I have been experimenting with bread alternatives on long backpacking and camping trips to add variety to the food options. Here are my favorite choices so far.
Matzo (Matzah) bread :
So what is Matzo bread ? (If you already don’t know) : Known as “Food of Faith”, this unleavened bread is eaten during the passover time by Jewish people. To learn more about the tradition and the significance behind this bread, read here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matzo
Beyond the religious significance, this bread is a great backpacking food for the following reasons:
Pros:
- Two simple ingredients : Wheat flour and water
- It has the texture of crackers and dry.
- Its very light weight to carry.
- Can stay fresh years if its stored in dry / ziplock.
- There are gluten free oats versions available in the market.
- Suitable for long backpacking trips.
Cons:
- Unless you look for a high carb/high cal matzo, most of them are low cal/carb version. Which makes it great for those who want to use it as a supplement to their heavy meal. Think of a gravy with Matzo…Yum!
- Can consume space if you want it to keep its shape. I recommend making small pieces to save space.
Pita Bread:
On short 2-3 day trips, one of the go to backpacking food has been pita bread for us. I make my signature National Parks Wrap with pita bread. Carry a semi-ripe avocado with you to enjoy the pita bread.
Pros:
- Easily available at most super markets.
- Light weight
- Easy to stuff inside the backpack
Cons:
- Only last for 2-3 days. You must store it in ziplock after opening the pack.
Thepla Bread:
If you are not a north Indian, chances are you don’t know much about this delicious goodness. This Gujarathi rotis are known for longer shelf life than other Indian breads.
Pros:
- Each bread (very small, may be the size of your hand), is approximately 120 calories.
- They are well spiced up requiring no additional dipping sauce.
- Yum Alert! Really addictive.
- I eat 4-5 at a time easily.
Cons:
- Availability:
- Do you know how to make it ?
- Do you live in Bay area / Indian community?
- Some Indian stores carry it. Most outside of bay area may not.
What have been your go to carb options on the hike or backpacking trips that are not freeze dried food ? Comment below.