Fluffy Vegan Vancakes

vegan pancake recipe

Fluffy Vegan Vancakes

Vegan, Vegetarian
A campervan recipe every vegan should know! These pancakes (or vancakes as we call them) are fluffy and light and we top them with either berries and syrup or nutella and banana! What is your favourite pancake topping?
5 from 2 votes
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Baking, Breakfast, Dessert
Servings 2
Diet Vegan, Vegetarian

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup Self Raising Flour
  • 1 cup Oat Milk
  • 1 tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar
  • 2 tbsp Sugar
  • 1/2 tsp Salt
  • 1 tbsp Baking Powder

Instructions
 

  • In a bowl mix together the flour, baking powder, sugar and salt. We use and love our collapsable silicone bowl from Just Smart Kitchenware.
  • In a separate bowl mix the milk, vanilla essence and cider vinegar. Leave for 5 minutes to infuse.
  • Combine the liquid with the dry mix and whisk until you have an airy batter with bubbles. Leave to rest for 5 minutes.
  • Heat a pan over a medium heat on your stove. No need for any oil, just make sure the pan is non-stick.
  • Pour half a ladle at a time in the centre of your pan. The mixture should be nice and thick. After one minute the batter should start bubbling and this means it is time to turn the pancake over. Cook for another minute on this side and then transfer the pancke to a plate, starting the stack. Repeat until the mixture has finished.
  • Drench the pancake stack in syrup, chocolate sauce, lemon or any topping that you love the most, Enjoy!

Nutrition

Serving: 3gCalories: 341kcalCarbohydrates: 71gProtein: 9gFat: 2gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 1276mgPotassium: 129mgFiber: 2gSugar: 22gVitamin A: 247IUCalcium: 535mgIron: 2mg
Keyword breakfast, diary free, pancake, vegan
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Featured Vanlifers – Alex & Amy

Meet Featured Vanlifers Alex and Amy..

Many things can happen when travelling on the road as a vanlifer, this includes falling in love. They met in 2018 whilst travelling separately in their vans and eventually reunited to join forces.

Meet the vanlifers..

Alex

Alex is better known as KiteVanMan, he has a big following on both Instagram @kitevanman and YouTube. A vanlifer keen on adventure, in particular kite surfing, vanlife is the perfect solution for being able to experience life to the fullest.

Alex became a vanlifer in 2017 and began travelling in his self converted van Joyce. In 2018 someone very special joined him on his vanlife adventures, and she has been by his side ever since. His beautiful dog Sen. They have travelled far and wide, visiting around 26 countries. These include Greece, Albania, Croatia, Sicily and Sardinia. On one of his most recent escapades to Morocco, Covid meant he was unable to leave! Based in a camp, food was limited at times. This meant Alex had to resort to catching his own food. That is sustainability at it’s finest right there! The experience has not deterred him though and it is a place he would like to go back to.

Alex and Sen finally managed to get back into Europe after a few setbacks. Once back in Spain they met back up with Amy and the trio are now planning many more adventures together.

Amy

Amy also a keen adventurer, has been experiencing vanlife and the adventures that can bring. She documents her travels on Insta @abundant.adventures She has a focus on health and has a plant based diet as well as being a fan of water fasting. Cooking in the van is something she enjoys, and clearly has a lot of patience for. She once cooked an apple and cinnamon cake over candlelight! It took 4 hours which we imagine made it taste all the better when ready.

The Van

A featured vanlifer article wouldn’t be the same without having a nosey into what they like to cook and eat…

The couple are currently travelling in Alex’s van Joyce. Their van kitchen is well equipped for knocking up some awesome vanlife meals. The van has hot running water, a definite luxury in a travelling home. The cooking set-up includes a twin burner hob and an oven with a grill – no more need for cooking by candlelight for Amy. All of these run off LPG, and their 12v compressor fridge runs off solar power. Amy’s favourite part of the van kitchen is the spice rack. Spices are a definite vanlife essential, they can improve even the most basic meal.

Meals that feature in these vanlifers diet?

Amy is vegan meaning their van pantry is always stocked up with fresh fruit and vegetables. They also like to make sure they always have nutritional yeast, garam masala and coconut milk.

Their go to meal has been bean wraps, and Alex would eat these for lunch and dinner every day if he could. Luckily Alex’s diet comprises more than just beans. This is just as well living in an enclosed space! One of their favourite meals to make in their van is their Butternut & Chickpea stew, the recipe can be found right here!

Campervan Moroccan Inspired Stew

They have had their share of cooking disasters including charcoal cake and exploding peppers, and are open to trying new things with cooking and food.

What’s next for our featured vanlifers Alex & Amy?

At the moment they are enjoying life in Spain. It has enough variety to keep the adventurers inside of them happy with beautiful beaches, great spots for kiting, mountain ranges and being able to take part in winter sports such as snowboarding. This is also where they met, so holds a special place in their hearts. They are planning many more travels and adventures though, with Alex’s favourite places including Albania and of course Morocco!

