Easy Camping Meals! Introducing SATAKE's "Magic Rice" Series!

Why do you go camping? Is it to see the beautiful scenery, or to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and spend some slow-paced time? Playing with fire by the campfire is fun too. There are so many ways to enjoy camping, like making special dishes unique to camping.

This article focuses on camping food, specifically super easy and delicious camping meals. No matter what it is, food eaten while camping always tastes many times better than food eaten at home.

Eating outdoors is an essential part of camping. If you want to eat something delicious but aren't good at cooking, or if you sometimes want to make things easy, then this is for you!

This time, we're introducing the SATAKE "Magic Rice" series. It's delicious even at home, but it's guaranteed to taste even better at the campsite – an easy camping meal for sure!

What is SATAKE Magic Rice?

The "Magic Rice" series is a range of preserved foods sold by Satake Co., Ltd., a food manufacturer headquartered in Higashihiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture.

Its features include:

• Easy to cook
• Wide variety of flavors
• Two ways to eat by changing the amount of water added
• Can be eaten directly from the package
• Can be made even more delicious with arrangements
• 5-year shelf life, making it suitable for disaster preparedness!

Since it's easy to cook, even those who don't usually cook much can make it easily with just hot water. For those who "want to try camping cooking but aren't quite confident yet," or those who usually opt for cup ramen or other instant foods for their camping meals, the wide variety available means you can add variation to your camping meals!

How to Make Magic Rice

Making Magic Rice is super easy. Just like cup ramen, all you have to do is add hot water and wait! You can enjoy a delicious camping meal in 3 simple steps.

https://satake-japan.co.jp/products/uploads/cooking_method.pdf

STEP 1

Open the bag, remove the oxygen absorber (freshness preserver) and spoon inside, then expand the bottom of the bag.

STEP 2

Pour hot water or cold water (15°C) up to the fill line inside the bag and mix well. The amount of hot or cold water added at this stage determines the two ways of eating.

Pour to the red fill line for... → Fluffy Rice!

Pour to the blue fill line for... → Zosui (rice porridge), Okayu (rice gruel), or Risotto!

STEP 3

Close the zipper and wait 15 minutes for hot water or 60 minutes for cold water. After the time has passed, mix well and it's done!

Isn't that incredibly simple? When going camping, it's easy to forget small items like cutlery. But even if you realize you don't have chopsticks or a spoon when you're about to eat your camping meal, it's okay. Magic Rice comes with a spoon. You don't need to bring your own cutlery, and it's great that there's no washing up to do.

When cooking with a pot or frying pan

Don't worry if you can't wait that long after adding hot water or cold water! You can also cook it in a shorter time using a pot or frying pan!

This is also 3 easy steps!

https://satake-japan.co.jp/products/uploads/cooking_method.pdf

STEP 1

Put 1 bag of Magic Rice and water into a pot or frying pan. (Note that the amount of water will be different from when pouring directly into the bag. Refer to the separate table.)

STEP 2

Heat on medium heat without a lid for about 2 minutes. Reduce to low heat and continue heating for about 3 more minutes, stirring occasionally. (For rice, heat until the water evaporates.)

STEP 3

Turn off the heat, cover, and let it steam for about 4 minutes. Done!

Although this requires using a pot or frying pan, it can be made in about 10 minutes. Even if you're hungry and can't wait, this cooking method will get you a delicious camping meal quickly.

When cooking with a microwave

Although unrelated to camping, I'll also introduce how to cook it in a microwave. It's also recommended to keep it as a preserved food or emergency food at home.

https://satake-japan.co.jp/products/uploads/cooking_method.pdf

STEP 1

Put Magic Rice and water into a large, deep bowl and stir well with a spoon.

STEP 2

Heat in a microwave (500W/600W) for about 5 minutes without covering it with plastic wrap.

STEP 3

Carefully remove the container using oven mitts to avoid burns. Stir well, cover, and let it steam for about 3 minutes. Done!

https://satake-japan.co.jp/products/uploads/cooking_method.pdf

https://satake-japan.co.jp/products/uploads/cooking_method.pdf

https://satake-japan.co.jp/products/uploads/cooking_method.pdf

Make it even more delicious with a little extra effort!

