Japanese Brown Curry from a Box!

Continuing on the impromptu cooking for new parents series, on Wednesday, we dropped off more food for my BFF and her husband.

I made Japanese brown curry and rice, egg, sausage, and cheese casserole, more chocolate chip muffins, and some pastries from Bread of Life! (Packaged in environmentally unfriendly but so convinient plastic boxes). :) And I couldn't resist buying the mini cha-siu baos (BBQ buns).  They were so cute!

I ran around Oakland Chinatown looking for curry blocks (I went to at least four stores) and it seemed the only kind I could find was Golden Curry, in the small size. So I had to pick up two (which were kinda expensive!) for enough food for 4 people (plus leftovers).

 

 

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I usually use and like Vermont Curry. Tim is weirded by the advertised with a touch of apple and honey, but after trying Golden Curry, we both agreed Vermont Curry has a better flavor. :) You can usually find one or the other (or both!) at your local Asian supermarket.
 

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Japanese brown curry from a box is pretty easy! You just follow the directions on the box, and even then you just have to mostly get the measurements for water correct (and the rest is really kind of flexible in my opinion). :oP


Japanese Brown Curry from a Box!

Makes a giant pot.

• 1 Box Sauce Mix (preferably Vermont Curry) ~ 8.8oz size (large box)
• 1.5 cup of cubed chicken (or beef or pork, but I've only tried chicken before)
• 1/2 a large onion or 1-2 medium onions
• 3-4 medium potatoes
• 1-2 medium carrots
• Cooked rice

1. Cut meat, onions, carrot and potatoes into bite-size pieces. Sauté in saucepan until lightly browned. Add 5-3/4 cups water (if using large box) and bring to boil. Cook over low to medium heat about 20 minutes, or until tender.
2. Remove from heat. Break curry sauce mix into pieces and add to saucepan.
3. Cook over low heat about 20 minutes, or until curry thickens. Serve over cooked rice.

Note: The large box says it's 12 servings. (But I think it feeds more like.... 4 really hungry people, possibly to 6. Maybe the Japanese are conservative eaters. haha.) When using a half packet, please add half the amount of the ingredients mentioned and 3-1/2 cups of of water.

This was a staple for feeding friends in college.  All.  The. Time.  :)

Have you made Japanese Brown Curry from a box before?  What's your favorite brand/flavor?