Budget Friendly Bites: RV Cooking Gourmet Meals on a Shoestring

On a shoestring, what does that mean?  The term emerged from traveling salesmen.  They offered lightweight materials for sale, one of those items being shoe strings.  The salesmen didn’t earn a lot, hence the ‘shoestring’ represented a small amount of money. This also applies when trying to save money when it comes to RV cooking.

While a small amount of money may not apply, lightweight items are important when RVing.  We also don’t have extended space to carry everything for most RV trips.  So like the salesmen, we look for ways to conserve while we travel – including food resources.

How can you create a gourmet meal in an RV with limited supply space, meaning limited ingredients?  Limited space also means not having all the pots, pans, and utensils at your disposal.  You may not have the cooking space or stove top area you need. 

Creating a gourmet meal includes several steps.  It might be surprising that creating a gourmet meal may be easier to cook in an RV!  Let’s look at what defines a gourmet meal, and how you can achieve that in your RV.

RV Preparation Techniques

An important factor in delivering a gourmet meal is the preparation.  Peeling, seeding, cubing, and trimming are critical steps.  When RVing, we have many options for preparing the individual ingredients for a meal.  We may not have counter space for all the chopping or cutting we need to do.  Here are some ways around limited space.

·         Purchase ingredients before RVing.  If you are not a full-time RVer, prepare items before you leave on your trip.  You can cut, dice, and seal the items at home.  Preparing also limits the utensils you need to pack.

·         Choose one or two cutting knives you can use for multiple kinds of prepping. 

·         Shop for local ingredients that are already cut and prepared.

·         Purchase premade items from local restaurants – like salsa,

Cooking Ingredients in Your Rig

You may not have space in your rig but camping opens up great opportunities for trying other cooking options. While grilling and barbecuing are some of the easiest when camping, try other unique, gourmet cooking techniques.  Here are some ideas on how to cook your food in a gourmet style with little space and tools.

·         Sous Vide – seal your food in an airtight bag and cook it in a temperature-controlled water bath.  You can do this on a single burner on your stove with a small thermometer that takes up little space. 

·         En papillote – enclose the meats or vegetables in foil and bake.  All you need is aluminum foil!  You can even do this on a grill.

Other gourmet cooking techniques that are good to use in an RV are poaching, blanching, and braising.  These can be done in one pan, on one burner, and have low cooking times.  You don’t use a lot of propane to cook with these methods or you can do them on a grill.

Finding Local Flavors

This is where cooking in an RV can shine!  Gourmet meals need fresh ingredients.  Search for the right spice or local food item to create unique flavors for your gourmet meal.  And you shouldn’t be afraid of experimenting!  Here are some suggestions on where to find local resources.

·         Farmers Markets are the number one spot to find local ingredients.  Search outside your area too.  A trip to a farmers market is an experience.

·         Do a tasting.  Find local breweries, restaurants, and wineries where you can taste the flavors before you add them to a recipe.

·         What is the region known for where you are camping?  Are there beekeepers? 

·         Harvest the food yourself!  Can you pick your apples?  Can you stomp grapes?  Interactive flavor gathering can be fun.

·         Join a cooking class.  Learn to prepare a gourmet meal from a local and then source the ingredients yourself to make at your rig.

·         Purchase fresh herb plants from the local grocery store. 

Plating Your Gourmet RV Meal

In nice restaurants and on TV cooking competitions, plating is a big part of the final gourmet experience.  In an RV, that can be difficult.  We don’t have the space to bring a pasta bowl, salad plates, martini glasses, or extra items associated with a special tasting experience.  There are things we can uniquely do while RVing.  Here are some creative ideas for serving your gourmet meal with limited plating choices.

·         Create Dimension – Stack bowls, plates, saucers, or cups to create height on the plate.

·         Enhance with color – use patterned paper plates, themed paper tablecloths, or even a centerpiece.

·         Atmosphere – take advantage of the beauty of your outdoor camping.  Can you have a picnic under a tree?  Can you add candles? 

·         Use a Theme – Maybe everything is like an Italian restaurant.  Or imitate a favorite dining place.  Showcase a holiday with your theme.

·         Garnishes – Garnish your food like a restaurant.  Drizzle with oils or sauces, top with shaped vegetables or sprigs, and sprinkle with spices.

·         Minimal – keep your servings small and simple. This works great when you don’t have space for huge plates.

Cooking a gourmet meal on a shoestring is about being creative.  Don’t be afraid to substitute ingredients with what is available in your camping region.  Treat a gourmet cooking experience in your RV like any other local activity or event by enjoying the process.  When you follow these steps, you can cook with confidence in your RV.  You are the chef so have fun cooking your gourmet meal.