Everyone has probably thought about making a delicious curry while camping at least once.
With a Dutch oven, you can make a professional-grade, delicious waterless curry.
As long as you have a fire pit, a grill, and a Dutch oven, anyone can easily make this camping dish, so be sure to give it a try.
This article will explain in detail the appeal and how to make waterless curry.
What you'll learn in this article
・How to make waterless curry
Table of Contents
Dutch Oven x Waterless Curry is Recommended
If you're using a Dutch oven for camping, waterless curry is highly recommended.
Waterless curry, cooked without water, is a classic Dutch oven dish.
First, let's explore why Dutch oven waterless curry is so popular for camping.
The Appeal of Curry: A Camping Dish Everyone Can Enjoy
Curry is a classic camping dish that everyone can enjoy together.
It's easy to make by simply simmering ingredients, and it's popular with both children and adults, making it perfect for family camping.
Also, curry allows for various ingredient changes, so you can create unique curries.
Experimenting with ingredients to make your own original curry will make mealtime even more enjoyable.
Curry Full of Umami
Making waterless curry in a Dutch oven results in a delicious curry packed with umami.
Regular curry is simmered with water, but waterless curry uses no water.
Because it's cooked only with the moisture contained in vegetables and other ingredients, the umami of the ingredients becomes concentrated in the curry.
Easy to Make Deliciously, Even for Beginners
Making waterless curry in a Dutch oven is easy even for beginners.
Dutch ovens have thick walls, so heat doesn't transfer immediately to the inside when heated.
As a result, heat is distributed evenly throughout, ensuring a consistent finish.
Moreover, there's no need to constantly stir the pot, saving effort.
Another attractive feature is that ingredients become tender under pressure.
Tools and Ingredients for Making Waterless Curry in a Dutch Oven
What kind of tools and ingredients should you prepare to make waterless curry in a Dutch oven?
Here, we will explain the necessary tools and ingredients in detail.
Required Tools
When cooking waterless curry while camping, you'll obviously need a pot.
While enamel pots or waterless pots can be used as substitutes, using a Dutch oven will enhance the authentic camping experience.
You'll need a knife, a cutting board for cooking, but no other special cooking utensils are required.
Basic Ingredients
There are many recipes for waterless curry, but if you're making it in a Dutch oven for the first time, you might want to try the following simple ingredients:
| Ingredients (for 3 servings) | |
|---|---|
| Pork belly | 300g |
| Onion | 2 |
| Eggplant | 2 |
| Tomato | 3 |
| Salt and pepper | to taste |
| Oil | 1 tbsp |
| Grated garlic | 1/4 |
| Grated ginger | 1/4 |
| Curry roux | 2 cubes |
For meat, you can also use chicken thighs or beef short ribs.
You can also make seafood curry using shrimp or mixed seafood.
Be sure to use plenty of vegetables like onions and tomatoes to release their moisture.
If you don't like certain vegetables, you can substitute them with other watery vegetables like zucchini or daikon radish.
Seasonings can be adjusted freely, so you can add sauce, ketchup, chocolate, etc., to further enhance the umami and richness.
Try various seasonings to achieve your preferred taste.
Tomatoes are essential for moisture and umami, but if you absolutely can't eat them, you can use cabbage or napa cabbage instead.
Steps to Make Waterless Curry in a Dutch Oven
Preparation
When making waterless curry, cut the ingredients into bite-sized pieces.
Remove the stems from the eggplant and tomatoes before cutting them. For the onions, remove the core and cut them into wedges, or mince them to release more flavor.
Season the pork with salt and pepper to taste; this will enhance its flavor.
You can prepare the ingredients before going camping, but doing it on site doubles the fun of cooking.
Start the Fire
While preparing the ingredients, start a fire to get ready for cooking.
Dutch ovens retain heat well, so set up the fire to allow for cooking over low heat from a distance.
Sauté
Once the fire is lit, add oil to the Dutch oven and sauté the grated garlic and ginger until fragrant.
Next, add the pork belly and stir-fry lightly. Once cooked, remove it from the pot.
Mince the onions and sauté them slowly over low heat until caramelized.
Simmer
Add the sautéed vegetables to the Dutch oven and simmer over low heat for about 40 minutes.
Since direct heat can cause scorching, open the lid and stir about once every 10 minutes.
Once the vegetables are sufficiently tender, add the pork belly and mix. Then, remove from the heat, add the curry roux, and mix until dissolved.
Once the curry roux has melted, return to low heat and stir while cooking. When it thickens, it's done.
Recommended Dutch Ovens for Camping to Make Delicious Waterless Curry
Coleman Dutch Oven SF
Source：Amazon
The Coleman Dutch Oven SF is a Dutch oven of just the right size for 2 to 4 people.
It comes in 8-inch and 10-inch sizes.
It's pre-seasoned with vegetable oil, so no seasoning is required, making it ready to use right out of the box.
Its reasonable price makes it a great choice for those new to Dutch ovens.
LOGOS SL Dutch Oven
Source：Amazon
The LOGOS SL Dutch Oven is designed for serious enthusiasts.
This one is also oil-finished, so you can start using it immediately without seasoning.
It's the perfect size for families to make delicious waterless curry.
It's a delicate finish, so be careful not to use metal scrubbers when washing it.
CAPTAIN STAG Dutch Oven
Source：Amazon
The CAPTAIN STAG Dutch Oven is a cast iron product with an impressive design.
The lid has a rim, making it easy to handle and adjust heat, which is suitable for those who want precise control over baking and simmering.
It's also renowned for producing a fragrant finish, making it recommended for those who want to focus on how the meat is cooked when making waterless curry.
Tips for Making Waterless Curry in a Dutch Oven
When making waterless curry in a Dutch oven, be sure to put your heart into it.
Here are some tips to make camping even more enjoyable.
Prepare a Mess Tin for Cooking Rice
If you're making waterless curry in a Dutch oven, why not pay special attention to the rice as well?
Prepare a mess tin, and enjoying the curry with freshly cooked rice will be exceptional.
The crispy rice at the bottom (okoge) also adds a nice accent to the waterless curry.
Enjoy Making Original Curry
A Dutch oven heats evenly, so you can make delicious curry by simply putting various ingredients in together.
It's also recommended to prepare ingredients that would go well with curry and enjoy making your own original curry.
Prepare Cooking Oil for Maintenance
Traditional Dutch ovens made of cast iron rust, so they need to be maintained after use.
After washing with detergent, season with cooking oil to prevent rust.
Keep it well-maintained so it can be used for many camping trips to come.
Summary
With a Dutch oven, you can make delicious waterless curry while camping.
Getting your favorite Dutch oven will undoubtedly make cooking, including curry, much more enjoyable.
A Dutch oven is a convenient item that enriches cooking.
Be sure to get one and try making an exquisite waterless curry.
