Japanese Chicken Curry

Ingredients

Directions

1. Gather all the ingredients. Please read my blog post on the “secret ingredient” we add to the curry. For this recipe, I add ginger, garlic, apple, honey, soy sauce, and ketchup.
2. Japanese Chicken Curry Ingredients
3. To Prepare the Ingredients
4. Cut 2 onions into wedges. I like to have the texture of the onions in my curry, so I cut them into thick wedges. If you prefer, you can mince or thinly slice the onions so they disintegrate into the sauce.
5. Japanese Chicken Curry 1
6. Peel 2 carrots and cut them into rolling wedges (it‘s called rangiri in Japanese). This type of cut creates more surface area, which helps the carrots absorb more flavor and cook faster.
7. Japanese Chicken Curry 2
8. Peel 3 Yukon gold potatoes and cut them into quarters. Soak them in water for 15 minutes to remove excess starch. Tip: Yukon gold potatoes hold their shape well. You can use russet potatoes, but they tend to disintegrate into the broth during cooking, so cut them into 6 pieces each and add to the pot toward the end of cooking.
9. Japanese Chicken Curry 3
10. Grate the ginger (I use this grater) and measure 1 tsp ginger with the juice. Set aside. Mince 2 cloves garlic and set aside (I use a garlic press later when adding to the pot).
11. Japanese Chicken Curry 4
12. Cut ½ apple into quarters, remove the core, and peel the skin.
13. Japanese Chicken Curry 5
14. Grate the apple and set aside. Note: You also could use 1 small lunchbox apple for 8 servings.
15. Japanese Chicken Curry 6
16. Cut off the extra fat from 1½ lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs and discard it. Then, cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces. I recommend cutting it diagonally (it‘s called sogigiri in Japanese) to create more surface area and flatten each piece so it cooks faster. Season with freshly ground black pepper. Tip: If you will use homemade curry roux, you can lightly season the chicken with kosher salt as well.
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18. Home » Japanese Chicken Curry (Video) チキンカレー
19. Japanese Chicken Curry (Video) チキンカレー
20. 4.6
21. (1501)
22. Total Time:
23. 1hour hour 10minutes minutes
24. 593 Comments
25. RECIPE
26. VIDEO
27. AUTUMN CHICKEN CLASSIC YOSHOKU
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29. Delicious Japanese chicken curry recipe for a weeknight dinner! Tender pieces of chicken, carrots, and potatoes cooked in a rich savory curry sauce, this Japanese version of curry is a must-have for your family meal.
30. A ceramic bowl containing Japanese Chicken Curry along with steamed rice and fukujinzuke pickles.
31. This may come as a surprise, but Japanese Curry aka Curry Rice (Kare Raisu, カレーライス) is an exemplary comfort food and one of the most-loved home-cooked dishes in Japan. I grew up on curry rice as my mom would make it as frequently as I can recall.
32. MY OTHER RECIPES
33. The bite-sized chunks of meat, the thick-cut vegetables, the rich and creamy brown curry sauce, and the fluffy rice are what makes every bite so comforting and exciting to eat. Not only is it a meal that’s easy to make on busy nights, but it also tastes better the second day.
34. So if you wish to master Japanese home cooking, you’ll need to add Japanese curry to your repertoire. Let me show you how to make Japanese Chicken Curry (チキンカレー) today!
35. TABLE OF CONTENTS
36. What is Japanese Curry?
37. Homemade Japanese Curry Roux
38. Secret Ingredients – Personalize Your Curry
39. Make Japanese Curry in Pressure Cooker
40. What to Serve with Japanese Curry
41. More Delicious Japanese Curry Recipes
42. A ceramic bowl containing Japanese Chicken Curry along with steamed rice and fukujinzuke pickles.
43. What is Japanese Curry?
44. Japanese curry is a thick curry with a stew-like consistency and commonly includes a protein, sweet onions, carrots, and potatoes. The sauce is thickened by a roux (a mixture of fat and flour, and an addition of curry spices).
45. You can find many variations of Japanese curries, ranging from regions to households, but the most basic one uses chicken which is the recipe I’m sharing here.
