Lightweight camper’s penne with tuna and creamy tomato sauce

DifficultyBeginner

Normally this hearty, satisfying pasta dish would require heavy cans of tuna and tomatoes. We've saved weight and space in your backpack by using powdered tomato and tuna in sachets.

Yields2 Servings
Prep Time5 minsCook Time50 minsTotal Time55 mins
Summary
 650 g total weight (dry ingredients)
 1 l total volume dry ingredients (approx.)
 This recipe uses perishable ingredients. You should use your own judgement as to whether it's suitable for your hike.
Water and fuel
 350 ml water for pasta sauce
 800 ml water to cook the pasta
 1.50 units of fuel
Ingredients
 250 g penne
 1 tbsp salt for pasta water
 1 tbsp olive oil
 1 small onion
 ½ stalks of celery
 ½ small carrots
 3 tsp dried oregano
 150 g sachets of tuna in oil
 2 tbsp powdered milk
 ¼ cup tomato powder
Alternative option (if you can't get tomato powder)
 ½ cup tomato paste (triple concentrate)You can use tomato paste instead of tomato powder. It's a bit heavier, but the results will be the same.
Packing for your hike
1

Put pasta, milk powder, dried oregano, tomato powder and salt in separate bags.

Penne pasta, onion, carrot, celery, tomato powder, salt, dried oregano and olive oil, ready to go in your backpack. Photo: A Hutchings

Before cooking
2

Chop onion, carrot and celery.

Onion, celery and carrot on a lightweight hiker's chopping mat. Photo: A Hutchings

Cooking
3

Heat olive oil on medium heat. Fry onion, carrot and celery, stirring frequently, for 5-10 minutes or until onion is soft.

Onion, celery and carrot frying on camping stove. Photo: A Hutchings

4

Check the ingredients to see how much water you need for the pasta sauce. Add this water to the onion, carrot and celery. Mix in the tomato powder (or tomato paste) and most of the dried oregano. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, for 10 minutes or until carrots are tender.
Note: If you have the luxury of two burners, you can also start cooking your pasta at this point - see below.

Tomato powder and water added to onion, celery and carrot mixture. Photo: A Hutchings

5

Stir powdered milk into the tomato sauce. Remove from heat and set sauce aside, covered.

Powdered milk added to the tomato sauce on the camping stove. Photo: A Hutchings

6

Check the ingredients to see how much water you need to cook the pasta. Add water to a pan and bring to the boil. Add pasta and salt, and cook on medium heat until tender but not mushy (12-14 minutes).

Penne pasta cooking on camping stove. Photo: A Hutchings

7

Drain the pasta, and mix in the tomato sauce. Gently stir in the tuna. Divide among bowls and sprinkle with remaining dried oregano. Enjoy!

Penne pasta mixed with tomato sauce and tuna in camping bowl with spork. Photo: A Hutchings

Ingredients

Summary
 650 g total weight (dry ingredients)
 1 l total volume dry ingredients (approx.)
 This recipe uses perishable ingredients. You should use your own judgement as to whether it's suitable for your hike.
Water and fuel
 350 ml water for pasta sauce
 800 ml water to cook the pasta
 1.50 units of fuel
Ingredients
 250 g penne
 1 tbsp salt for pasta water
 1 tbsp olive oil
 1 small onion
 ½ stalks of celery
 ½ small carrots
 3 tsp dried oregano
 150 g sachets of tuna in oil
 2 tbsp powdered milk
 ¼ cup tomato powder
Alternative option (if you can't get tomato powder)
 ½ cup tomato paste (triple concentrate)You can use tomato paste instead of tomato powder. It's a bit heavier, but the results will be the same.

Directions

Packing for your hike
1

Put pasta, milk powder, dried oregano, tomato powder and salt in separate bags.

Penne pasta, onion, carrot, celery, tomato powder, salt, dried oregano and olive oil, ready to go in your backpack. Photo: A Hutchings

Before cooking
2

Chop onion, carrot and celery.

Onion, celery and carrot on a lightweight hiker's chopping mat. Photo: A Hutchings

Cooking
3

Heat olive oil on medium heat. Fry onion, carrot and celery, stirring frequently, for 5-10 minutes or until onion is soft.

Onion, celery and carrot frying on camping stove. Photo: A Hutchings

4

Check the ingredients to see how much water you need for the pasta sauce. Add this water to the onion, carrot and celery. Mix in the tomato powder (or tomato paste) and most of the dried oregano. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, for 10 minutes or until carrots are tender.
Note: If you have the luxury of two burners, you can also start cooking your pasta at this point - see below.

Tomato powder and water added to onion, celery and carrot mixture. Photo: A Hutchings

5

Stir powdered milk into the tomato sauce. Remove from heat and set sauce aside, covered.

Powdered milk added to the tomato sauce on the camping stove. Photo: A Hutchings

6

Check the ingredients to see how much water you need to cook the pasta. Add water to a pan and bring to the boil. Add pasta and salt, and cook on medium heat until tender but not mushy (12-14 minutes).

Penne pasta cooking on camping stove. Photo: A Hutchings

7

Drain the pasta, and mix in the tomato sauce. Gently stir in the tuna. Divide among bowls and sprinkle with remaining dried oregano. Enjoy!

Penne pasta mixed with tomato sauce and tuna in camping bowl with spork. Photo: A Hutchings

Notes

Lightweight camper’s penne with tuna and creamy tomato sauce
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