegetable stock cube
• 1 teaspoon of sugar
• 140 grams of spaghetti
• 50 grams of grated parmesan cheese
• Olive oil
• Balsamic vinegar

Instructions

• In a large bowl, combine the meat, egg, bread crumbs, herbs, salt, pepper, grated carrot, and grated courgette.
• Wet your hands and use them to mix the ingredients.
• Form the mixture into 12 golf ball-sized meatballs.
• Heat a pan with a bit of olive oil, then cook the meatballs, turning them to ensure they cook through
• When the meatballs are cooked, set them aside and prepare the sauce
• Add the diced onion to a pan greased with a little olive oil
• Cook the onions until they’re translucent, then add the garlic, oregano, and basil
• Cook the garlic, oregano, and basil until fragrant, then add a splash of balsamic vinegar.
• Add the tin of tomatoes, then fill the tin ¾ of the way with water and add that to the pan as well.
• Crumble the stock cube and add it to the sauce
• Bring the sauce to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and add the sugar
• Let the sauce simmer for 20 minutes or until thickened
• Add the meatballs to the sauce, then sprinkle the grated parmesan cheese on top
• Bring a pot of water to a boil and cook the spaghetti according to the package instructions

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Dish 2: Dutch Stamppot and Rookworst

Stamppot and rookworst is another classic comfort meal. It’s also loaded with vegetables, so you can feel good about adding it to your meal plan!

Ingredients

• 900 grams of potatoes
• 500 grams of butternut squash
• 250 grams of sweet potatoes
• 250 grams of carrots
• 2 large parsnips
• 1 large turnip
• 1 large leek
• 1 onion
• 1 pound of savoy cabbage
• 1⁄2 cup of butter
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1⁄2 cup of chopped parsley (optional)
• 1.5 lbs of Rookworst or another spicy sausage

Instructions

• Peel and roughly chop the sweet potatoes, potatoes, butternut squash, carrots, parsnip and the turnip
• Peel and finely chop the onion
• Wash the leek and cabbage, then slice them finely
• Add chopped vegetables to a large stock pot and cover with water
• Bring the water to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes or until the vegetables are tender
• Cook the rookworst according to the instructions on the package; slice and set aside
• Drain and mash vegetables
• Season with salt and pepper to taste
• Add and mix in the butter and chopped parsley, if desired
• Serve with the sliced sausage on top and a little extra butter if you want!

Dish 3: Svíčková Braised Beef

Svíčková braised beef is a sirloin dish served with a decadent cream sauce and is a Sunday lunch staple for Czech families. If you want something rich and hearty, try this Svíčková braised beef recipe:

Ingredients

• 680 grams of beef sirloin
• 55 grams of bacon fat
• 235 milliliters of beef stock
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 tablespoon of vinegar
• 1 large carrot, diced
• 200 grams of root celeriac (about 1 medium root), diced
• 1 medium parsley root, diced
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 100 g butter, melted
• 10 black peppercorns
• 4 allspice berries
• 2 bay leaves
• Juice from 1 lemon or 1 tablespoon of vinegar
• 235 milliliters of heavy cream (plus some milk)
• All-purpose flour as needed
• Sugar as needed

Instructions

• Set the meat in a large pot, then prick it with a knife and stuff the strips of bacon fat inside
• Season salt, pepper, and other spices, diced root vegetables, lemon juice, or vinegar, and top with melted butter.
• Marinate the meat in the refrigerator or cooler overnight
• Pour the stock into the pot, cover it with a lid, and braise it in the oven at 160 degrees Celcius for 2-4 hours or until the meat is very soft (so soft you can cut it with a fork).
• Remove the meat and press the vegetables through a sieve or cloth
• Pour in the cream and then bring it to a boil
• Add sugar to taste if desired
• If the sauce is not thick enough, add a little flour
• Cut the sirloin into circles about a half-inch thick
• Put the circles back into the sauce to heat them through

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Here are some kitchen items we recommend:

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Creative Campervan Cooking Hacks

Not a confident cook? Don’t worry.

These recipes are simple enough that just about anyone can manage them.

If you need a little extra guidance, though, keep these creative campervan cooking hacks in mind:

• Shop mindfully (don’t buy more than you can fit).
• Visit farmer’s markets if possible to support local farmers and enjoy high-quality produce, breads, cheeses, etc.
• Don’t let food fall down the sink (it will start to smell soon after)
• Clean while the pans are still hot (this makes it much easier and uses less water).
• Make enough for leftovers (this leaves more time for adventure and ensures you always have something tasty ready to enjoy).

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Conclusion

You don’t have to sacrifice delicious food just because you’re traveling or living in a campervan, nor do you have to give up your love of cooking. Keep these recipes in mind the next time you buy groceries so you can enjoy comforting classics throughout your journey.

Last update on 2024-04-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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