Japanese Curry in 5 Easy Steps
Ranked #204 in Food & Cooking, #3,948 overall
Learn how to whip up Japanese style curry almost instantly
Japanese curry
My husband and I love eating Japanese curry rice on occasion. Because of the instant curry roux
If you want to learn how to make basic curry, Japanese style, please read on. And on the off chance that you have leftovers, I will also show you how to make omurice with leftover Japanese curry.
All photos on this page are my own and were taken using my trusty Panasonic Lumix LX3
Have you eaten Japanese style curry?
Please take the poll below.
James Ryan
Basic ingredients for Japanese style curry
Everything you need to make delicious Japanese style curry rice
For two people with medium appetites (or one person with a large appetite!), all you need are the following:
- 100 grams (or more, depending on your appetite) of your choice of meat, diced. For this recipe, I'm using beef tenderloin.
- 1/2 medium-sized white onion, finely chopped
- 1 medium carrot, diced
- 1 medium potato, diced
These are just the basic ingredients and you can add any other meat or vegetable you want. For inspiration, you can refer to the photos happy curry rice eaters have uploaded on Flickr.
You will also need instant Japanese curry roux
The star of this basic Japanese curry recipe
Curry is very popular in Japanese homes since it can be made from instant curry paste or roux which is easily available in supermarkets in block and powder forms. The roux already contains curry powder, flour, oils, and various spices so apart from the basic food items I mentioned above, there is no need for any other ingredient other than this paste.
For this recipe, I used the House Brands Prime variant which I got in the Japanese food section of our neighborhood grocery store. It has a rich, deliciously spicy taste that complements the flavor of beef nicely. You can get packages of Japanese curry mix from Asian Food Grocer or from Amazon
(Skip the next section if you'd like instructions on how to make Japanese curry from scratch.)
Popular Japanese curry roux brands
House Foods and S&B are trusted brands in the Japanese curry universe
Take your pick from the following brands and curry variants I handpicked from Amazon. House Foods
How to Make Japanese Curry
Japanese style curry in 5 easy steps! I promise that this will only take 20 minutes of your time, at most.
1. Saute onions in a tablespoon of oil until translucent then add your beef cubes.
You can use meat other than beef, like chicken, shrimp or pork. Tofu and vegetables can be used as healthier alternatives.
2. When the meat has turned brown, add the carrots and potatoes.
Mix it up a bit so the vegetables can absorb the meat's flavor.
3. Add about 2 cups of water and let it simmer.
You can skim off the fat that rises to the surface.
4. Add the curry roux to the saucepan while stirring. Mix and blend it well.
Here's what the roux looks like up close.
5. Simmer and let the curry sauce thicken until it reaches your desired consistency.
My husband likes his curry sauce thick so in our case, simmering can take anywhere from 7-10 minutes.
Japanese Curry Rice - the finished product. Itadikamasu!
Japanese Curry Recipe
A basic recipe for curry, Japan style!
- Serves: 2
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 15-20 minutes
Printable instructions for making Japanese style curry that you can keep handy in your recipe box.
Ingredients
- 1 packet Japanese curry roux
- 100-200 grams meat cut into cubes
- 1 diced medium potato
- 1 diced carrot
- 1/2 copped white onion
- 1 tablespoon cooking oil
Instructions
1. Saute the chopped onion in a tablespoon of oil in a saucepan. Once they turn soft and translucent, you can add the meat.
2. Once the meat has browned/cooked, add the diced potatoes and carrots.
3. Add about 2 cups of water and let it simmer. You can skim off the fat that rises to the surface.
4. Add the curry powder / paste / roux.
5. Let the sauce simmer until it thickens to your desired consistency. Serve beside rice a la Japanese style curry rice (kare raisu). Enjoy!
Saucepans you can use to cook Japanese curry
Keep calm and curry on! T-shirt for Kare raisu fans
Keep Calm and Curry On (Dark) by asianpopcorn
Browse other Curry T-Shirts
How to make Japanese style curry - video instructions
A Japanese curry how-to video created by a Japanese family
The following video shows how to make Japanese curry, including all the steps involved from preparation to finish. The difference from my method is that they add tomato into the simmering curry as a "secret ingredient".
Want to make Japanese curry from scratch?
Refer to the following websites for detailed instructions.