On future travels they may be quick to rectify any issues. When travelling Alex got his van stuck in sand one night. He drifted off to sleep in his pants, woke up the next morning and threw open Joyce’s doors to try and see what the issue was the night before… Only to find himself on a beach surrounded by sunbathers – unsurprisingly he described the experience as awkward.

The pair run a Van Life Digital Nomad group on Facebook – you can find the link here

Tips for fellow vanlifers

With all the inpirational van build videos on Alex’s kitevanman YouTube it is only appropriate to ask for any advice to future or fellow vanlifers.

  1. If converting the van yourself, build it around you! Think about what is important to you and prioritise that in the build. Really think about your personal needs when designing the layout
  2. Also, a word of warning for those considering a fruit hammock. Hang it as far from the wall as possible unless you like mashed mangoes and bruised apples. Plus a sticky wall!
cake

Want to follow our featured vanlifers adventures?

Who wouldn’t want to see what these guys get up to on their travels? Here are all the links to our featured vanlifers socials, click on the links to head straight to their page.

Amy’s Insta: @abundant.adventures

Alex’s Insta: @kitevanman

Website: beacons.ai/kitevanman

YouTube:

Kaiser Otto Kartofflesalad

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What do you do when stranded in Portugal during lockdown? Cook a german recipe on the beach of course! Here is a recipe from featured vanlifers @motorhominglife read their feature here.

Kaiser Otto Kartofflesalad

motorhominglife
Meat Based
King of Potato Salads. A recipe dating back to when Germany had a king. It has developed over generations, as ingredients were discovered and became available. (This was made with salad cream in the 70's), before mayonnaise became known. Each Otto generation added their own touch. It's still a good salad using salad cream and plain yogurt. But that's another time.It's a great dish on its own, or as an accompaniment to a cold buffet, or BBQ with those over cooked sausages, or under cooked chicken?
4.50 from 2 votes
Prep Time 40 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course Outdoor, Salad
Servings 4
Diet Meat Based

Ingredients
  

  • a good few handfuls of New or Old Potatoes
  • 2 medium White Onions
  • 6 slices Salami
  • 4 stick Celery
  • 6 medium sized Pickled Gherkin
  • 4 Frankfurters
  • 1 pinch Bee Pollen
  • 2 medium sized Eggs
  • 4 slices streaky smoked Bacon.
  • 1 bunch of Chives
  • Salt
  • Black pepper
  • 1 tbsp Mayonnaise heaped

