【Solo Camping Meal】This is easy to use! Trying to make curry rice for one with powdered roux.

A classic menu for camping, curry rice. It's fine to make for two or more people, but when it comes to solo camping, you tend to make too much. As a solo camper, the author hardly ever makes curry, but decided to give it a try as this seems easy to make for one person.

Powdered curry is "Golden Curry Powder Medium Spicy"

I decided to try using S&B's "Ultimate Golden Aroma Golden Curry Powder Medium Spicy." Unlike the conventional solid blocks, which yield a minimum of 5-6 servings when split in half, powdered curry allows for a minimum of 2 servings from just 1 packet. This might just be perfect.

The amount of curry roux seems to be fine even if slightly more is used, but since it's for one person, I prepared a bit less of the ingredients than what's indicated on the package.

・Potato／1
・Carrot／1/3
・Onion／1/4
・Pork／about 50g

To take it to the campsite, I will put the cut ingredients in a zipper bag.

I will make curry rice using a two-burner setup with both a burner and solid fuel

Since I will also be cooking rice, I decided to use both a burner and a solid fuel stove. Although there’s no specific reasoning for this combination, having two cooking devices should allow for efficient cooking.

The steps to make the curry are simple: sauté in oil for 7 minutes, then add 350ml of water and simmer for 10 minutes, add the roux and simmer for a few more minutes to finish. The burner will be used for sautéing and simmering before adding the roux, and then I will switch to the solid fuel stove.

The properties of powdered roux are perfect for camping

For one serving of fat, solid roux contains 5.3g, while powdered roux (in the case of Golden Curry medium spiciness) contains 3g, resulting in less oil content and lower fat compared to solid varieties. This makes it less likely to stick, allows for quicker cleanup, and gives the impression of being suitable for camping.

When trying out one bag, it feels like it could make a slightly larger portion than a single serving, perhaps because it's meant for two servings. However, it seems just right for hungry campers.

Once the curry is nearing completion, cook 1 go of rice

Cooking rice seems to be more challenging than preparing the main curry, but since I've cooked outdoors many times before, it's not an issue. The key to cooking rice over an open flame is to "extend the soaking time," ideally for more than 30 minutes. Soaking helps in avoiding the condition of raw rice. For the water level, aim for the first joint of your finger above the rice.

You can use any cook pot, but it's better to avoid titanium, which does not conduct heat well. I often use an aluminum cook pot.

Place a weight on top and start cooking on medium to high heat; once it begins to boil, reduce to low heat and cook slowly. Judging by appearance, once water starts to spout from between the lid, reduce the heat when the spouting water amount settles down. One can imagine the state shifting from porridge to becoming more solid as moisture evaporates.

A little more than usual, but one person's curry rice is ready! How does it taste?

It turned out beautifully! Since the roux is a bit on the large side when fully plated, in the image below, it's served in a portion for one for aesthetic reasons. Of course, it's fine to serve all the roux, but depending on how hungry you are, half a cup of rice might be enough.

The powdered roux has a clearer flavor compared to the usual curry, with the spices standing out. Whether for camp meals or home cooking, I liked it so much that I think I'll stick with this powdered roux because it's tasty.

Since it can be made in small quantities and keeps the calories down, even the author on a diet can enjoy curry without resistance. Thanks to the powdered roux, the one-person curry rice was a huge success! I'm looking forward to the next camping trip.

Interview & Text by Kazuma Tanaka

Search Golden Curry Powder on Amazon