Curry from instant roux is easy to make and is easy on the pocket but since it is made from processed curry powder, I don't advise eating it often. For health buffs and purists who want to learn how to make homemade Japanese style curry without the blocks of roux / instant curry paste, here are resources that can help you.
- Japanese beef curry (Curry Rice) | Just Hungry
- "Japanese curry belongs to the group of typically Japanese foods that have origins in European cuisine, called yohshoku. Curry is tremendously popular in Japan - it's on the menu at just about every 'family' restaurant and..."
- Japanese Curry Recipe | Japanese Recipes
- "Japanese Curry (kare) Rice. Unlike Indian curry Japanese curry is thicker, milder and sweeter. Learn how to make curry rice from scratch (without the blocks)..."
- How to Make Japanese Curry Rice From Scratch | Serious Eats : Recipes
- "Aya Tanaka grew up eating Japanese curry in Brazil. This week she introduces Serious Eaters to the joys of making and eating Japanese curry rice."
- Japanese Curry from Scratch - Home Cooking - Chowhound
- "So I went to the Japanese book store and found a decent cookbook for Yoshoku cuisine (Japanese western style cuisine). This recipe is adapted from a famous Tokyo restaurant. Also, please note that this recipe will take you several days to make properly."
- Making Japanese Curry from Scratch | A Dream of Tokyo
- "Many people make japanese curry using the instant roux cubes which are widely available on the market. If you have ever looked at the ingredients list on these instant roux cubes..you would probably not want to eat it too often. Dont get me wrong, i eat a lot of processed food XD So this is not the reason why i make my japanese curry from scratch."
- Japanese Beef Curry From Scratch - The Japanese Food Report
- "I've been working to perfect making Japanese curry from scratch, as I'll soon be leading a workshop entitled "Comfort Food All-Stars: Curry, Tonkatsu, Gyoza" at the fantastic Brooklyn Kitchen. I love Japanese curry, but I don't love those ubiquitous packages of Japanese curry mixes..."
How are others eating their Japanese style curry?
Check out these user-uploaded Kare Raisu photos on Flickr
Japanese style curry is so versatile! You can and add any ingredient you want and it will still taste delicious! See how others have creatively prepared their curry rice.
How to make Omurice with leftover Japanese curry
What, you have leftovers? Turn it into delicious Japanese curry omurice (omuraisu), a perfect treat for brunch the next day.
1. Stir-fry the leftover curry with day-old Japanese rice in a wok. (No need to place oil if your wok is non-stick)
Make sure the sauce coats the rice thoroughly - it should be moist, not soggy. Arrange it into an oval mound on a plate. Set aside.
Remember to save some sauce for garnishing later!
2. In another pan, fry 2-3 beaten eggs in some butter.
Lift up the edges and let the uncooked egg run to the bottom of the pan .
3. Cover the mound of your stir-fried curry and rice mixture with the cooked egg.
Pour leftover curry sauce on top of the omurice and serve.
Tadah - Japanese curry omurice. Oishi!
High quality omelet pans for cooking omurice
How to make omurice, a video clip from Tampopo (1985)
This clip shows you the basic steps in making rice omelet, Japanese style
Omurice or omuraisu is short for omelet and rice and is a popular contemporary Japanese dish. It is typically prepared with rice pan-fried with ketchup and chicken wrapped or covered in fried beaten egg but the ingredients can vary.
The following clip from Juzo Itami's critically-acclaimed movie Tampopo
Japanese Curry Rice and Omurice Graphic Tees
Tees to wear to show your love for kareraisu (and omuraisu)!
Keep Calm and Kare On (Light) by asianpopcorn
I Heart Curry Rice Graphic T-Shirt by Poptastic Tees
Don't Worry Eat Curry Graphic Tee Shirt by Poptastic Tees
I Heart Omurice Graphic Tee Shirt by Poptastic Tees
see more Japanese food graphic tees
These people are blogging about Japanese curry
Let's see what they're saying about it.
- Ramen, Curry, a Perfect Match
- This hearty entree features a bed of rice, smothered in a zesty Japanese curry topped with ever-so-tender pieces of Mochiko chicken. If you want the best of both worlds, inquire about Nagoya's ramen and curry combos. Head chef Steven Lin also ...
- Give noodles the nod
- They are a tradition in Japanese miso soup, but can also be the foundation of a Japanese curry. Dried egg noodles (prepared from wheat flour and water but rarely eggs) are usually sold in coils or nests and are part of an overall Asian cuisine.
