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Japanese Curry Recipe

Japanese Curry Recipe

A cozy, flavor-packed Japanese curry recipe with tender chunks of meat, carrots, and potatoes in a silky, mildly spiced curry sauce that’s sweet, savory, and deeply comforting — perfect for an easy homemade weeknight dinner.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 44 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Course Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine Asian, Japanese
Servings 4 Servings
Calories 450 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • For the Japanese Curry:
  • 1½ lbs boneless chicken thighs or beef chuck cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 2 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 1 large onion diced
  • 2 medium carrots peeled and cut into chunks
  • 2–3 Yukon Gold potatoes peeled and cubed
  • 1 apple grated (Fuji or Honeycrisp works great)
  • 1 tbsp grated fresh ginger optional
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • 4 cups chicken broth or vegetable broth
  • 1 tbsp curry powder Japanese style, like S&B
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • For the Curry Roux:
  • 3 tbsp butter
  • ¼ cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 tbsp curry powder
  • ½ tsp garam masala optional
  • To Serve:
  • Steamed Japanese rice short-grain is best
  • Fuku-jinzuke pickles optional
  • Chopped green onions or parsley optional garnish

Instructions
 

  • Sear the Meat (10 min)
  • Heat oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Season your chicken or beef with salt and pepper. Sear until browned on all sides. Remove and set aside.
  • Sauté Aromatics & Veggies (10 min)
  • In the same pot, add diced onion and a pinch of salt. Cook until translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in garlic, ginger, grated apple, and curry powder. Cook another minute.
  • Simmer the Stew (30–40 min)
  • Return meat to pot. Add carrots, potatoes, soy sauce, Worcestershire, and broth. Bring to boil, then reduce heat and simmer until veggies are fork-tender and meat is cooked.
  • Make the Curry Roux (5–7 min)
  • In a small pan, melt butter over medium. Stir in flour, cook until golden and nutty. Add curry powder and garam masala.
  • Thicken the Curry (5 min)
  • Add roux bit by bit to the pot, stirring until the sauce thickens.
  • Taste & Adjust
  • Season with salt and pepper. Adjust soy sauce or Worcestershire if needed.
  • Serve & Enjoy
  • Ladle hot curry over steamed rice. Top with pickles, green onions, or herbs.

Notes

  • Grated apple is the secret to balancing sweetness — don’t skip it!
  • Make it gluten-free by swapping the flour for GF flour and using GF soy sauce.
  • Tastes even better the next day as flavors meld — leftovers are gold!
  • Store up to 3 days in fridge or freeze for up to 2 months.
Keyword Japanese curry recipe, curry sauce, Japanese curry roux, homemade Japanese curry, curry rice