Cooking over an open fire can be surprisingly simple when the ingredients and cooking method are kept straightforward. Vegetables, fish, meat, bread and even fruit can all be prepared outdoors with little more than a grill or a good pan.

The first thing to consider is the fire itself. Cooking directly above large flames makes it difficult to control the heat and food can burn quickly. Waiting until the fire has produced a good layer of hot embers creates a steadier cooking temperature and makes it easier to move food between hotter and cooler areas.

A cast-iron pan is particularly useful outdoors because it retains heat well and can be placed directly on a grill above the fire. Vegetables such as courgettes, peppers, onions, potatoes and asparagus can be cooked together, while fish or meat can be prepared alongside them.

Simple ingredients work particularly well. Olive oil, salt, pepper, fresh herbs, garlic and lemon are easy to bring outside and can be used with many different foods. A piece of fish cooked with vegetables and finished with lemon, for example, needs very little additional preparation.

Not everything needs a pan. Corn, peppers and aubergines can be grilled directly, bread can be toasted over the heat and potatoes can be wrapped and cooked among the embers. Skewers are another practical option for vegetables, meat or combinations of both.

Preparation before lighting the fire makes outdoor cooking considerably easier. Vegetables can be washed and cut in advance, marinades prepared at home and ingredients packed in separate containers. This leaves less to organise once cooking begins.

Open-fire cooking is not limited to traditional camping. Fire pits and designated cooking areas are increasingly found at cabins, campsites and nature stays, while an appropriate setup can also be used in a garden where local fire regulations allow it.

Fire safety remains important, particularly during dry periods. Open fires may be restricted or completely prohibited depending on the location, season and wildfire risk, so local regulations should always be checked before lighting one.

With a few ingredients and the right place to cook, an outdoor fire can provide both the heat and the cooking surface for an entire meal, from grilled vegetables and fish to toasted bread and simple desserts.

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