Instructions
 

  • You can use new or old potatoes.If new, rub down with water, and remove any black or bruised bits, slice in half. If old, peel and cut into quarters. Place into cold water and bring to the boil. Each type and variety of potato has a different cooking time. You can use my method to test. (Ask Sally-Anne). After about 10 minutes, Take a knife and stab a potato, and pull it out. If the potato comes out of the water, then it's not done. If it falls off the knife, it's done. If you break the potato, then they are over-done, but don’t panic they are OK, just a bit mushy when making Otto. When they are cooked, drain and allow to cool. Keep the hot water.
  • Put the water back on to boil, and gently lay your eggs in the hot water. Please use room temperature eggs. How long do you boil an egg to get a good sliceable egg, (not the runny type, the ones you dip your toasted solders in, sort of thing you have for breakfast). I boil mine for 15 minutes (take out with a big spoon and straight into cold water).
  • While the eggs are cooking, heat a skillet or small frying pan. Add in the bacon, or you can use pancetta, if you feel your budget can cope with it. A small win on the Euro lotto gives me pancetta in my Otto. Relax the use of salt during the recipe if using pancetta.
  • Fry until really crispy, then let them cool down in kitchen towel. Important.
  • Multitasking is the key, because, as this is all going on, take on other tasks, fast but precise and use the “knuckle method chopping”. Google it.
  • Celery, cut off top and bottom of each piece, wash and cut each piece longways 4-5 times. Hold together and slice into very small pieces, you need the crunch not the celery.
  • Then put in bowl, dollop of mayonnaise, and stir until all is coated. Add a pinch of salt, and a few turns of your black pepper mill.
  • Chives, just bunch up and chop according to your mood. No worries, place in the bowl and stir. That’s the colour.
  • Onions, peel, slice and chop very fine. Add to bowl, with a dollop of mayonnaise, and stir in to coat. If looking a bit dry, adding another dollop of mayonnaise is OK.
  • Slice the salami into long steps, put in bowl and stir.
  • Time to check the bacon (pancetta), if cool, keep in the kitchen roll, and bash with a wooded spoon. Add to the bowl with a dollop of mayonnaise. By doing, this you have just more added salt. Now, can you see how you’re building up the flavour and texture.
  • Now to add some pickle flavour, take the gherkins, and slice off any stems. Then slice long ways, and slice into pieces, not too small, you need the crunch, and the tang.
  • Meanwhile, as the eggs are cooling, place your Frankfurters into the hot water, and simmer for 2 minutes longer than on the instructions on the packet.
  • Add a pinch of pollen to the bowl and mix. You should have a jar in the cupboard, if not, why not? It gives you wings, a pinch every day in your yoghurt, or even in your coffee (not red hot coffee). Google it. Trust me.
  • By now your potatoes should be cool. Add to the bowl and fold in, you don’t want to break them up, yet. Big dollop of mayonnaise or even two, to cover potatoes liberally.
  • Shell the eggs and slice, put into bowl and fold in.
  • Add a pinch of salt, then pretend you are the pizza waiter in your local pizzeria, grind that black pepper. Now black pepper is important, and even though I’ve made Otto since the dinosaurs ruled the earth, I never put enough in, and I end up adding more when I have a portion. Probably better to do this the first time to gauge the pepper.
  • Remove the Frankfurters from the simmering water, and let them cool, it doesn’t take long. Add washing up liquid to the water and place to one side.
  • Once the Frankfurters are cooled, slice, and add to bowl, then add another dollop of mayonnaise and another pinch of salt.
  • Grand finale, get your big wooden spoon and stir. The potatoes shouldn’t break down. If they do, don’t boil them for as long next time, which will be almost impossible as they will be different potatoes… Not to worry. Add more mayonnaise if it looks dry, and a few more grinds of black pepper.
  • Decant into rectangular Tupperware type containers (other brands are available), seal and put in the fridge upside down over night. Use square and rectangle containers, as round bowls play havoc with the trigonometry of the fridge. Use the water with the washing up liquid in, to wash your utensils. Next morning turn over the containers. You can serve straight from fridge.
  • Its all about taste, creat your own signature dish, Queen Otto or King Otto the third. Maybe you want more of a pickle taste, add more gherkins; more crunch, more crispy bacon or celery. I have used Bratwust in the past, gives it a more meaty taste. Add chilli or capers, shallots instead of onions to tone the harshness down. King Otto isn’t a dictator, he wants you to enjoy the process, as enjoying the process enhances the flavour. And maybe some more salt and black pepper when you serve a portion.Ask first.Garnish with cherry tomatoes, cucumber and basil.Thank you for having a go. Descendant of King Otto
    Kaiser otto Kartofflesalad

Nutrition

Calories: 343kcalCarbohydrates: 15gProtein: 14gFat: 25gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 129mgSodium: 865mgPotassium: 377mgFiber: 2gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 324IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 55mgIron: 2mg
Keyword bbq, gathering, outdoors, potato, salad, summer
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Moroccan inspired stew

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Here is featured Vanlifers Alex & Amy’s recipe for Moroccan Inspired Stew.

This is what they have to say. ‘Our favourite meal to make in the van is a butternut and chickpea stew, or as we like to call it – our No Tagine, Tagine. Inspired by all the flavours of the Moroccan dish and served with almond and coriander couscous. It takes a while to cook, and uses lot’s of different ingredients, but the end result is SO worth it. We usually batch cook and eat it for a couple of days afterwards; it’s even better the next day!’

Read their feature here!

Campervan Moroccan Inspired Stew

Moroccan inspired stew

kitevanman
Vegan, Vegetarian
A delicious stew which is great for using up leftovers. Although it takes a while to cook, it's definitely worth it!
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 35 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 45 minutes
Course Dinner
Servings 4
Diet Vegan, Vegetarian

Equipment

  • Tagine

Ingredients
  

  • 2 tbsp Vegetable Oil
  • 1 Large Onion
  • 4 Cloves of garlic (finely chopped)
  • 1/2 tsp Ground Cumin
  • 2 tsp Ground Cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp Ground Nutmeg
  • 1/2 tsp Ground Paprika
  • 1/4 tsp Ground All Spice
  • 1 tsp Fresh Ginger (finely chopped)
  • 1 tsp Fresh Coriander (finely chopped)
  • 1 fresh chilli
  • 2 large tomatoes
  • 1 Slice of lemon
  • 1 tin of tomatoes
  • 4 Cardamon Pods
  • 3 Bay leaves
  • 1/2 Butternut Squash
  • 1 Medium / large potato (cubed)
  • 1 Tin of chickpeas
  • 1/4 cup Raisins
  • 3 Chopped dates (can use date syrup instead)
  • 1/4 cup Almonds
  • 2 cup Fresh Spinach
  • Salt & Pepper to taste
  • Couscous to accompany