- Give noodles the nod (+recipes)
- They are a tradition in Japanese miso soup, but can also be the foundation of a Japanese curry. Dried egg noodles (prepared from wheat flour and water but rarely eggs) are usually sold in coils or nests, and are part of an overall Asian cuisine.
- Where did you say the food is from again?
- If you order the Japanese curry with rice, it might remind you more of home than you had hoped Andheri's new pan-Asian restaurant draws culinary inspiration from Burma (Khao Suey), Singapore (Laksa), Japan (sushi), Thailand (Green Curry), ...
If you liked this recipe, you might enjoy visiting my other Japanese food-related pages.
Are you into Asian Pop Culture?
Visit my blog for film, music, and TV series reviews, recommendations and random ramblings.
I'm currently obsessed with Asian - specifically Japanese - movies, doramas, and music so if you'd like to read my reviews, recommendations and random ramblings, you're very welcome to visit Asian Pop Review! Below are sample blog posts.
Get this original Manekineko Lucky Cat graphic on tees and other cool items at Asian Popcorn.
How do you like your Japanese curry?
Any feedback on this page will be greatly appreciated too!
-
-
amythomson187
May 30, 2012 @ 1:48 pm | delete
- arncyn!! Stop it... you are making me soooooo hungry with this awesome food ideas. Now im going to get some japanese food :) Amy x
-
-
-
Vikki_w
May 6, 2012 @ 1:21 am | delete
- I love curry, thanks for the recipe
-
-
-
Ben
Mar 16, 2012 @ 2:52 pm | delete
- lol, Itadikamasu to you too. I think. Itadakimasu.
-
-
-
Angela5
Mar 14, 2012 @ 4:34 pm | delete
- Yum, thanks for the easy sounding method....I love Japanese curry. My favorite curry additions are sweet potato and tofu.
-
-
-
billybraveheart
Mar 10, 2012 @ 8:00 pm | delete
- Ah yummy yummy
-
- Load More
This page is called a Squidoo lens.
If you're passionate about something -- anything! --,
you can make a lens about it and even earn money on the side.
Isn't that awesome?
Click on the button below to get started!
Tweets about Japanese curry
Japanese style curry on Twitter
-
- Amasianbelle
- Japanese curry for tonights dinner
-
- chit_me
- My Favorite Japanese Curry Rice For Dinner @ Go Go Curry :) http://t.co/RPumzBhW
-
- Missjen325
- Japanese curry http://t.co/mBFMzMxn
-
- brosninja
- @MauiMescudi ahhhhh ok. there is place in west l.a. called "hurry curry" that is a japanese curry place. haha.
-
- MrGajman
- "The Gaj" from HRD - Korean Loconoco with Kimchee Fried Rice & Japanese Curry. Delicious! @ HRD Coffee Shop http://t.co/bqYqy9cT
by arncyn
Explore related pages
- Japan Pop Culture Pages Japan Pop Culture Pages
- Tasty, Healthy and Hearty Edamame Recipes Tasty, Healthy and Hearty Edamame Recipes
- Japanese Green Tea Health and Beauty Benefits Japanese Green Tea Health and Beauty Benefits
- Kimono Style Dresses and Tops: Chic, Feminine and Figure Flattering Kimono Style Dresses and Tops: Chic, Feminine and Figure Flattering
- Stylish Obi Belts for an instant hourglass shape Stylish Obi Belts for an instant hourglass shape
- Origami Dresses Make a Fun Fashion Statement Origami Dresses Make a Fun Fashion Statement
Visit my other recipe pages
Learn how to cook Japanese food at home!
Let's Cook Japanese Food!: Everyday Recipes for Home Cooking
Amazon Price: $7.51 (as of 06/02/2012)
Home-style Japanese cooking is demystified in this refreshing and informative cookbook. After marrying into a Japanese family, the American author was taken under her mother-in-law's wing to learn the ins and outs of Japanese cooking.
Harumi's Japanese Cooking
Harumi's Japanese Cooking: More than 75 Authentic and Contemporary Recipes from Japan's Most Popular Cooking Expert
Amazon Price: $14.03 (as of 06/02/2012)
Cooking expert and lifestyle guru Harumi Kurihara has won over the hearts of Japanese home cooks with her simple, delicious recipes.
Japanese Curry Rice T-shirts
Keep Calm and Curry On (Dark) by asianpopcorn
Keep Calm and Curry On (Light) by asianpopcorn
