Article: Easy smoked camping recipes
Easy smoked camping recipes

Smoked food requires a little preparation, and it takes time to dry and smoke the food. For this reason, many people would not normally try it. However, since you have the opportunity to go camping, why not give it a try?
This time, we will introduce a smoked food recipe that is easy to enjoy while camping, along with preparation instructions and precautions.
Preparations you should do first to smoke food at camp
The first thing to be careful of when smoking is moisture. If the food contains a lot of moisture, the smoke will not penetrate well and the food will end up sour. Therefore, when smoking food that contains a lot of moisture, such as meat or fish, be sure to dry it out.
Also, when you think of smoking, you might imagine it taking hours, but there are actually three types of smoking: hot smoking, warm smoking, and cold smoking.
Among these, hot smoking is a method often used at campsites, where food is smoked over an open flame at a high temperature of over 80 degrees. This method is not intended to preserve food but to add flavor, so for example, the smoking time required to make smoked chicken is about 15 minutes. This means you can enjoy a barbecue while you wait.
Now, let's take smoked chicken, a classic smoked dish, as an example and explain the recipe in the following order: preparation → drying → smoking → sautéing.
1. Sprinkle salt and pepper on the chicken thighs and pat them dry with kitchen paper.
*When seasoning, don't forget to remove the moisture with salt. Especially when using liquid seasonings such as soy sauce or noodle soup base, be sure to wipe the surface thoroughly. Also, let the seasoning soak in for a while overnight.
2. Dry in a well-ventilated place or in the refrigerator for about 15 minutes.
3. Place in a smoker and smoke for about 20 minutes.
4. Add the smoked chicken to a skillet with olive oil and cook until cooked through.
Smoking is not a way to cook meat, so it needs to be heated after smoking. Also, the process is the same even if you use pork belly or a block of beef instead.
Upgrade your affordable steak! Tips for enjoying smoked meat
Beef prices vary widely. If you're looking for something cheap, you might choose imported beef, which is relatively inexpensive, but when compared to Wagyu beef... If you're going to eat it, you might as well make it as tasty as possible. Here are some smoking recipes to make affordable imported beef steaks even more delicious.
1. Seasoning
It is recommended to season the meat heavily. A simple salted marinated dish is fine, or you can make it teriyaki-style with soy sauce and sugar, Italian-style with basil, or even add curry powder. For beginners, yakiniku sauce or noodle soup base are recommended, as they do not require any seasonings. These seasonings should be left to marinate overnight.
2. Drying
Moisture is the enemy of smoking. Moisture-rich ingredients may not absorb smoke well and can also cause bacteria to grow.
After removing it from the seasoning liquid, wipe off the moisture on the surface with kitchen paper, then let it dry thoroughly in a well-ventilated place for about 20 minutes.
You can also dry your camping gear by storing it in the refrigerator without wrapping it the night before your trip. We recommend using this method, especially on bad weather days or when the outside temperature is above 20 degrees.
3. Smoked
Once the ingredients are thoroughly dried, they can be smoked in a smoker. For camping, we recommend using easy-to-use cherry blossom smoke chips for warm smoking.
Heating times vary depending on the smoker, so be sure to read the instructions carefully before smoking.
4. Charcoal sauté
Finally, sauté over charcoal, and once cooked through, cut into bite-sized pieces.
Want to be more particular? Check out these recommended tips!
Once you have mastered the basic method, why not try using your favorite chips? Popular smoke chips in Japan include cherry, apple, and hickory. Let's take a look at the characteristics of each.
Sakura
It is the most commonly used in Japan and is suitable for strong-smelling, peculiar ingredients, such as pork, lamb, and seafood.
apple
It has a sweet and mild aroma and pairs well with mild ingredients like chicken and white fish.
Hickory
These versatile smoke chips are recommended for a variety of ingredients, including meat and fish. Hickory is also common in the West and has a mild flavor.
Other smoke chips available include walnuts, but you can also combine several different types of smoke chips. Try to find your favorite combination.
These smoke chips are placed in the bottom or tray of the smoker. Place a portable stove underneath the smoker, light it, and when the smoke starts to rise, the smoking process begins.
If the food requires cooking, it will take about an hour to cook, but if you are just adding flavor, 5 to 15 minutes of cooking is sufficient.
If you want to enjoy it easily, here are some recommended ingredients!
Seasoning and drying are essential steps for smoking foods like bacon and smoked chicken, but there are also foods that don't require any prep! Here are three foods that can be smoked as is.
mixed nuts
There are many types of nuts on the market, such as almonds and peanuts, that can be easily eaten by placing them on aluminum foil in a smoker and smoking them just enough to add flavor. They go perfectly with cherry chips, so be sure to give them a try!
boiled eggs
If you make boiled eggs, you can easily make smoked eggs by simply putting them in the smoker. This is especially recommended for people who are tired of the usual way of eating them! It goes well with any chips, including hickory, which has a mild flavor, and is easy and delicious.
cheese
You can make smoked cheese by simply putting solid processed cheese into the smoker. Cheese will melt if heated too much, so smoke it quickly for about 15 minutes. Apple chips are also recommended for a milder finish.
This time, we've introduced some easy smoked food recipes that even camping beginners can follow. Once you've mastered the basics, try changing the smoke chips to find your favorite flavor! Even with the same ingredients, you can enjoy a variety of different flavors just by using different smoke chips.
Products used in this recipe
KINSOU-DORI Boneless Chicken Thigh (1kg)
KINSOU-DORI Boneless Chicken Thigh (1kg)
¥2,550~
View product
Grass-Fed Beef Rump Roast Block (Aitchbone) (700g)
Grass-Fed Beef Rump Roast Block (Aitchbone) (700g)
¥4,220
View product
Grass-fed Beef Yakiniku Slices (200g)
Grass-fed Beef Yakiniku Slices (200g)
¥1,270
View product
【Comeback】Back Bacon Block【Not Cooked】500g
【Comeback】Back Bacon Block【Not Cooked】500g
¥1,910
View product
Grass-Fed Beef Striploin/Sirloin Steak
Grass-Fed Beef Striploin/Sirloin Steak
¥1,920~
View product