46. Don’t miss my Japanese curry recipes roundup, which includes vegetarian curry and more!
47. History of Japanese Curry
48. Curry was introduced to Japan in the late 1800s by the British and they were originally Western-style stews mixed with curry powder. The Japanese adapted curry to their own version and ‘Curry Rice’ (Kare Raisu, カレーライス) was born soon after. By the 1950s, S&B Foods developed a convenient instant mix — known as curry roux — in block form so everyone could make curry rice easily at home.
49. Today, curry has become a staple of the Japanese home and is widely available in restaurants and food halls in departmental stores. The popularity even extends beyond Japan, and you can find its presence in many other Asian countries.
50. What Makes Japanese Curry Different from Other Curries
51. Japanese curry is quite different from most other curries of the world — it has a thicker consistency and the taste leans on the sweet and savory side. The unique sweetness comes from onions, carrots, and other additions like honey and grated apples.
52. The sauce is similar to a rich and thick demi-glace that’s layered with spices and earthy flavors. Some would describe Japanese curry more like a hearty stew than a typical curry like Thai or Indian curry. It is a lot less spicy, which is why it is suitable for children.
53. A ceramic bowl containing Japanese Chicken Curry along with steamed rice and fukujinzuke pickles.
54. The Base Flavor – Japanese Curry Roux
55. The reason why we can make Japanese curry in a short time is that we use the convenient Japanese Curry Sauce Mix (curry roux カレールー) that comes in a box. The curry roux imparts a unique depth of aromatic spice flavor and creaminess to the dish. I’m not a big fan of “instant” or boxed food, but I have to say Japanese Curry Roux is an exception!
56. Japanese Curry Roux | Easy Japanese Recipes at JustOneCookbook.com
57. Spice Level
58. Each brand of curry roux usually comes with 3 levels of spiciness — Mild, Medium, or Hot. Since these are packaged for Japanese taste, the hot level is not nearly as spicy as Thai or Indian curry.
59. Too Salty?
60. Some of you may find the pre-boxed curry roux salty, and I don’t disagree. It does have a strong (salty) taste, which is why it goes well with plain steamed rice. The Japanese palate, in general, is gravitated to salty, savory foods.
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72. Make my homemade curry roux.
73. Use water or half water half chicken stock instead of full chicken stock (because the saltiness of the stock varies).
74. Use less curry roux.
75. Add more water to dilute the roux but take note that the curry sauce will be more watery.
76. A enamel tray containing homemade Japanese curry roux blocks.
77. Homemade Japanese Curry Roux
78. Although the boxed stuff may spare you some time in the kitchen, you’ll be surprised at how easy it is to make your own Japanese Curry Roux at home. And just like all curries, curry roux is best made from scratch. The other good reasons for homemade roux?
79. No MSG, artificial flavors and other food additives that are commonly found in boxed mixes.
80. You can customize the flavor, spice level, salt level, and thickness to your preferred taste each time you make it.
81. If you decide to make the Curry Roux from scratch, it only takes a quick 30 minutes. Click here for the recipe.
82. A enamel tray containing homemade Japanese curry roux blocks.
83. Secret Ingredients – Personalize Your Curry
84. My mom always adds some grated apple and different condiments to the curry. She says, “If you use just the boxed curry roux, your curry will always taste the same. It will not be different from your neighbor’s curry.”
85. So she taught me two tricks. 1) Use 2 different brands of curry roux – you can even mix the spice level, like mild and medium spicy together 2) Use additional seasonings.
86. My mom and I would use a few combinations of the following ingredients to enhance the flavor and give some complexity to the curry.
87. * Bold items are our frequently used condiments.
88. * Use 1-3 tsp of secret ingredients to start. These are supposed to be “secret” ingredients and you don’t need to add a lot of it.
89. * Add the secret ingredients with the broth/water and cook together.
90. Sweet Taste
91. Chutney
92. Grated apple
93. Honey (Amylase in honey breaks starch and causes viscosity loss; therefore, add honey with broth and cook it. Do not add it after the curry roux as the curry will become watery.)
