The Easiest Japanese Katsu Curry Recipe You’ll Ever Make

Katsu curry blends crispy, golden-brown protein with a velvety, warm sauce that dances across your palate.

Japanese comfort food reaches new heights through this incredible culinary creation.

Crunchy breaded meat meets silky, spiced gravy in a harmonious symphony of textures and tastes.

The delicate balance between crisp exterior and tender interior creates a mouthwatering experience that captivates food lovers.

Cultural traditions merge seamlessly in this iconic dish, redefineing simple ingredients into something extraordinary.

Hearty and satisfying, this meal promises to transport your senses to a world of delightful flavors.

Prepare to embark on a gastronomic journey that will tantalize your taste buds.

Katsu Curry: A Japanese Classic with Bold Flavors

• Savor Contrasting Textures: Enjoy the delightful crunch of crispy breaded chicken cutlets against the smooth, velvety curry sauce, creating a sensational mouthfeel that keeps every bite exciting.
• Quick Comfort Meal: Whip up this Japanese-inspired dish in under 30 minutes, perfect for busy weeknights when you crave something satisfying and flavorful without spending hours in the kitchen.
• Nutritional Powerhouse: Packed with a balanced blend of proteins, vegetables, and complex carbohydrates, this katsu curry delivers a wholesome meal that fuels your body while tantalizing your taste buds.
• Customizable Culinary Adventure: Easily adapt the recipe by switching proteins, adjusting spice levels, or adding extra vegetables to make it your own personal flavor journey.

Ingredients for Making Katsu Curry

• Onions: Sweet aromatic base that adds depth to the curry sauce.
• Potatoes, Carrots: Hearty vegetables that provide texture and earthy flavors to the curry.
• Curry Roux: Concentrated Japanese curry blocks that create a rich, thick sauce with complex spices.

• Chicken Fillets: Tender meat for creating crispy katsu that complements the curry sauce.

• Rice: Fluffy white base that soaks up the delicious curry sauce.
• Fukujinzuke: Traditional Japanese pickles that add a tangy and bright contrast to the dish.

How to Make the Perfect Katsu Curry

Step 1: Sauté Aromatic Onions

Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add sliced onions and cook until they turn light golden and release a delightful fragrance, bringing out their natural sweetness.

Step 2: Cook Hearty Vegetables

Add diced potatoes and carrots to the pot. Stir occasionally and cook until the vegetables become tender enough to easily pierce with a fork.

Step 3: Create Luscious Curry Sauce

Introduce curry roux blocks into the vegetable mixture. Break them down as they melt, stirring continuously until completely dissolved. Watch the sauce transform into a rich, velvety consistency.

Step 4: Prepare Crispy Chicken Cutlets

Cook breaded chicken fillets in hot oil separately. Fry until they achieve a beautiful golden-brown color and develop a satisfyingly crunchy exterior.

Step 5: Assemble and Serve Delicious Dish

Plate a generous serving of steamed rice. Top with the crispy chicken cutlet and generously pour the fragrant curry sauce alongside. Enhance the meal with optional fukujinzuke (traditional Japanese pickles) for an extra burst of flavor.

Tips for Creating the Best Katsu Curry

• Select Quality Chicken: Choose boneless, skinless chicken breasts that are evenly thick to ensure consistent cooking and crispy breading.
• Bread Carefully: Create a three-step breading process using flour, beaten eggs, and panko breadcrumbs for maximum crunchiness and even coating.
• Control Oil Temperature: Maintain oil at 350-375°F when frying chicken cutlets to achieve golden-brown exterior without absorbing excess oil.
• Rest Cutlets Briefly: Let breaded chicken rest for 5 minutes before frying to help breading adhere better and create a crispier texture.
• Balance Curry Sauce: Adjust curry roux amount to control thickness and experiment with homemade or store-bought roux for personalized flavor profile.

Storing Leftover Katsu Curry

• Refrigeration: Transfer leftover katsu curry to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator within two hours of cooking. Properly sealed, the dish will stay fresh for 3-4 days, keeping its delicious flavors intact.
• Freezing: Separate chicken cutlets from curry sauce before freezing to maintain crispiness. Place components in separate freezer-safe containers, where they'll last up to one month. Wrap tightly to prevent freezer burn.
• Reheating: Warm curry sauce in a saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally to prevent scorching. Crisp up chicken cutlets in a preheated oven at 350°F for 10 minutes to restore their crunchy texture. Avoid microwave reheating to preserve the katsu's delightful crunch.

