Description
Comforting Japanese curry delivers a hearty embrace of umami-rich flavors dancing through tender meat and silky sauce. Warm spices and carefully balanced ingredients promise a delightful culinary journey you’ll savor with each satisfying bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (454 g) chicken thighs or beef stew meat, cut into bite-size pieces
- 3 cups (710 ml) water or low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 large onion, sliced
- 2 carrots, peeled and chopped
- 2 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed
- 1 apple, grated (Fuji or Honeycrisp)
- 3 tbsps (45 ml) butter
- 3 tbsps (25 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) vegetable oil
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) soy sauce
- 1 tbsp (5 g) curry powder
- 1 tsp (5 g) tomato paste
- 1 tsp (5 g) garam masala
- 1 tsp (5 ml) Worcestershire sauce
- ½ tsp (2.5 ml) honey (optional)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Steamed white rice
- Optional garnish: chopped parsley, fukujinzuke (Japanese pickles)
Instructions
- Roux Creation: In a saucepan, gently melt butter over medium heat. Whisk flour until achieving a light golden hue, then incorporate curry powder, garam masala, and tomato paste. Blend thoroughly and set aside for later infusion.
- Protein and Vegetable Transformation: Heat oil in a robust pot, introducing meat and seasoning with salt and pepper. Sear until golden, then fold in onions until translucent. Integrate carrots and potatoes, cascading with broth to create a flavor-rich foundation.
- Flavor Development: Elevate to a boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer. Allow ingredients to meld and tenderize for approximately 20 minutes, ensuring meat reaches optimal doneness and vegetables become fork-tender.
- Final Culinary Harmonization: Introduce grated apple and soy sauce, stirring in the prepared curry roux. Simmer for an additional 10 minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken and embrace each ingredient. Fine-tune seasoning with salt, pepper, honey, or Worcestershire sauce to personal preference.
- Serving Presentation: Ladle the aromatic curry over steamed rice, creating a comforting and vibrant Japanese-inspired dish ready to delight the palate.
Notes
- Adjust butter and flour ratio to control thickness; less flour creates a lighter sauce, more flour makes it denser and richer.
- Choose tough cuts like chuck or shoulder for deeper flavor and tenderness; trim excess fat to prevent greasy curry.
- Cut vegetables uniformly to ensure even cooking and consistent texture; smaller chunks cook faster and absorb flavors more effectively.
- Low and slow cooking develops complex flavors; avoid high heat to prevent burning and maintain smooth sauce consistency.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Japanese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg