Easy Recipes to Cook on a Boat – 5 Simple Recipes!
As much as I enjoy eating out and experiencing new cuisines, I also love being able to stay on board occasionally to cook for ourselves. The trick is to find easy recipes to cook on a boat.
If you overcomplicate the menu, you will likely fail or simply give up because cooking on boats is not the same as cooking on land. In addition to the possible movement you might need to contend with, you are sorely lacking in the workspace.
Plan your cooking using simple recipes with fresh ingredients or from your provisions, but always take the time to plan ahead and find recipes that are just right for the destination you will be sailing through.
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French Toast with Sautéed Apples
Bread can go stale, and apples won’t last forever, so why not combine the two in a tasty breakfast that is perfect for a last day drifting on the water?
Ingredients:
1/4 cup butter
4 large peeled apples, cored and thinly sliced
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1/2 cup cold water
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon (apples) and 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon (toast)
4 eggs
2 tablespoons milk
8 slices bread
Directions:
1) Melt the butter in a skillet and add the apples. Cook over medium heat until the apples have softened but are not mushy. Heat a separate non-stick skillet while the apples cook.
2) Combine the eggs, milk, and 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon in a mixing bowl and set aside. In a small bowl, mix the cornstarch and water and add to the apples. Mix in the brown sugar and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon with the apples and allow the sauce to thicken.
3) Dip the bread slices in the egg mixture and fry in the pre-heated skillet 2-3 minutes per side.
4) Serve the French toast hot with the sautéed apples spooned over the top.
Mediterranean Fish
This recipe offers the opportunity to use fresh, local ingredients in the Mediterranean.
Ingredients:
4 halibut filets (6 ounces each)
1 tablespoon Greek seasoning mix or a 1/4 cup local Greek herbs, chopped
1 tomato, diced
1 onion, diced
1/2 cup Kalamata or black olives
1/4 cup capers
1/8 cup olive oil
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Salt according to taste
Freshly ground black pepper
Directions:
1) Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2) Use a square of aluminum foil to form a pouch. Set 1 fish filet inside and repeat for the other filets. Season with the Greek herbs, salt, and pepper.
3) Mix tomato, onion, olives, capers, oil, and lemon juice in a small bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Spoon the mixture over the fish and seal the pouches. Lay the pouches on a baking sheet.
4) Bake for 30 to 40 minutes or until the fish flakes easily .
Chicken Orzo
This is a quick, easy meal that can use up items from the pantry.
Ingredients:
1 cup orzo
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
2 skinless, boneless chicken breasts (cut into bite-size pieces)
salt
1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
2 cups fresh spinach leaves, rinsed
Grated Parmesan
Directions:
1) Cook the pasta (orzo) according to the package directions.
2) Heat the oil in a skillet and add garlic and red pepper flakes. Cook for 1 minute before adding the chicken. Cook the chicken until done and season according to taste. Mix in the drained orzo and parsley.
3) Add the spinach and cook until wilted. Serve the dish sprinkled with grated Parmesan.
Fish Tacos with Homemade Salsa
I enjoy any recipe that utilizes the fresh fish from the local fish market.
Ingredients:
2 cups frozen or canned corn
1/2 cup red onion, diced
1/2 cup diced red bell pepper
1 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
1 lime
2 tablespoons cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon ground black pepper
2 tablespoons salt
6 Tilapia filets or other white fish (4 ounces each)
2 tablespoons olive oil
12 corn tortillas
2 tablespoons sour cream
Directions:
1) Preheat the grill (or skillet.)
2) Combine the corn, onion, pepper, and cilantro in a bowl. Juice and zest the lime over the bowl and stir.
3) Mix the cayenne pepper, black pepper, and salt in a small bowl and set aside.
4) Brush the fish with olive oil and season with the pepper mixture.
5) Cook the fish for 3 minutes per side and serve with a spoonful of the corn salsa on top.
Pineapple Pie
This pie is the perfect island treat for summer. If you are brave, and have access to it, try fresh pineapple instead of canned.
Ingredients:
1/4 cup cornstarch
2 (20-ounce) cans of crushed pineapple, drained (reserve the juice!)
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 egg yolks
Pre-made, refrigerated pie crust
Vanilla ice cream (optional)
Directions:
1) Preheat to oven to 400 degrees.
2) Combine the cornstarch and 1/4 cup of the reserved pineapple juice in a small bowl and set aside.
3) Stir together the pineapple, sugar, salt, yolks, and cornstarch mixture in a saucepan. Add another cup of the reserved pineapple juice. Cook over medium heat until the juice begins to thicken. Remove from the heat and cool for 15 minutes.
4) Arrange the crust on a pie plate and pour in the pineapple filling. Cap with the second crust and seal the edges closed. Poke holes in the top crust to allow steam to escape.
5) Bake for 40 minutes or until the crust is golden brown. Cool and serve with ice cream.
Conclusion
Just because space and mobility are limited doesn’t mean you can’t eat like kings and with minimal effort. Cooking in a galley is a great way to brush up on your chef’s skills while enjoying your family and friends!
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Do you have some recipes to cook on a boat? Would you like to share them by leaving a comment below, I’ll be glad to hear your feedback!
Daniella has been passionate about travel, the sea, and nature for many years. As a child, she frequently traveled throughout the Mediterranean and continued with her journeys throughout her adult life.
Her experiences have created the desire within her to share her love for traveling with other passionate and adventurers who want to discover beautiful horizons and new cultures.
Hi Daniella,
Thanks for sharing this article, and even though I don’t own a boat, I am definitely going to try some of these recipes. They look absolutely delicious 🙂
It is amazing that you have travelled so much by boat. I grew up in the Caribbean and loved going out on a boat there. The waters around Jamaica and Cuba are so beautiful. I would love to go around the Mediterranean Sea sometime.
Continue enjoying your travels, and keep us updated.
Love, light and laughter.
Vivia
Hi Vivia,
Yes, you don’t need to be on a boat to cook these easy recipes, you can do it at home as well:)
The Caribbean sea is absolutely amazing, I was on a sailing trip with friends last year in Cooper island, Anguilla and Caicos island. We did a lot of scuba diving, the sea life is just wonderful and the water is so clear!
We had an unforgettable time. Without a doubt, I would have lived in the Caribbean if my children wouldn’t have been so crazy about their friends:)
Thank you for the comment and wish you to sail soon in the Mediterranean!
Hi Daniella,
I love the way you’ve explained these recipes and your experience cooking on a boat. I can’t say I have any experience on cooking on boats but then again I don’t have a boat lol!
Being a guy and someone that cooks to survive mostly (occasionally something nice) I’d probably end up referring to this post before too long to save myself from eating beans and rice every day!
Either that or put my wife in charge during our journey, she cooks very well.
Anyway nice recipes I will be bookmarking this page. Cheers!
Hi Tim,
Everyone is good in something, so if your wife is a great cook, then let her take care about the cooking.
Thank you for having bookmarked my post and for the comment.
Have a nice day!
Wow. What a wonderful post. I will be sailing with my wife in January (I am currently now in Australia) next year. It all looked and sounded delicious. Too bad I can’t get “Mediterranean” fish but will definitely try the recipe with the local ones.
Anyway, I am going to bring some Nutella and Kraft Cheese for breakfast!
Thank for the post! You have just given me some great ideas! Happy sailing.
Hi Alex,
That sounds good, Nutella, it’s my favourite chocolate:) and it’s delicious on pancakes!
Thank you for the comment and I wish you to have a wonderful sailing getaway.
Hello Ms. Daniella
You have a very nice website about the five simple recipes on how to cook on a boat. I especially like how you mentioned that cooking on a boat is different than cooking on land as in a boat can move while a land cannot. This situation made me wonder if you can cook in campers that have stoves in them. When I was little, I thought that you can cook meals/recipes while the camper is in motion. As I got older, I figured that cooking in campers can only be done when the camper is standing still or in a “Park” position. Anyhow, just thought I’d mention it. Btw, the french toast with sautéed apples looked good. If I ever own a boat, I’m for sure going to look forward to cooking that recipe.
Hi Armand,
I would suggest you to drop anchor first, it will be much easier for you to cook. Would you cook in the camper while driving? I guess not:) If someone else controls the boat and the sea is calm, it will allow you to prepare delicious meals without worrying dropping the food on the floor.
Thank you for the comment and wish you a wonderful day!
Hello Daniela,
My compliments for your website! You have done a great job and I’m totally impressed!
The recipes you added seem fancy but are actually easy to make, especially on a boat. Your indications are clear and the photos look marvelous.
My favorite would be “Mediterranean fish†and I will certainly try it.
Thank you for sharing!
Cristina
Hi Cristina,
Thank you for the compliment, I do the best as I can:)
Ah yes, the Mediterranean recipe is delicious, I love it too!
Have a wonderful day!
Perfect description of awesome recipes. To the point and no bullshit around it like you see with many others. Very good job and love your website. I will try this out this week for sure. Already can taste the food. I recently ate my last meal of the day but this makes me hungry again so thanks for that lol. Keep it up!
Hi Maurice,
I am glad you like the recipes and this will be a good idea to try them out!
Thank you for the comment and bon appetit!
I loved the idea fo the pinnaple pie and the mediterranean fish, I have to try to make this on my next trip to the sea.
I love sailing with friends and its awesome to be there, cook something, drink a beverage or two and just relax on the mighty sea.
Well, thanks for the recepies, they are awesome.
Hi Kevin,
Nice to see you again on my website:)
Yes, I agree with you, drink refreshing cocktails, and eat delicious food with friends while enjoying the beautiful view of the ocean makes those moments unforgettable.
These recipes are really tasty, I would suggest to try them even at home!
Thank you for the comment and wish you a wonderful day!
This is simply an awesome website! I do not own a boat, but I do like to cook a lot! Your recipes look and sound delicious! and if i was enjoying it all on a boat, life couldn’t get better! I think the Chicken Orzo is the one that really grabs my attention.
Hi Kam,
Thank you for the comment, I am glad you found this article useful!
Cooking is fun, and on a boat, it could be even more fun if you prepare tasty meals with friends! Indeed, Orzo is absolutely delicious. You have good taste:)
Thank you again and wish you a fantastic day!