Even if you feel like making something a bit more elaborate after leaving home, don't worry. Just buy a few extra ingredients at a supermarket along the way and make an easy arranged menu! Here are two recommended recipes using Magic Rice.

• Seafood Paella

Ingredients (for 2 servings)

• Magic Rice (white rice) ... 2 packs
• Seafood mix ... as desired
• Water ... 350cc
• Onion ... 1/2
• Bell pepper ... 1/2
• Garlic ... 1/2 clove
• Tomato ... 1
• Shrimp ... 4 pieces
• Chicken thigh ... 100g
• Olive oil ... 2 tablespoons
• Salt and pepper ... a pinch
• White wine or sake ... 1 tablespoon
• Consomme ... 1 teaspoon

Instructions

1. Mince the onion and garlic. Dice half of the bell pepper and slice the other half lengthwise.
2. Blanch and peel the tomato, then cut into 1cm cubes.
3. Remove the legs from the shrimp and peel the body, leaving the tail on.
4. Heat olive oil in a pot or frying pan, sauté garlic until fragrant. Add onion and bell pepper and sauté.
5. When the onion turns golden brown, add shrimp, seafood mix, and chicken thigh, season with salt and pepper. Add white wine or sake, and tomatoes.
6. When the shrimp turns red, add consomme, Magic Rice, and water, then stir.
7. Cover and cook on medium heat. Once it boils, leave it covered and simmer on low heat for 5 minutes. Done!

• Mushroom Zosui (Rice Porridge)

Ingredients (for 1 serving)

• Magic Rice (white rice) 1 pack
• Mushrooms of choice ... as desired
• Chicken thigh ... 100g
• Chicken stock powder ... 2 teaspoons
• Egg ... 1
• Green onions (chopped) ... appropriate amount
• Water ... appropriate amount

Instructions

1. Cut the prepared mushrooms into appropriate sizes. Cut the chicken thigh into bite-sized pieces.
2. Add 350ml of water to a hot pot, then add chicken stock powder, chicken thigh, and cut ingredients, and simmer for about 10 minutes.
3. Add Magic Rice, cover, and simmer on low heat for another 5 minutes.
4. Turn off the heat, add beaten egg, cover, and steam for a few minutes.
5. Sprinkle with green onions and serve!

Extensive Lineup

Finally, let me introduce the extensive lineup of Magic Rice. Find your favorite flavor and take it with you on your camping trip.

• Magic Rice "White Rice"

White rice that can be arranged with any dish! How about serving it with generously grilled meat at your campsite?

• Magic Rice "Wakame Rice"

Recommended for family campers with small children!

• Magic Rice "Aona Rice" (Green Vegetable Rice)

Simple and very Japanese Aona Rice! Recommended for those who don't usually eat Japanese food!

• Magic Rice "Umejako Gohan" (Plum and Young Sardine Rice)

A refreshing flavor with a bonito broth base!

• Magic Rice "Root Vegetable Rice"

The deliciousness is in the "dashi" (broth)! A very gentle flavor.

• Magic Rice "Gomoku Gohan" (Five-Ingredient Rice)

Light yet full of vegetable flavor!

• Magic Rice "Dry Curry"

A complete meal in itself! This is all you need!

• Magic Rice "Paella Style"

The substantial shrimp and red bell peppers are a perfect match!

• Magic Rice "Shrimp Pilaf"

The plump shrimp and colorful vegetables whet your appetite!

Choose your favorite "Magic Rice" series and add delicious color to your special camping time!

So, what do you think? The SATAKE "Magic Rice" series allows you to easily enjoy delicious camping meals. Since it comes with a spoon, you can eat it directly from the bag, meaning no troublesome washing up!

The lineup includes 9 varieties, including "White Rice." With just one flavor, by changing the amount of water added, you can enjoy a surprising 18 different ways to eat it. Be sure to try several flavors. And once you find your favorite, try varying the water amount to enjoy the subtle differences!