Unstuffed cabbage rolls are another favorite camping and hiking lunch or dinner recipe. It’s filling and satiating. So you’re not going to be hungry again in another 30 minutes.
Unstuffed cabbage rolls are a cheap, quick, and easy dehydrated dinner you want to take advantage of. It’s made with ingredients we can easily find at the local grocery store and can be dehydrated at home.
So let’s get started.
Table of Contents
- Dehydrated Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls Recipe
- Supplies Needed for Dehydrated Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls
- Unstuffed Cabbage Roll Dry Ingredients
- Dehydrated Unstuffed Cabbage Roll Wet Ingredients
- At-Home Preparation
- Optimize Food Protection for Storage and Travel
- In the Field Preparation
Dehydrated Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls Recipe
We have deconstructed the traditional comfort-food cabbage roll recipe so we can enjoy it when out in the field or at the campsite.
Our recipe only needs a handful of simple ingredients that you can easily dehydrate yourself.
Supplies Needed for Dehydrated Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls
- Several 1-quart zip-top bags
- Heavy-duty paper towels
- Labeling materials such as masking tape and waterproof all-weather pen
- Camp cookware and dinnerware
- Leak-proof container (optional)
Unstuffed Cabbage Roll Dry Ingredients
- 1/2 cup dehydrated ground beef
- 1/3 cup dehydrated brown rice
- 2 tablespoons dehydrated onion
- 2 tablespoons dehydrated tomato sauce
- 1 tablespoon dehydrated RoTel diced tomatoes with green chilies
- 1 tablespoon dehydrated jalapeno peppers
- 1 cup dehydrated cabbage slices
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 tablespoon dehydrated beef bouillon (optional)
- 1/4 teaspoon dehydrated chipotle peppers in adobo sauce (optional)
Dehydrated Unstuffed Cabbage Roll Wet Ingredients
- Olive or avocado oil for flavor (optional)
At-Home Preparation
Combine all the dry ingredients into a food-safe 1-quart quality name-brand zip-top bag for best storage results. The sharp edges of dehydrated ingredients could cause micro-punctures in the zip-top plastic bag.
Compared to the local big box stores, Amazon has the best prices for the name-brand 1-quart zip-top bags. So says the 20,000 plus Amazon customer reviewers who took the time to leave feedback. The rough edges and sharp ends of homemade dehydrated ingredients very often compromise generic zip-top bags.
Be sure to include a short note with the name of the dish and detailed preparation instructions. We have included detailed preparation instructions at the end of this page.
Optimize Food Protection for Storage and Travel
Double bagging, using two zip-top bags with a separator, is an option to help guard against punctures, leaks, and water penetration and to protect the food’s integrity. This way, it remains viable in the field or pantry storage.
The Scott Shop towels brand makes an excellent bag separator. These multipurpose paper towels are thicker than the average heavy-duty paper towel. As a multitasker, repurpose these towels for the after-meal cleanup activities.
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In the Field Preparation
Empty the contents of the zip-top bag into the cooking pot, then add just enough water to cover the ingredients. It’ll be approximately 1 1/4 cups of water. Cover the cooking pot and hydrate the dry ingredients for about 5 minutes.
Practice these Dehydrator Chef homemade dehydrated camping meal recipes at home several times with the very same outdoor kitchen gear used in the field or at the campsite. This approach lets you practice your skills to know what to expect and where to adapt.
Next, on your cooking stove and over medium flame, bring the hydrating mix to a boil, frequently stirring frequently to mix. After coming to a boil, if your stove is capable of a low-heat simmer, turn the flame down to reduce the chance of burning.
After two or more minutes of simmering, stirring, and mixing the ingredients, turn off the stove and move the pot into an insulated wrap or cozy to rest and hydrate for at least 15 to 20 minutes more for the flavors to blend and the ingredients to fully reconstitute.
Add any remaining seasonings might like, such as kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper, or some hot sauce for added flavor.
If desired, incorporate olive or avocado oil into the mixture. The additional fat complements the flavor profile, compensating for the absence of the unique taste associated with fat. The fat enhances taste and promotes a sense of fullness more quickly.
Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls Detailed Preparation Instructions
Empty the zip-top bag containing the unstuffed cabbage roll dry mix ingredients into your cooking pot.
Pour in enough water to just cover the dry ingredients, then add just a tad bit more.
Cover, and let the dry ingredients hydrate in your camp cookware for a minimum of 5 minutes. Be sure to stir and mix to the bottom of the cooking pot now and again. Make sure the mix stays covered and well-saturated with water. Add more water if needed.
Next, on your cooking stove and over a medium flame, bring the mix to a boil, stirring frequently, all the way to the bottom of the cooking pot. If your stove will simmer, turn the heat down to a simmer after bringing it to a boil.
After two or more minutes of cooking, simmering, and ingredient mixing, turn off the stove and move the pot into an insulated wrap or cozy to rest and hydrate for 15 to 20 minutes more or until your preference for doneness.
Drizzle in any olive or avocado oil, and stir to mix.
Add any remaining seasonings like kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper, or some hot sauce for some added spice.