Instructions
 

  • To make this a one-pot wonder you can cook the butternut and potatoes in the stew, but this can take a while so we prefer to bake in the oven for 25 mins to make sure they’re extra soft. Or parboil them for 5-8 mins if an oven isn’t available.
  • Heat up the oil in a heavy-bottomed pot that you have a lid for.
  • Add the chopped onion and fry on a low-medium heat until they turn almost translucent (8-10 minutes), stirring occasionally.
  • Add the chopped garlic. Keep frying gently until the garlic softens completely (about 5 minutes).
  • Stir in all of the ground spices as well as the fresh chilli, coriander and ginger. Fry them off on a low heat for a minute or two (stirring the whole time – if they burn they’ll taste bitter).
  • Add the fresh tomatoes and squeeze the slice of lemon over the mixture. after a few minutes stir in the chopped tomatoes & 2 tins worth of water, also throw in the cardamom pods, bay leaves, raisins and salt. Cover and simmer, until the tomato chunks fall apart and become part of the sauce (about 45 minutes).
  • Remove the lid and add the butternut, potato and chickpeas. Keep cooking the stew on low-medium heat to allow excess water to evaporate so that it thickens.
  • Once the sauce thickens, taste it and season with black pepper, more salt if needed and add the chopped dates/date syrup.
  • Chuck in the spinach and almond halves for the last 10 minutes and cover the pot with a lid to allow them to cook into the sauce.
  • Serve over cooked couscous (which we make with a good shake of cinnamon and left over coriander almonds and raisins.

Nutrition

Calories: 285kcalCarbohydrates: 44gProtein: 6gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 1gSodium: 29mgPotassium: 1094mgFiber: 8gSugar: 10gVitamin A: 12132IUVitamin C: 65mgCalcium: 138mgIron: 3mg
Keyword batch cooking, Stew, tagine, vegan, vegetarian, winter
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

True Pesto from Genoa

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True Pesto from Genoa

vwt4_furbone_
Vegetarian
As true Genoese here is the true recipe for an authentic pesto!! Attention!!! Add one ingredient at a time. It is very important not to put all the ingredients together.
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Course Dips / Sauces
Servings 10
Diet Vegetarian

Equipment

Ingredients
  

  • 3 Basil Plants
  • 50 ml Olive Oil
  • 1 pinch Garlic
  • 50 g Grated Cheese
  • 30 g Grated Sheep Cheese
  • 2 pinch Salt
  • 16 g Pine Nuts

Instructions
 

  • Finely blend the basil leaves. Add cheese and blend, add salt and chop and so on, until all the ingredients are added.
  • Blend until creamy.
  • Your authentic Genoese Pesto is ready to taste!!

Nutrition

Calories: 83kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 2gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 8mgSodium: 72mgPotassium: 17mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 70IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 52mgIron: 1mg
Keyword Blender, dips, no cook, pesto, sauce, vegetarian
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Van-made Apple juice

Van-made Apple juice

vwt4_furbone_
Vegan, Vegetarian
Simple and healthy, yummy and super quick to make!
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Course Drinks / Smoothies
Servings 12
Diet Vegan, Vegetarian

Ingredients
  

  • 1.5 kg apples
  • 1500 ml water
  • 500 g sugar
  • 1 qt lemon

Instructions
 

  • Boil water with sugar and lemon juice, in the meantime peel and cut the apples into cubes. Add them to the pot and cook for about 5/10 minutes, blend everything, let it cool and it's ready.
  • We have the 5ml steel campfire from Primus.
  • The intermediate step.
  • Here is my juice bottle ready to drink! If you want to put them under vacuum in the bottle or glass jar remember to put them to boil to sterilize them and then put the content still hot inside and put it upside down and let it cool.

Nutrition

Calories: 249kcalCarbohydrates: 66gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 9mgPotassium: 243mgFiber: 5gSugar: 57gVitamin A: 85IUVitamin C: 48mgCalcium: 32mgIron: 1mg
Keyword apples, juice, summer, vegan, vegetarian
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

7 Inspirational Upcycled Campervan Kitchens

We see many different campervan conversions on our Insta every day. Our favourite ones by far are the upcycled campervan kitchens, so inspirational! So sit back, relax and enjoy taking a peek into these inspirational upcycled campervan kitchens.

Using recycled and upcycled items in your van build can save on cost. It is beneficial in other ways too. Using recycled items and upcycling them saves perfectly good items from landfill. Like many other vanlifers, we try to look for ways to live sustainably. Reusing items and reducing waste (ours or someone else’s) is all a move in the right direction for this movement.

We love the sentimentality upcycled items have associated with them. It’s so fab when parts of your campervan conversions have their own stories to tell. Looking at them can remind you of a certain time, place or person instantly and that’s a lovely feeling.

That leads us on to the 7 inspirational upcycled campervan kitchens in this article. We hope that you enjoy them too.

Recycle Inn

Yasmine & Rene specialise in converting vans into campervans using recycled materials. The couple are are based in France, and promote living in a sustainable way. They do this by using as many upcycled items as possible in their builds. Reducing plastic use in their van and often participating in beach clean ups are other ways.