94. Ketchup
95. Mashed banana
96. Mirin
97. Orange/Apricot jam
98. Refreshing/Sour Taste
99. Lemon (Add right before serving)
100. Tomato
101. Yogurt
102. Spicy Taste
103. Red chili pepper
104. Black pepper
105. Fragrance
106. Cumin
107. Bay leaf
108. Umami and Depth
109. Butter (Add with roux)
110. Chocolate (Add with roux)
111. Garlic (Add while sauteeing)
112. Ginger (Add while sauteeing)
113. Instant coffee
114. Milk (Add with roux)
115. Oyster sauce
116. Red wine
117. Sake
118. Soy sauce
119. Tonkatsu sauce or Worcestershire Sauce
120. A ceramic bowl containing Japanese Chicken Curry along with steamed rice and fukujinzuke pickles.
121. 8 Helpful Tips to Make Japanese Chicken Curry
122. Tip #1: Cut ingredients into uniform shape
123. This helps to cook everything evenly at the same time.
124. Chicken: I recommend a Japanese cutting technique called sogigiri (そぎ切り), which slice the ingredient in an angle to give more open surface.
125. Onions: I cut into thick wedges for additional texture.
126. Carrots: It takes time to cook carrot, so I recommend another Japanese cutting technique called rangiri (乱切り), which is a rotating cut. You rotate the ingredient as you cut. This creates a more open surface.
127. Potatoes: I recommend Yukon gold potatoes for curry if you prefer to keep the potato shape in the final presentation. Russet potatoes tend to get dissolved by the end of cooking. Cut into 2 inches (5 cm) size, which is an ideal size.
128. Tip #2: Cook the onion till tender and golden
129. The nicely browned onions add a ton of flavor to the final curry. If you have an additional 5-10 minutes, caramelize the onion.
130. Tip #3: Cover the ingredients with just enough broth (or water)
131. When you add the broth/water, be sure the ingredients are covered with just enough water, and not submerged completely. The “barely covering” situation is called hita hita (ひたひた) in Japanese. As you simmer, the ingredients will release more moisture to the cooking liquid.
132. Tip #4: Add “Secret Ingredients” with the broth
133. Add your ‘secret ingredients’ with the broth before you bring everything to a simmer, and way before adding the curry roux.
134. Tip #5: Do not forget to skim
135. Skimming is a very important step in Japanese cooking. We skim the scum and impurities to achieve a refined taste.
136. Get a fine mesh skimmer and fill up the measuring cup with water. Skim the impurities and dunk the skimmer in the water to clean. And repeat until the broth is clean.
137. Tip #6: Add 2 cubes of curry roux at a time
138. Make sure all the curry roux cubes are dissolved completely. You don’t want to end up biting into a chunk of curry cube while eating!
139. Fill up a ladle with broth and add 2 cubes. Using a spoon or chopsticks, let the roux dissolve completely. Then add 2 more cubes and repeat.
140. Tip #7: Watch out when simmering curry
141. Always watch the curry after you add the roux. The thick curry sauce gets burnt easily at the bottom of the pot.
142. Need to simmer uncovered for 10 minutes after adding curry roux.
143. Use low heat to simmer.
144. Stay in the kitchen, and keep stirring!
145. Tip #8: Make a big batch and store
146. Japanese curry is ideal for freezing. I often cook up a big batch of leftovers and keep them in the refrigerator for a few days or in the freezer for up to a month.
147. Oh, one more thing! Potatoes will change their texture after freezing so remove the potatoes if you plan to freeze the curry.
148. Instant Pot Ultra | Easy Japanese Recipes at JustOneCookbook.com
149. Make Japanese Curry in Pressure Cooker
150. Do you own an Instant Pot or a pressure cooker? You can also prepare this comfort dish using my Instant Pot (Pressure Cooker) Japanese Curry recipe.
151. What to Serve with Japanese Curry
152. A ceramic bowl containing Japanese Chicken Curry along with steamed rice and fukujinzuke pickles.
153. We typically serve the Japanese curry over rice, alongside fukujinzuke, a relish made of finely chopped vegetables such as daikon, eggplant, and lotus root, pickled in a soy sauce-based liquid. It will warm you right up!
154. I hope you enjoy this delicious Japanese Chicken Curry recipe!
155. More Delicious Japanese Curry Recipes
156. A Japanese plate containing steamed rice and Japanese beef curry garnished with pickles.
157. Japanese Beef Curry
158. Instant Pot Japanese Curry
159. Curry Udon
160. Katsu Curry
161. Cold Curry Udon
162. Wish to learn more about Japanese cooking? Sign up for our free newsletter to receive cooking tips & recipe updates! And stay in touch with me on Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube, and Instagram.
