The transient nature of hostel life can make it difficult to establish a sense of community. The one common denominator is travel which by it’s very nature is not permanent. But food is essential and can bring people together, even if just for one night, and these hostel cooking ideas are a great place to start!
Recently I was fortunate enough to put together a meal for some lovely travelers staying at the Fisherman’s Wharf Hostel. The goal was to serve a meal that could easily be recreated on a smaller scale, and was budget friendly.
I chose a very simple roasted vegetable dish, inspired by a recipe from The Soprano’s Family Cookbook.
What’s great about this recipe is that you can really make it about what’s seasonal, inexpensive, and available in the grocery store or market. For example we changed up the quantities of bell peppers, favoring green, as red and yellow tend to be a bit more pricey.
The recipe did call for sausage as well, which initially I thought would be perfect as a protein. And we did try it, but in future I would suggest forgoing this step, especially if you’re on a tight budget. I didn’t actually find that it added a whole lot to the dish, and meat can be expensive.
Ingredients*
Potatoes
Bell Peppers
Red Onions
Olive Oil
*Quantities can be whatever you wish!
Directions
Cut veggies into 1 inch pieces and spread evenly, trying not to crowd, in a large shallow roasting pan. Pour over with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper and roast in a 450 degree oven for 45-50 minutes.
Many hostels have a “Free Bin” of assorted items up for grabs. While we weren’t able to utilize it, it’s a great resource to know about when planning to cook at a hostel!
People were very willing to help and offer their own extra food, keen that nothing should go to waste. Our meal was made even more special from the kindness of strangers. We were able to add fresh garlic to our roasting veggies, and we helped finish some spinach a hosteler couldn’t finish before they left the next day.
Speaking of salad, the evening was also made special from innovation on the fly:
No salad bowl? No problem!
To finish the night off, the magic of pre-made cookie dough let us fill the air with the enticing smell of chocolate chip cookies. A perfect end to the perfect evening!
What are some of your best hostel cooking ideas? Share in the comments below!
Eat Well, Travel Well ~ Samantha
*This post was written as part of a collaboration with Hostelling International. All views and opinions expressed are my own. Huge thank you to Fisherman’s Wharf Hostel for welcoming me into your kitchen for this fantastic event!