They have converted a number of vans, and we will be focusing on one in this article. This van is a long wheelbase, high top Renault Master 2. Everything in this campervan kitchen has been upcycled using recycled materials, and they love that each item has a story attached to it. A lot of the wood used in the van is pallet wood which they obtained for free. They lovingly took the time to sand all the pieces down to create the look you now see. The worktop was created from an old wardrobe door. The cupboards were also created from upcycled furniture.

Upcycled Campervan Kitchen Features

There are many features in this beautiful campervan kitchen that immediately catch your eye, the first being the eye shaped window. This unique feature is felt to protect them on their travels, and even has an ‘eyelid’ to block out the light at night time.

The couple really wanted some authentic Portuguese tiles in their campervan kitchen. They struggled to find any on their travels. Eventually they found these lovely tiles and upcycled them to create their splashback. The colours complement their build perfectly.

Some more beautiful upcycled items include the tap. The tap was was originally from a wine barrel obtained during their travels through Bordeaux. Two old biscuit tins are now used as overhead storage. The second hand map of Spain & Portugal helps them document their travels. All of these help to create a cosy campervan kitchen, with lots of memories and personal touches.

Favourite campervan kitchen gadget

They confess to keeping life simple with no gadgets, however, they do love their stove top. Plus having the ability to cook a variety of meals with their oven. The oven was also second hand for $30 and has been given a new lease of life in their campervan.

Favourite campervan meal

Their favourite thing to make in their campervan kitchen is fresh bread or vegetarian lasagna.

INSTAGRAM: @recycleinn

Dan Bowker

What better way to start an upcycled campervan renovation than with an upcycled van? Let’s show you Dan’s ex police van, now inspirational campervan! This van is a full-time home on wheels, and a lot of the conversion was completed using recycled and upcycled items.

This was a true labour of love, all of the wood in the kitchen is reclaimed. Dan helped tidy up the local area by collecting any crates at the side of the road. These were then cleaned up ready to use in the van. The majority of the screws and nails used were either reclaimed from old pieces of wood or from junk stores.

That isn’t the only recycled thing in this campervan kitchen. The cutlery, pots and pans are all second hand too.

Dan is a fan of old style cabins which may be where the inspiration came from. Converting a campervan yourself means you can get exactly what you want. Travelling in the van full time Dan felt it was important for it to feel homely and is very happy with the end result.

The kitchen is fitted out with a cast iron dual gas stove, a water pump and a cooler. The electrics run off solar power allowing them to stay off grid and reduce their carbon footprint.

The set-up of their kitchen means there is no need to set anything up, it’s all ready to go. They considered this an important factor when planning their kitchen.

A favourite feature in the van is their stove. This not only warms up the van while boiling water for a morning coffee, but also allows them to make awesome Cuban sandwiches!

Favourite campervan kitchen gadget

A hand blender, which comes in handy for smoothies, soups & curries.

Favourite campervan meal

It was too hard pick one! They said they enjoy making broccoli soup, pumpkin soup, steak burritos and curries, and they love Mexican nights in the van too!

Instagram: @danbowker

AdvantureIreland

As their Insta name may suggest, Jonny & Megan are enjoying vanlife in Ireland. They have a Toyota Hiace. It may be small but that doesn’t mean they can’t have everything they want in their home on wheels.

Surfing plays an important part in their life and they even have storage for their surfboard in the van! Their van is colourful and cosy, plus it has a rooftop garden. The upcycled kitchen is made with some reclaimed wood that has a very special story behind it. The kitchen units are made from Jonny’s Dad’s old garden fence!

Almost the full kitchen is reclaimed, the wood is all reclaimed wood panels from a fence. It’s cool because I remember helping my dad build that fence when I was a kid. He would always have me out helping him with little jobs like that when I was younger. I definitely gained my skills and love for wood working from him. It’s nice being able to use those skills, especially repurposing something that we both built together

Upcycled and recycled items, full of memories, can make your campervan even more magical inside. Meaning you can take your memories from home on your travels with you.

They describe their own kitchen as basic but functional. There is a 2 burner hob with a grill. If extra space is required, the end of the cupboard folds up to create extra worktop space. These space-saving ideas are total campervan kitchen inspiration.

The reclaimed wood sets off the teal coloured tiles, which happens to be one of their favourite features, alongside the cupboard door knobs.

The hose linking the water tank to the tap is another recycled item in their van kitchen. This was originally a garden hose which has been thoroughly cleaned.

Favourite campervan meal

Jonny admits that Megan is the one with the culinary skills. He does however, make a mean cheese toastie & the world’s best cup of tea!

Their advice to anyone embarking on a van build…

Anyone thinking about embarking on a van build, it’s the best thing you’ll do! The enjoyment of building the van alone is amazing. The best bit about it is that you can build it to your exact specifications, to suit your needs. There aren’t really any rules when it comes to putting a van together. That reflects nicely on the life you can live with a van too, a never ending exploration in your home on wheels.

