Really “on the spot” curry rice is one thing I’ve at all times wished, however the thought of a very shelf secure with completely minimal prep time appeared a bit farfetched. That’s why I used to be shocked just a few years in the past to see Minato Aqua, Oozora Subaru, and Usada Pekora from hololive selling a brand new product known as Nissin Curry Meshi, i.e. Japanese curry rice in a cup.
After I traveled to Japan final yr, I used the chance to get some for myself. What I didn’t know is that there have been a number of variations at this level: the unique; the “good meal” model; additional spicy; and hayashi, which is technically not curry however usually will get lumped in with it. Yotsuba famously known as hayashi “faux curry.”
As acknowledged within the hololive video above, making ready these on the spot curries entails including water to the cup, ready a couple of minutes, after which stirring constantly to get the roux to soften and blend with the rice. It’s a bit of extra concerned than Cup Noodles, however not by a lot.
Each taste tastes shut sufficient to what they declare to be. They hit the best notes, and wouldn’t be mistaken for anything. I do suppose the proper meal model kicks the entire product into the realm of the mildly inconvenient with its additional separate curry powder, however it finally ends up tasting all proper general.
Common
The rice is respectable however doesn’t style 100% genuine. It’s unlikely anybody would confuse this for contemporary (and even day previous) rice if it was served in a blind style take a look at. It form of jogs my memory of a rice-based breakfast cereal in that it appears like dehydrated rice that has been reconstituted, however not essentially prefer it’s cooked rice that has dried out. It’s just like the curry isn’t fairly all there, neither is the rice, however collectively, they make for an honest facsimile.
A number of the containers counsel including a uncooked egg after pouring the water, however relying on how snug you might be with consuming very undercooked eggs (or how the place you reside treats its eggs), it may not be the very best thought.
Hayashi (left) and Keema (proper)
In recent times, Nissin has been promoting its seafood and curry Cup Noodles within the US, and these merchandise are nearer to the extra high-quality variations present in Japan. I hope that they discover a option to carry Curry Meshi right here. It’s not the very best factor on this planet, however I might see it doing effectively with those that need one thing fast and straightforward however are getting uninterested in on the spot noodles.
(It does make me surprise if Nissin branches would give you flavors to cater to native tastes. Possibly as an alternative of Curry Meshi, we’d get on the spot rice and beans.)
