Shrimp and Ramen Foil Packets
Here’s another recipe that begs to be made on a frontcountry camping trip. It’s a nice variation on the old hobo dinner/foil packs that call for a little carrot, onion, potato and hamburger patty wrapped up in a foil envelope and cooked on coals.
This one needs access to a cooler to keep the shrimp in top condition, and dumpsters in a campground will be needed to keep the leftovers from the racoons. This recipe calls for mirin, a sweet sake that’s probably off limits for boy scout camping trips, but the recipe would suffice without it - just increase the vegetable broth by that amount (1/4 cup). It will make it taste a little milder and not as sweet. I recommend skipping (for kids) or going very light on the crushed red pepper, which tends to really explode with heat in this recipe.
Crumble the ramen and put it on the bottom. Make sure the foil is in a bowl shape so that enough liquid gets to the noodles to cook them. Be very careful to not rip the foil - the liquid is vital to finish the ramen.
I wonder if Alton Brown was ever a Boy Scout? For some reason, I tend to think anyone who uses Ramen noodles as an ingredient was a Boy Scout. Ah, well, they were a staple in college, too, as I recall.