Instagram: @advantureireland

Vanoraks

Vanoraks are made up of Jess & Darren. In September 2019 they purchased an old window fitters van and decided to convert it into a mini home on wheels. The global pandemic arrived not long after they bought the van. Lockdown provided the time to work on the van. It is now ready for adventure, as soon as they’re allowed to.

Many of the items in the campervan kitchen are upcycled. This meant the couple could use the money elsewhere for all their homely comforts. They found the upcycling process fun, enjoyed putting unwanted items to good use, and felt it added character to the interior of the campervan.

Upcycled Campervan Kitchen Features

Some of the upcycled items came from the previous owner. The window fitter racking was used as the internal frame for the kitchen, shower and bed. The worktop in the kitchen is made from upcycled scaffolding boards. They spent time sanding the boards, waxing and sealing them to make them suitable for use.

Using upcycled items can be a conversation starter too, the lamp above the kitchen hob is actually an upcycled blowtorch from Darren’s Grandfather’s garage. It proves to be a talking point when they have visitors in the van. There are many more gorgeous talking points in this campervan. One being the beautiful copper sink which actually started life as a pan. The wind deflector behind the hob was created using a copper sheet from a skip.

The eco-friendly aspects of the van don’t end there. The van runs off solar panels which provide enough energy for all their internal electrics and gadgets. Their water tanks have sensors to monitor the water usage in the van. The shower head contains beads to improve water pressure and reduce the amount of water they use. This is handy when there isn’t an unlimited supply of water!

Favourite campervan kitchen gadget

We have another fan of the hand blender. These guys like to make soup, dressings and use it for chopping herbs. Their wall mounted bottle opener has come in useful too!

Favourite campervan meal

They love to enjoy a breakfast treat of vegan pancakes. After a long walk one of their favourite ways to warm up is with a warming vegan chilli. The recipe is right here for you to recreate it yourself.

Their advice to anyone embarking on a van build…

Watch as many YouTube van build/conversions to get an idea of the style and layout that will work for you. Don’t be afraid to ask other vanlife/van builders questions, even if they seem simple.

Instagram: @vanoraks

Website: https://linktr.ee/vanoraks

YouTube:

Urura home

These guys love using reclaimed items so much, they even made a business from it! They create beautiful wooden home decor using reclaimed timber. The campervan kitchen is no exception. They have used upcycled items to create their perfect living space.

They have used reclaimed wood in their build which is included in their table, worktop and light piece. Upcycled roofing battens were used to make their table and chairs. Another upcycled feature is their tap. They made this themselves from industrial pipe work.

This campervan kitchen has a twin hob burner, jetboil and portable gas bbq. They make the most of the sun by having a solar shower in the van, A portable solar pack means they can charge smaller items without using energy from the van batteries.

Favourite campervan kitchen gadget

Having a hob as the main way to cook meals in their campervan, their favourite gadget is a vanlife necessity. A high quality non-stick pan can be versatile and is easy to wipe down when doing the washing up in a campervan.

Favourite campervan meal

Their favourite meal is a veggie burger. This has the versatility of going with many different things to make a meal. On special occasions they like to make pan pizza!

Their advice to anyone embarking on a van build…

Be true to your own. It’s great to get inspiration from other van lifers but you will never recreate something they have made. Be unique and think outside the box. Make it around your own needs.

Instagram: @urura.home

Website: urura.co.uk/shop

Parking on the Wildside

If you are looking for an inspirational upcycled campervan kitchen – look no further. We see this campervan kitchen attracting attention on Instagram frequently.

These UK vanlifers travel in their van full-time and have recently been enjoying Scotland. At the beginning of their build they knew they wanted to try to make it as environmentally friendly as possible.

They have done this by using as many recycled and upcycled items as possible, and installing a solar powered system to make sure they can camp off grid.

Upcycled Campervan Kitchen Features

Their kitchen was structured around some second hand cabinets they found. As many recycled and free items as possible were used, to minimise the cost and effects on the environment. Upcycled pallet wood was used to create their countertops & all their crockery and cutlery is second hand. They found a store which makes use of paints and varnish that would otherwise be thrown away and used these in their build.

The couple would have loved a live edge worktop in their campervan kitchen. This would not have been within their budget though. Luckily they found some long slats of wood in a skip. Some of these had live edges, and so they combined them together. After sanding and oiling them, they managed to get the worktop they desired.

The single ring camping stove is perfect for cooking inside and outside the van. This was also upcycled by using coach enamel to paint it a soft gold colour. They have been having issues with condensation in their van. This means they are braving cooking outside as much as possible, or making some fab one-pot pasta to minimise cooking time. Having over 40 jars of condiments in their van means they are never going to be eating a bland meal!

Upcycling your van isn’t limited just to the interior. Laura & Aaron upcycled the outside of their campervan too – by painting it themselves!