163. A ceramic bowl containing Japanese Chicken Curry along with steamed rice and fukujinzuke pickles.
164. Japanese Chicken Curry
165. 4.60 from 1501 votes
166. Delicious Japanese chicken curry recipe for a weeknight dinner! Tender pieces of chicken, carrots and potatoes cooked in a rich savory curry sauce, this Japanese version of curry is a must-have for your family meal.
167. PRINT RECIPE
168. PIN RECIPE
169. VIDEO
170. PREP TIME:
171. 20minutes mins
172. COOK TIME:
173. 50minutes mins
174. TOTAL TIME:
175. 1hour hr 10minutes mins
176. SERVINGS: 8 (the leftovers freeze well!)
177. INGREDIENTS
178. US Customary
179. Metric
180. 1x
181. 2x
182. 3x
183. ▢2 onions (large; 1.5 lb, 670 g)
184. ▢2 carrots (6.7 oz, 190 g)
185. ▢3 Yukon gold potatoes (15 oz, 432 g)
186. ▢1 tsp ginger (grated)
187. ▢2 cloves garlic
188. ▢½ apple (6 oz, 170 g)
189. ▢1½ lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs (see Notes for substitutions)
190. ▢freshly ground black pepper
191. For the Curry Sauce
192. ▢1½ Tbsp neutral oil (for cooking)
193. ▢4 cups chicken stock/broth (for lower sodium, use water only or half stock and half water)
194. ▢1 Tbsp honey
195. ▢1 Tbsp soy sauce
196. ▢1 Tbsp ketchup
197. ▢1 package Japanese curry roux (7–8 oz or 200–230 g; or make my Japanese Curry Roux)
198. For Serving
199. ▢8 servings cooked Japanese short-grain rice
200. ▢fukujinzuke (Japanese red pickled vegetables) (optional; or make my Homemade Fukujinzuke)
201. Japanese Ingredient Substitution: If you want substitutes for Japanese condiments and ingredients, click here.
202. Cook Mode
203. Prevent your screen from going dark
204. INSTRUCTIONS
205. Gather all the ingredients. Please read my blog post on the “secret ingredient” we add to the curry. For this recipe, I add ginger, garlic, apple, honey, soy sauce, and ketchup.
206. Japanese Chicken Curry Ingredients
207. To Prepare the Ingredients
208. Cut 2 onions into wedges. I like to have the texture of the onions in my curry, so I cut them into thick wedges. If you prefer, you can mince or thinly slice the onions so they disintegrate into the sauce.
209. Japanese Chicken Curry 1
210. Peel 2 carrots and cut them into rolling wedges (it‘s called rangiri in Japanese). This type of cut creates more surface area, which helps the carrots absorb more flavor and cook faster.
211. Japanese Chicken Curry 2
212. Peel 3 Yukon gold potatoes and cut them into quarters. Soak them in water for 15 minutes to remove excess starch. Tip: Yukon gold potatoes hold their shape well. You can use russet potatoes, but they tend to disintegrate into the broth during cooking, so cut them into 6 pieces each and add to the pot toward the end of cooking.
213. Japanese Chicken Curry 3
214. Grate the ginger (I use this grater) and measure 1 tsp ginger with the juice. Set aside. Mince 2 cloves garlic and set aside (I use a garlic press later when adding to the pot).
215. Japanese Chicken Curry 4
216. Cut ½ apple into quarters, remove the core, and peel the skin.
217. Japanese Chicken Curry 5
218. Grate the apple and set aside. Note: You also could use 1 small lunchbox apple for 8 servings.
219. Japanese Chicken Curry 6
220. Cut off the extra fat from 1½ lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs and discard it. Then, cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces. I recommend cutting it diagonally (it‘s called sogigiri in Japanese) to create more surface area and flatten each piece so it cooks faster. Season with freshly ground black pepper. Tip: If you will use homemade curry roux, you can lightly season the chicken with kosher salt as well.