What to Pair with Katsu Curry

• Refresh with Cold Sake: Pair the rich, hearty katsu curry with a chilled Japanese sake to balance the warm, spicy flavors and cleanse your palate between bites.
• Crisp Citrus Beer Complement: Choose a light, citrusy beer like a Japanese lager or wheat beer to cut through the curry's intensity and provide a refreshing contrast.
• Bright Pickled Side Kick: Add fukujinzuke or another tangy Japanese pickle to introduce a sharp, acidic element that enhances the curry's depth and provides textural variety.
• Creamy Yogurt Drink Cooldown: Serve a small glass of cold, slightly sweetened yogurt drink to soothe the palate and balance the curry's warmth and spiciness.

Creative Variations on Katsu Curry

• Pork Power Katsu: Swap chicken for tender, crispy pork cutlets, bringing a richer meat flavor to the classic curry dish.
• Veggie Victory: Replace meat with breaded eggplant or tofu cutlets, creating a plant-based version that maintains the classic crispy texture.
• Seafood Splash: Use breaded white fish or shrimp cutlets instead of chicken, adding a lighter, ocean-inspired protein to the hearty curry sauce.
• Spicy Kick Katsu: Incorporate chili flakes or gochujang into the curry roux for those who enjoy a more intense, fiery flavor profile.

Katsu Curry Recipe

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4.6 from 32 reviews

• Total Time: 45 minutes
• Yield: 2 1x

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Description

Japanese comfort cuisine reaches new heights with katsu curry, a crispy breaded pork cutlet nestled in rich, velvety curry sauce. Hearty flavors and comforting textures invite you to savor this classic dish that seamlessly blends Western-style frying techniques with traditional Japanese seasonings.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Proteins:

• 1 chicken cutlet

Vegetables:

• 1 onion, sliced
• 1 potato, diced
• 1 carrot, sliced

Garnish:

• Fukujinzuke (optional)

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Instructions

1. Warm a generously sized saucepan over medium heat and introduce sliced onions, gently coaxing them to caramelize and develop a golden, aromatic profile for approximately 5-6 minutes.
2. Incorporate diced potatoes and carrots into the softened onions, mixing periodically to ensure even cooking and prevent sticking. Allow vegetables to tenderize until they yield easily when pierced with a fork, roughly 10-12 minutes.
3. Gradually crumble curry roux blocks into the vegetable medley, stirring continuously to facilitate complete dissolution. The mixture will progressively transform into a luxuriously thick, deeply flavored sauce with a velvety consistency.
4. Simultaneously prepare the chicken cutlets by coating skinless chicken breasts in seasoned breadcrumbs, ensuring an even, crisp exterior. Heat vegetable oil to 350°F (175°C) in a separate skillet.
5. Carefully lower breaded chicken into the hot oil, frying until the exterior reaches a rich, amber-brown color and the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C), which typically takes 3-4 minutes per side.
6. Plate steamed white rice as a foundational layer, artfully position the freshly fried chicken katsu alongside, and generously ladle the aromatic curry sauce over or beside the cutlet.
7. Enhance the presentation and flavor profile by garnishing with traditional fukujinzuke (Japanese pickled vegetables), adding a delightful textural and tangy contrast to the rich curry.

Notes

• Onions caramelize beautifully, releasing a sweet aroma that sets the foundation for this comforting Japanese curry dish.
• Hearty root vegetables like potatoes and carrots transform into tender morsels, absorbing the curry’s deep, rich flavors.
• Curry roux melts seamlessly, creating a luscious sauce that coats every ingredient with incredible warmth and depth.
• Chicken cutlets crisp up to golden perfection, providing a delightful crunch that contrasts with the smooth, velvety curry.
• Fukujinzuke pickles add a tangy, bright note that cuts through the richness, elevating the entire eating experience.
• Serving the dish combines textures and temperatures, ensuring each bite delivers a symphony of Japanese comfort food magic.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Lunch
• Method: Frying
• Cuisine: Japanese

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 2
• Calories: 350 kcal
• Sugar: 5g
• Sodium: 200mg
• Fat: 10g
• Saturated Fat: 2g
• Unsaturated Fat: 7g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 45g
• Fiber: 6g
• Protein: 25g
• Cholesterol: 75mg