Laura & Aaron don’t limit their upcycling just to their van, all of their clothes are from thrift stores too. One of their favourite things about buying second hand items is imagining the history of the item and they characters that owned it before.

Why use upcycled items?

The couple like to be conscious of the environment around them and trying to protect and preserve it. Buying new items made them cringe knowing that there was likely little consideration for the workers or environment in production. This is one reason they decided to create an upcycled campervan, plus the lack of funds! Upcycling and recycling items meant they managed to keep the cost of their conversion low.

The couple like to travel extremely slowly on their travels, take it all in and be considerate about the amount of fuel they use. The tap is operated via a pump to minimise water use (and it’s fun to pump!). A solar power system set up in their van to help with energy supply.

Favourite campervan kitchen gadget

Their favourite gadget is their carbon monoxide detector. Cooking in a small space can be risky if not well ventilated. Having a carbon monoxide detector means Laura & Aaron can sleep soundly knowing there are no dangerous gases in the van.

Favourite campervan meal

Part of wanting to live a more environmentally friendly lifestyle is eating a vegan diet. The couple like to make hearty italian meals with lentils, courgette and wayyyy too much garlic!

Their advice to anyone embarking on a van build…

The main thing is to not let ‘lack of knowledge’ hold you back, you can learn it all!!

Instagram: @parkingonthewildside

Camper Vibe

Their van may currently be off the road, but that is not going to stop us including it in our inspirational upcycled campervan kitchens. Louise, Emily & AJ the dog are all fine and hopefully will soon be back on their adventures.

They worked within a budget and did their best to stick to it all the way through. With the pandemic, the uncertainty made them more determined to stick to their budget. This is one of the main reasons they decided to use reclaimed items in their van.

Upcycled Campervan Kitchen Features

Louise built the kitchen cupboards and drawers using reclaimed wood. The wood used, was made up of pallet wood and wood that was leftover from their build. They feel the use of these upcycled cupboards reflect their personalities, ‘not perfect, but does the job’

The coffee sacks used in their kitchen are from a small coffee distributor they found on a campsite. These fit in with the decor, and can bring back memories of their trip.

Their build shows that you can incorporate some reclaimed materials in your build, no matter how big or small.

Favourite Campervan Kitchen Feature

Their favourites are the blackboard where they can leave notes to each other and their cactus shelf. Emily likes the tiniest draining board, and Louise loves the worktop

Favourite campervan meal

They love one pot meals, and who doesn’t less washing up, woo-hoo! Their particular favourite is a vegetable Jambalaya.

Their advice to anyone embarking on a van build…

Take your time on the planning. It really is the most important part and don’t be afraid to have a nose in other people’s vans, we still do now. Don’t rush it, speak to as many people as you can who have done it already to get multiple opinions (of which you will get MANY). Use this knowledge to make your decisions based on your needs. Every van builder has made a few mistakes try and learn from as many of theirs, but no matter what you will make some of your own.

Insta: @camper_vibe

Website: campervibe.co.uk

YouTube:

Are you feeling inspired?

We hope seeing these inspirational upcycled campervan kitchens has given you some ideas. There are many reasons to use upcycled items in your van build:

  1. Save on cost
  2. Give a new lease of life to unwanted items
  3. Save items going to landfill
  4. Fill your van with memories

No matter how many upcycled items you choose to use, it can provide those finishing touches to your campervan kitchen.

Want to see more inspirational campervan kitchens? Be sure to check out our other article showcasing 10 of the best van kitchen designs right here!

Let us know in the comments if you have any upcycled items in your campervan!

BEST VANLIFE RECIPES

PIZZA with omnia oven!

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PIZZA with omnia oven!

Vegan, Vegetarian
As good Italians we couldn't help but try to make pizza !! Super easy to do, and super fast! Only 1 hour of leavening/proving. The video can be found on our Instagram page! @vwt4_furbone_ Remember to grease the stove well with oil, so it will come off perfectly, at least if you have no silicone element.
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Course Dinner, Lunch
Servings 2
Diet Vegan, Vegetarian

Equipment

Ingredients
  

  • 500 g flour
  • 10/18 g dry yeast
  • 250 ml water
  • 3 tbsp oil

Instructions
 

  • Put the yeast with warm water, mix, add flour and oil, knead until a loaf is created. Let it rest for 1 hour. Roll out the dough to create the right width of our omnia,season to taste! Over low heat, cook for about 15/20 minutes depending on how crunchy you want to make it!
  • I used all organic, and I used type 2 flour, but better to use Manitoba flour and type 00 flour and mixing them.
  • The dough will come like this, and you will make two pizzas with it.

