Camp Tips: Making Catfish Stew In Camp

The activities of camping and fishing go hand-in-hand as two great outdoor pastimes, with the ability to catch fish enriching the camping experience beyond the normal range of enjoyment. Camp cooking can tend to be a bland affair, directed more at basic sustenance than a memorable dining circumstance, but for those wise campers that have the knowledge, combining your daily fishing catch in meals can change that rather quickly. One of the most hearty and tasty meals available while camping is to make catfish stew - it is simple to make and most campers already have the necessary ingredients with them, that is, if you have the skill or luck to be able to catch the catfish.

Cut up four or five potatoes, a large onion, two carrots and place them into a pot or pan with a few tablespoons of cooking oil or bacon grease. Add salt, pepper, and any other desired spices and let this simmer for about 30 minutes. Then add about 1 quart of water, and 1 chicken flavored bullion cube.After catching and cleaning the catfish fillets, cut about one pound into one inch squares, salt and pepper them, and place them in the cooking pot when the water is simmering. Cover the pot with a lid, and cook the stew for about 20 to 25 minutes stirring the mixture occasionally. When the fish begins to soften, but before it falls apart the stew is done and can then be removed from the fire and served. One of the great things about catfish stew is that there is no edible portion of the fish that goes wasted - any piece of meat that is about an inch square can be used in the stew.

There are numerous variations of the basic catfish stew recipe, so don't be afraid to experiment. Some people add bacon or fatback for added flavor, others add hot sauce - try different condiments and foods that you have on hand until you hit the perfect combination. Catfish stew made while camping is also excellent with rice, either added to the stew or as a side dish with the stew sauce poured over it to create a very hearty meal. Camp made biscuits, cornbread or dumplings also make a much heavier and filling meal, as are fritters added to the meal. A neat variation of the basic catfish stew is to add a can of creamed corn to create a catfish chowder - the possibilities of what you can create are limited only by your imagination.