Campfire Cooking at Lake Pleasant Farm: Our Favourite Recipes

There's something truly magical about cooking over an open fire. The crackle of the flames, the smoky aroma, and the shared warmth create an unforgettable experience. At Lake Pleasant Farm, our campfire meals aren't just about delicious food; they're a celebration of our land, our animals, and the incredible bounty our regenerative practices yield. We love to bring the freshest ingredients straight from our garden to the coals, ensuring every bite is bursting with flavour and goodness.

Here are some of our favourite campfire recipes, perfect for sharing under the vast sky over the Sandstone Wonders:

Hearty Campfire Stews: A Garden's Embrace

A slow-cooked stew over glowing embers is the ultimate comfort food after a day on the farm. The secret? Loads of fresh herbs and leafy greens from our garden, which infuse the stew with incredible depth.

• Regenerative Beef & Root Vegetable Stew with Rosemary & Thyme:

  • Brown generous chunks of our grass-fed Lake Pleasant Farm beef in a heavy cast-iron pot. Add chopped onions and garlic until softened.

  • Stir in diced pumpkin, potatoes, sweet potato, and parsnips from the garden.

  • Pour in homemade bone broth and a splash of red wine.

  • Now for the garden stars: a generous handful of fresh rosemary sprigs and thyme, tied together or simply chopped and added.

  • Let it simmer slowly over the campfire's side embers for hours, stirring occasionally.

  • Just before serving, stir in handfuls of fresh leafy greens and herbs from the garden until wilted. The vibrant greens add freshness, nutrients, and colour. Season generously with salt and pepper.

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BBQ Bliss: Simple Flavours, Exceptional Quality

When the coals are hot and ready, nothing beats the sizzle of our grass-fed beef on the BBQ plate. We keep it simple to let the quality of the meat shine, complemented by fresh, vibrant sides.

• Flame-Grilled Beef with Herbed Chimichurri & Charred Greens:

  • Season our Lake Pleasant Farm steaks generously with salt and freshly cracked black pepper. Grill directly over the hot coals or on a BBQ plate until perfectly cooked to your liking.

  • Garden Chimichurri: Finely chop a large bunch of fresh parsley and coriander from the garden. Mince a couple of garlic cloves. Add a good splash of olive oil, red wine vinegar, a pinch of chilli from the bushes, and salt. Mix well. This vibrant sauce elevates any grilled meat.

  • Charred Leafy Greens: Toss whole leaves of cos lettuce, radicchio, or even thick-stemmed silverbeet with a little olive oil, salt, and pepper. Quickly grill them over the hot coals for just a minute or two until lightly charred and smoky. The bitterness of the greens is beautifully softened by the heat.

  • Optional: Serve with chunks of garden fresh sweet potato and pumpkin wrapped in banana leaf and cooked in the coals.

The Bushman's Delight: Gluten-Free Sourdough Damper

No campfire meal is complete without damper. We've perfected a delicious gluten-free sourdough version that's chewy on the inside, crispy on the outside, and perfect for soaking up stew or slathering with butter.

• Lake Pleasant Farm Gluten-Free Sourdough Damper:

  • Ingredients: Use your active gluten-free sourdough starter, gluten-free all-purpose flour blend (ensure it's a good bread-making blend, often rice, tapioca, and sorghum flour based), a pinch of salt, and a little olive oil or melted butter.

  • Method: Mix the starter, flour, and salt with just enough water to form a shaggy dough. Knead gently on a floured surface until just combined.

  • Form into a round loaf. You can bake it directly on the hot coals (wrapped in foil or a banana leaf if you have one), in a Dutch oven, or even wrapped around a stick.

  • Campfire Bake: If using a Dutch oven, lightly grease it, place the damper inside, and bury the Dutch oven in hot coals, placing some coals on top of the lid. Bake until golden brown and hollow-sounding when tapped.

  • Serve warm, torn apart, and enjoy with stew or our homemade bush tomato jam!

Campfire cooking is an integral part of life at Lake Pleasant Farm. It connects us to ancient traditions, to the land, and to each other. We invite you to experience the rich flavours and deep satisfaction that come from meals cooked with care, fresh from our regenerative pastures and thriving garden.