221. Japanese Chicken Curry 7
222. To Cook the Curry
223. Heat 1½ Tbsp neutral oil in a large pot over medium heat and add the onion.
224. Japanese Chicken Curry 8
225. Sauté the onions, stirring occasionally, until they become translucent and tender, about 5 minutes. Don‘t stir the onions too often because they won’t develop a golden color. Cooked onions add amazing flavor, so we do not want to skip this step. If you have an extra 5 minutes, definitely caramelize the onions!
226. Japanese Chicken Curry 9
227. Add the minced garlic (I pass it through a garlic press for a finer texture) and grated ginger and mix well together.
228. Japanese Chicken Curry 10
229. Add the chicken and cook, stirring frequently, until it‘s no longer pink on the outside. If the onions are getting too brown, reduce the heat to medium low temporarily.
230. Japanese Chicken Curry 11
231. Add 4 cups chicken stock/broth. To reduce the sodium, you can substitute with water only or use half stock and half water, if you prefer. Tip: If you‘re using my homemade curry roux, you don‘t need to worry as it does not contain salt.
232. Japanese Chicken Curry 12
233. Add the grated apple, 1 Tbsp honey, 1 Tbsp soy sauce, and 1 Tbsp ketchup (or any condiment you choose to add). Please read my blog post for details.
234. Japanese Chicken Curry 13
235. Add the carrots and Yukon gold potatoes (if you‘re using russet potatoes, add them later in the last 15–20 minutes of cooking). The broth should barely cover the ingredients. Don‘t worry; we don‘t want too much liquid here, and additional liquid will be released from the meat and vegetables.
236. Japanese Chicken Curry 14
237. Simmer, covered*, on medium-low heat for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. *Simmer uncovered if the ingredients are completely submerged in the broth.
238. Japanese Chicken Curry 15
239. Once boiling, use a fine-mesh strainer to skim the scum and foam from the surface of the broth.
240. Japanese Chicken Curry 16
241. Continue to cook covered until a wooden skewer goes through the carrots and potatoes.
242. Japanese Chicken Curry 17
243. To Add the Curry Roux
244. Turn off the heat. From 1 package Japanese curry roux, put 1–2 cubes in a ladleful of cooking liquid. Slowly let it dissolve with a spoon or chopsticks and stir into the pot to incorporate. Repeat with the rest of the blocks, 2 cubes at a time. Tip: I use 1 full-sized box of store-bought curry roux, which is typically for 8–12 servings (be careful, as some brands offer a smaller box, which is 4 servings). With my homemade curry roux, I typically use 6–7 cubes for 8 servings (about 80% of the curry roux mixture if it hasn‘t solidified yet).
245. Japanese Chicken Curry 18 NEW
246. Simmer, uncovered, on medium-low heat, stirring frequently, until the curry becomes thick, about 5–10 minutes. If your curry is too thick, you can add water to thin the sauce. When you stir, make sure that no roux or food is stuck to the bottom of the pot; otherwise, it may burn.
247. Japanese Chicken Curry 20 NEW
248. If you use my unsalted homemade curry roux, taste the curry now and add salt to your liking. Tip: I recommend adding 2–4 tsp Diamond Crystal kosher salt, but this will vary based on the brand of the chicken broth and condiments you added.
249. Japanese Chicken Curry 19 NEW
250. To Serve
251. Serve the curry with steamed Japanese short-grain rice on the side. If you like, garnish with fukujinzuke (Japanese red pickled vegetables).
252. Japanese Chicken Curry 21
253. To Store
254. You can keep the leftovers in a glass airtight container (so no stains!) and store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and in the freezer for a month. The texture of the potatoes will change in the freezer, so you should take them out before freezing. Defrost the frozen curry in the refrigerator for 24 hours and reheat in a pot. When you reheat, add ¼–½ cup (60–120 ml) water to dilute the curry sauce.
255. NOTES
256. Substitutions: You can substitute the chicken with beef, pork, shrimp, seafood, tofu, mushrooms, and other vegetables. Since tofu, mushrooms, and vegetables cook quickly, you may not need to simmer them for 15 minutes, except for dense root vegetables like carrots and potatoes here. You can sauté mushrooms and softer vegetables (squash, zucchini, eggplant, etc.) and simmer for 5 minutes or until tender. If you use tofu, you just need to warm it up as it’s is already fully cooked. I recommend draining tofu for 15 minutes prior to use and adding it right after you add the curry roux. Warm it up for the last 5–10 minutes