This cheesy mashed potato breakfast recipehas been a staple on my guided trips since 2015. Its savoriness is an excellent balance to sweeter meals like oatmeal or cold cereal.
I’ve tweaked the ingredients and ratiosmultiple times based on feedback, and I believe we now have a real winner. Among the more than 100 Iclients polled during the 2019 season, it was their top-rated breakfast.
Key Stats
- 4.5 ounces per serving (128 grams)
- 537 calories
- 119 calories per ounce
To increase the caloric density, use more butter and lesspotato, and substitute canned green chilies for dried. To increase the net calories, add more of the goodies, specifically bacon, cheese, or butter.
Ingredients
- (1.2 ounces)
- Cheese(1 ounce)
- or soy bacon bits to equal effect(1 ounce)
- Butter(0.8 ounce)
- Salt and a seasoning (to taste)
For the seasoning, I pack a can of , and clients often add things from the general spice kit, like taco seasoning, dried green onions, red pepper flakes, or paprika. Many options work here.
In addition to theseingredients, I also add:
- (0.15 ounce), which adds a savory, Parmesan-like characteristic
- (0.05 ounce), which enhances the overall flavor profile
This is a deceptively large meal, because the instant mashed potatoes absorb a lot of water per their dry weight. If you’re not that hungry, reduce the potato flakes by a half ounce. Alternatively, save it for later in the trip.
Find real crumbled bacon at your grocery storeor in 20-ounce packages at Costco. You can also cook bacon at home prior to your trip. Definitely pack the bacon fat, too, for extra flavor and calories. For vegetariansthere are many nonmeat bacon products.
My original recipe used whole-milk powder and , but last year I swapped these ingredients for butter and real cheese. The response from clients was very positive, so I’ll be sticking with these substitutions. This updated version is creamier, more calorically dense, and more flavorful.
At-Home Preparation
Package the instant mashed potatoes, nutritional yeast, and dried onion in a sandwich bag. For shorter trips, soloists can add the crumbledbacon, too—Ihad no ill effects after it was repackaged and sat in a hot car for tendays. The canned green chilies are more perishable, though, so find a replacement or skip them.
On group trips, I package the bacon separately so that vegetarians and vegans can forgo their share.
Put the cheese in another sandwich bag, or keep it in its original packaging.
Unless it’s a cold trip, the butter is best stored in a plastic food container soit doesn’t make a mess when it gets soft. On group trips, I divide these items in the field.
Cooking Instructions
- Bring tenounces (300 millileters) of water to a boil.
- Add half of the bag of instant mashed potatoes, then stir.
- Add the rest of the bag, and stir again. This two-step method will help prevent spills and clumps.
- Remove from the flame, and mix in the butter and bacon. The cheese and chilies can be mixed in, too, or sprinkled on top.
If you want a soupier consistency, use 12ounces of water.