Nutrition

Calories: 1097kcalCarbohydrates: 191gProtein: 26gFat: 23gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 7gMonounsaturated Fat: 14gTrans Fat: 1gSodium: 11mgPotassium: 270mgFiber: 7gSugar: 1gCalcium: 41mgIron: 12mg
Keyword dough, italian, omnia, pizza, stove top
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Fried Tagliatelle with Chickpeas and Tomatoes in Cajun Oil

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campervan recipe tagliatelle nests with chickpeas tomatoes and cajun oil

Fried Tagliatelle with Chickpeas and Tomatoes in Cajun Oil

Vegan, Vegetarian
Where Italy meets Louisana. This simple, hearty and flavoursome campervan recipe will knock your socks off and leave you comfortably warm on the inside.
4.75 from 4 votes
One-pan - Quick cook
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Course Dinner
Servings 2
Diet Vegan, Vegetarian

Ingredients
  

  • 400 g Chickpeas in Water
  • 6 Nests of dried tagliatelle
  • 200 g Cherry or Picollo Tomatoes
  • 1 Vegetable Stock Cube
  • 2 Garlic Cloves
  • 1 tsp Smoked Paprika
  • 1/2 tsp Cayenne Pepper
  • 1/2 tsp Dried Oregano
  • 1/2 tsp Onion Powder
  • 2 tbsp Olive Oil
  • 1/4 Lemon
  • 1 Handful of fresh Coriander
  • 1 cup Water

Instructions
 

  • Heat the oil in a pan over a medium heat. Add the finely chopped garlic along with all the spices. (Smoked Paprika, Cayenne Pepper, Onion Powder and Oregano) Season with Salt and Pepper and continuously stirring cook the spices for about 2 minutes.
    campervan cajun spices
  • Add the Tagliatelle nests into the pan and give them a good coat in all the oil. Fry away stirring often for 5 minutes.
  • Add the chickpeas to the pan (including the water in the tin) and add the tomatoes, a cup of water and crumble the stock cube into the juices. Stir it all up and cook for another 5 minutes until the sauce thickens.
  • Using a fork squash each and every tomato in the pan. It should be easy as they will be soft and juicy. Stir in the fresh coriander and squeeze in the lemon juice. By now the tagliatelle should be al dente and ready to serve. Enjoy!
    cajun tagliatelle

Nutrition

Calories: 334kcalCarbohydrates: 44gProtein: 11gFat: 19gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 11gCholesterol: 3mgSodium: 905mgPotassium: 375mgFiber: 13gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 812IUVitamin C: 40mgCalcium: 97mgIron: 3mg
Keyword cajun, chickpea, Easy, filling, italian, protein, Simple, vegan
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Cheesy Curried Butterbeans on Sourdough Toast

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campervan vegan recipe butterbean

Cheesy Curried Butterbeans on Sourdough Toast

Vegetarian
This is an easy and delicious treat for lunch or dinner. The creamy butterbean sauce smothered in cheese is the perfect texture for crispy sourdough toast.
5 from 3 votes
30 minute meal
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Course Lunch, Snack
Servings 2
Diet Vegetarian

Ingredients
  

  • 1/2 Red Onion
  • 1/2 Red or Green Chilli
  • 1 tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar
  • 200 g Butter beans in water
  • 100 g Cheese
  • 1 tsp Medium Curry Powder
  • 1/2 tsp Ground Cumin
  • 1 Garlic Clove
  • 1 tsp Fresh Ginger
  • 3 tbsp Cream
  • 2 tbsp Olive Oil
  • 1 Handful of Fresh Coriander
  • 1 tsp Sugar

Instructions
 

  • In a bowl add the sliced red onion, sliced chilli and sugar. Season with salt and drizzle the apple cider vinegar over the top and give it a good stir with a teaspoon. Leave to one side to soften up.
    campervan vegan recipe pickled
  • Add a tablespoon of olive oil to a pan on medium heat. Finely chop the ginger and garlic and add to a pan along with 1/2 teaspoon of ground cumin and 1 teaspoon of medium curry powder. It is important to cook out the spices to bring out the flavour yet take extra care not to burn the garlic. Cook for about 1 minute.
    campervan vegan recipe curried
  • Add the butterbeans and the cheese to the mixture and season generously with salt and pepper. When the cheese starts to melt remove from the heat and allow to cool for 2 minutes. Stir through the cream and chopped coriander.
    campervan vegan recipe curried butterbean cheesy
  • If you have a grill, toast a couple of slices of sourdough bread under it or if not use a pan and fry the bread with a little olive oil. Make your toast and place on a plate.
    campervan vegan recipe curried butterbean cheesy toast
  • Pour your butterbean mixture over the toast and top with a generous amount of the pickled onion and chilli. Add extra salt and pepper. Yum!
    campervan vegan recipe cheesy curried butterbeans on toast

Nutrition

Calories: 498kcalCarbohydrates: 30gProtein: 20gFat: 34gSaturated Fat: 14gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 16gCholesterol: 65mgSodium: 327mgPotassium: 689mgFiber: 8gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 860IUVitamin C: 19mgCalcium: 306mgIron: 4mg
Keyword butterbeans, curried, pickled
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!