After many hours of bushwhacking through pick-up-sticks and talus in the Ferris Mountain Wilderness Study Area, I was hungry. The mile an hour pace through this rough terrain certainly made me want a hearty meal. But also one that would cook quick. And would go down easy.

I had just the meal in my food bag. Something would be just what I needed after a rewarding, but tiring, day. I’d have a TexMex-style dish in the backcountry. Some cheesy bean goodness with a bit of a spice kick. A long day in the backcountry, a quiet campsite, a tasty meal and knowing that another wonderful day awaited me. What more could I ask?

TexMex-style couscous and cheese is an updated spin on a classic comfort food dish. Couscous is one of my go-to items for backcountry cooking. It's easy to make some yummy cold dishes with couscous. And couscous cooks quick for a hot meal, too. And couscous is always filling. Couscous is a bit more filing than instant rice. The sharp taste and texture of the dried tomatoes adds some complexity to the meal. The beans, cheese and oil gives some needed protein and fats to help recover from the hard day.

Most importantly? For such a quick and simple dish, it tastes pretty darn good. This dish ends up being a good sized meal for two or a calorie laden treat for someone ‘schwacking through blowdowns all day.

Tex-Mex Style Backpacking Couscous Ingredients

• 1 cup couscous
• 1 cup instant beans
• ½ cup dried tomatoes
• ½ cup cheddar cheese powder
• ¼ cup Nido milk powder
• ¼ cup powdered butter
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder

At Home

• Mix all ingredients thoroughly in a resealable plastic bag. That’s it.
• Easy-peasy; mac-n-cheesy! (er... couscous?)

In Camp

• Heat up two cups of water.
• Add ingredients when water is at a low boil.
• Stir until dish is cooked.

Alternatively

• Simply bring water to a low boil.
• Add water directly to resealable bag if it is a thicker freezer bag.
• Stir thoroughly
• Transfer resealable bag to pot and let the bag sit in the pot itself for 5-10 minutes.

After a long difficult day of hiking this is a dish that hits the spot.

Bonus

This dish pairs well with tortillas. Want something spicier? Some individual hot sauce packets are a very good addition to this meal and add a little bit of kick.

Editor's Note: This article by contributor Paul Magnanti originally appeared in Issue 29 of TrailGroove Magazine. You can read the original article here.