Vegan Campfire Foil Packet Dinner with Smoky Maple Tofu, Potatoes and Peppers
Toss pressed tofu cubes, small potatoes, peppers, zucchini and red onion in a smoky soy-maple sauce. Seal four double-layer foil packets and cook them on medium campfire coals for 30 to 35 minutes, flipping once. Finish with lemon and green onion for a full vegan dinner in about 55 minutes, mostly hands-off.
Good vegan campfire food doesn't need special gear. It needs big flavor and a cooking method that is hard to mess up. Foil packets fit that well. Everything steams and chars together, and cleanup is one bowl and a few sheets of foil.
The sauce does the work here: smoked paprika, soy sauce, maple syrup and garlic. Cut the potatoes small so they cook through in the same time as the tofu. Press the tofu while the fire burns down to coals, and it will brown instead of turning soggy.
Vegan Campfire Foil Packet Dinner with Smoky Maple Tofu, Potatoes and Peppers
- Prep
- 20 min
- Cook
- 35 min
- Serves
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Heat
- Medium coals
- Pack weight
- 4 lb
- Campfire
- Camp stove
- Backpacking
- Cooler required
- No stove
- Low water
- One-pan cleanup
- Prep ahead
Ingredients
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Gear you'll need
- Campfire grill grate
- Heavy-duty aluminum foil
- Large mixing bowl
- Long tongs
- Heat-resistant gloves
- Fork
- Clean kitchen towel
- Knife and cutting board
Steps
-
Press the tofu
Wrap the tofu block in a clean towel and set a heavy plate or skillet on top. Press for 15 minutes while the fire burns down, then cut it into cubes.
-
Build medium coals
Burn the fire until you have glowing coals with light gray ash and no tall flames. Set a grill grate over them. You should be able to hold your hand above the grate for about 5 seconds.
-
Mix the sauce
In a large bowl, whisk the olive oil, soy sauce, maple syrup, smoked paprika, garlic powder, the juice of half the lemon and a few grinds of pepper.
-
Toss everything
Add the tofu, potatoes, peppers, zucchini and onion to the bowl. Stir gently until every piece is coated.
-
Fold four packets
Stack two sheets of foil for each packet and divide the mix evenly in the center. Bring the long edges together, fold over twice, then roll up the ends tightly so no steam or sauce leaks.
-
Cook on the coals
Set the packets on the grate over the coals. Cook for 30 to 35 minutes, flipping with tongs at the halfway point. Move any packet that sizzles hard to a cooler spot.
-
Check the potatoes
Wear gloves and open one packet away from your face, since the steam is hot. Pierce a potato with a fork. It should slide in easily, and if not, reseal and cook 5 more minutes.
-
Crisp and finish
Open the packets fully and set them back on the grate for 3 to 5 minutes so the tofu edges brown. Top with green onion and serve with lemon wedges.
Trail Notes
Cut the potatoes, peppers, zucchini and onion at home and pack them in a zip bag. Mix the sauce in a jar. Keep the tofu sealed and cold in the cooler until you press it.
No tofu? Use 1 can (15 oz) of chickpeas, drained and patted dry. Sweet potato works in place of baby potatoes if you cut it into 1/2-inch cubes. Use tamari if you need to avoid wheat.
Tofu is perishable. Keep it at 40°F or below until you use it, and throw out any pressed or cut tofu that sat out longer than 2 hours.
Let the foil cool fully, then pack it out with your trash. Never bury it or leave it in the fire ring. Scatter strained dishwater well away from water sources and camp.
Round out your camp day
Picked to work with the same kit as this recipe.
BreakfastCampfire Bell Pepper Ring Eggs with Black Beans
LunchGriddle Chicken Shawarma-Style Pitas with Garlic Yogurt Sauce
Snack or treatCampfire Skillet Bacon-Wrapped Almond-Stuffed DatesMore one-burner camping meals →Planning a trip? Get the free 3-day meal plan →
Campers ask
What are easy vegan campfire foods?
Foil packet dinners, skillet beans and rice, grilled corn, and roasted sweet potatoes all work well. Bring a good sauce or spice blend, since seasoning is what makes them taste great.
Can you cook tofu over a campfire?
Yes. Use extra-firm tofu, press it first, and cook it over medium coals in foil or a cast-iron skillet. Finishing it uncovered for a few minutes browns the edges.
How do I keep foil packets from burning on the bottom?
Use two layers of heavy-duty foil and cook over coals, not open flames. Flip the packets halfway through and move any that sizzle hard to a cooler spot.
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