Easy, Cheap, Delicious: Eating on the Road in Panama

Imagine this: You’ve just conquered the pathway up to the Lost and Found—your standing on the platform that overlooks a seemingly endless stretch of lush green trees and soaring mountains. Maybe your a little out of breath, but everything looks and feels incredible. You are just about to head to the dorms and unpack your bags when suddenly, you hear a low, deep grumble coming right from...

Your stomach.

Figuring out what you're going to eat when your travelling can be tricky. Grocery stores likely look quite different than what you're used to at home, and there's no chance of getting Uber Eats delivered to the jungle. But have no fear! Though finding and making your own food can feel daunting at first, with these tips, I’m confident that any traveler can enjoy healthy, cheap, delicious meals on the road. In fact, maybe you'll even learn a thing or two about cooking to take home with you!

Step 1: Spice it Up

Whether your a Michelin Star chef or solo backpacker, spicing your food is essential to keeping your tastebuds happy. Many of the blandest foods are the cheapest and most readily available products you will find on your travels. These products include:

  • Potatoes

  • Oats

  • Rice

  • Pasta

However, with the proper seasoning, each of these items can quickly become a delicious staple in your diet. For example:

  • Ginger: can be grated into rice to make ginger rice, also can be ground into hot water to make ginger tea (excellent for digestion or a hungover tummy).

  • Chili Flakes: if you're a spice lover, these can go on anything and everything. Add them to pasta, potatoes, avocado toast, eggs, anything!

  • Curry powder: can be used to make a variety of Indian dishes, added to eggs, rice, and toast.

  • Cinnamon: used on oats, toast (adding this to a PB&J can be awesome!), and greatly enhances the box pancakes you will likely rely on for most of your breakfasts.

Some other useful spices include Italian seasoning, coriander/cilantro, and oregano, and masala!

Step 2: The Power of Tomatoes

Tomatoes are one of the most accessible and delicious foods you will find in Central America, including Panama! These versatile fruits (yes, I called a tomato a fruit) can be used in a variety of dishes as seen below.

Fresh Tomato Sauce

Ingredients:

  1. Tomatoes

  2. Garlic and/or onions

  3. Olive oil or butter or vegetable oil

  4. Carrots and/or bell peppers (optional)

  5. Salt

*All of these ingredients (except perhaps olive oil) are available even at remote grocery locations.

Instructions:

  1. Dice the tomatoes, garlic/onions, and veggies.

  2. Heat an empty pan over medium heat on the stove.

  3. Add 1 tablespoon of your oil of choice to the hot pan and allow the oil to get hot (it will start to recede).

  4. Put diced ingredients in the pan.

  5. Sprinkle a generous pinch or two of salt over the veggies and mix.

  6. Cover the pan, stirring the mixture occasionally. Turn the heat down to medium-low.

  7. Once veggies are simmering and have melted down in a sauce (i.e. no chunks of carrots, tomatoes, etc.), place overtop our pairing of choice. The “melting” process typically takes 10-15 minutes. Tip: the longer you leave it, the more flavorful it will be.

Pairings:

  • Pasta of all kinds

  • Toast

You can also crack an egg over top of either of these pairings for added protein!

Pico de Gallo (Salsa)

Ingredients:

  • Tomatoes

  • Bell peppers

  • Lemon/lime

  • Onions

  • Salt/pepper

  • Cumin (optional)

  • Oregano (optional)

  • Jalapeño (optional - surprisingly difficult to find in Panama)

  • Mango (optional)

  • Avocado

To make, simply chop all these ingredients into cubes and mix in a bowl! Salsa lasts for 5 days in the fridge

Other uses for tomatoes include:

  • Sandwich Toppings

  • Rice Bowls (more on this later)

  • Dahl

  • Tomato Soup - https://www.inspiredtaste.net/27956/easy-tomato-soup-recipe/

STEP 3: Ritz Up Your Rice

Rice is a staple in the Central American diet. As such, you will likely find yourself eating this grain regularly. When I first came to Panama, I did not like rice, but now it’s one of my favourite things to make! See below how to enhance rice so that you never get bored of it.

Ginger Rice

Simply add grated ginger, butter, and salt to the water you are boiling the rice in.

Fried Rice

Here is my favorite recipe to use for fried rice: https://www.gimmesomeoven.com/fried-rice-recipe/ (Oyster sauce is surprisingly easy to find!)

Rice Bowls

You can customize rice bowls in so many ways, but here are some ideas on what to include: eggs (fried or scrambled), avocado, beans, cilantro, tomatoes, bell peppers, hot sauce, soy sauce, chicken, salmon, beef, cheese, peas, Mango, nuts of all kinds.

And that’s all for today! I hope this post helps you not only learn how to cook on the road but also how to enjoy the food you put your time, work, and money into. As well, regardless of what you create in the kitchen, the best part of your experience at the Lost and Found will be meeting the amazing guests and workers who are often more than happy to share an egg or two with a hungry traveler.